On the 4th February 2026 at the British Film Institute (BFI), Southbank in London, the 24th edition of the KINOTEKA Polish Film Festival was officially launched with a sold Out Opening Gala screening of Andrzej Wajda’s „Ashes and Diamonds”. The film, one of Andrzej Wajda’s most recognisable and iconic, also marked the world premiere of the Year of Andrzej Wajda 2026 – a title set by the Polish Senate to mark 100 years since Andrzej Wajda’s birth. As part of this special year, organisations around the world will organise special events dedicated to commemorating Andrzej Wajda, who is considered to be one of Poland’s greatest film directors. As part of the year, KINOTEKA will present an extensive retrospective of Andrzej Wajda’s films at three of London’s top film venues, BFI Southbank, the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and Cine Lumiere.
The Opening Gala at the BFI began with a welcome from the BFI’s Director of Programmes Justin Johnson, an introduction to KINOTEKA from Anna Tryc-Bromley, director of the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the organiser of the 24th edition of the event, followed by an introduction to „Ashes and Diamonds” by Tomasz Kolankiewicz, Director of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA). Special guests of the evening were Allan Starski and Wiesława Starska. Allan Starski worked as a set designer with Andrzej Wajda on his most iconic productions including Man of Marble, Man of Iron, Danton and Maids of Wilko. The latter of these movies will be presented at BFI Southbank on the 5th of February followed by a presentation on the visual world created by Allan Starski and Wiesława Starska, who worked alongside Allan Starski as a costume designer on the film.
Apart from an extensive retrospective of films by Andrzej Wajda at the BFI Southbank (30 films of Andrzej Wajda in total) and screenings in other cities like Edinburgh, Oxford and Manchester, KINOTEKA will also offer the chance to see the best films from Poland from the last year as well as documentaries. There will also be a chance to meet special guests, including film directors Agnieszka Holland (Q&A after FRANZ on 3rd March), Wojciech Smarzowski (Q&A 5th March), actor Daniel Olbrychski (Q&A 10th March), actress Grażyna Szapołowska (Q&A 17th March), documentary director Maciej Drygas (Q&A 18th March), dir. Maciej Sobiesczanski (29th March).
The Kinoteka Polish Film Festival is organised by the Polish Cultural Institute in London, with support from the Polish Film Institute. Major partners of this year’s Festival are also Documentary and Feature Film Studio WFDiF and Di Factory from Warsaw.
Source: Polish Cultural Institute in London
Photos: British Poles
