POLISH SHORT FILMS AT BRUSSELS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Three films from the Warsaw Film School have been selected for the programme of the Brussels Short Film Festival, which runs from 23 April to 2 May 2026. These are the only Polish titles in this year's selection. 'Princessy', directed by Franciszek Korolczuk, has been chosen for the main competition as well as the Next Generation section, which is also going to feature 'Haiphongpol' by Leon Korzyński and 'Qaher' by Nada Khalifa.
The Brussels Short Film Festival, held annually since 1998, is one of the most significant European events dedicated to short-form cinema. Participation in its International Competition holds particular importance for filmmakers, as its winner automatically qualifiies for the longlist of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, opening an accelerated path towards an Oscar nomination.
It is in this competition where Princessy, directed by Franciszek Korolczuk with cinematography by Oliwier de Nisau, will receive its showcase. The 2026 film is also going to appear in the Next Generation Competition as one of only two titles from that section simultaneously selected for the International Competition. Princessy was previously presented as a pre-premiere at a closed Market Screening during the Clermont-Ferrand festival. Inspired by social naturalism, the film follows 22-year-old Diana, who is planning to leave for England with her four-year-old son, only for matters to become considerably more complicated following an encounter with her partner.
The student-oriented Next Generation competition also includes Haiphongpol, directed by Leon Korzyński with cinematography by Witold Prokopczyk. A debut first-year film from 2025, it draws on the influence of Asian cinema to craft a portrait of immigrant life in Warsaw. Shot on Warsaw's Bakalarska Street – a locale closely associated with the city's Vietnamese community – it tells the story of Drew, a young Vietnamese man who, under pressure from his mother, conceals his passion for nail styling whilst striving to forge his own path. The film has already screened at festivals including Energa CAMERIMAGE, ŻUBROFFKA, and Febiofest in Bratislava.
The second title in the Next Generation competition is Qaher, directed by Nada Khalifa, a Palestinian filmmaker and graduate of the Warsaw Film School. The film was shot on the West Bank in October 2023, shortly before the dramatic escalation of conflict in the region. From a production halted by those very events emerged the story of Jason, a Palestinian living in Canada, who returns to his homeland to visit family and, through that journey, rediscover his identity. Qaher has already been screened and recognised at numerous international festivals, including the Kraków Film Festival, the FTC International Film Festival, the HAYAH Panama International Short Film Festival, the Thessaloniki Free Short Festival, and the Rencontres Films Femmes Méditerranée.
The presence of Princessy, Haiphongpol, and Qaher in the Brussels Short Film Festival programme confirms the international potential of filmmakers associated with the Warsaw Film School. Their participation in the Brussels festival represents a prestigious showcase as well as a genuine opportunity for continued visibility within the international short film circuit.