„The Dogleg”, directed by Piotr Szubra, has won the Best Student Fiction Film award at the IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival in Bulgaria. The jury praised the film for its bold storytelling, vividly realised world and intense emotional impact.

As the jury noted, the quality of the nominated student fiction films was exceptionally high, making the selection process particularly demanding. The final decision was unanimous. The jury highlighted the film’s fully realised world, convincingly drawn characters, strong production values and powerful emotional force. It also commended the director’s courage in shaping the story.

Founded in 2003 and held in Pernik, IN THE PALACE is an international festival dedicated to short films and audiovisual arts. Its programme includes professional and student competitions in fiction, documentary, animation and experimental cinema. The festival’s main competition is Oscar-qualifying in the categories of Best Fiction, Best Animation, Best Documentary and Best National Film, and it also qualifies films for the Goya Awards.

Set in the summer of 2002, The Dogleg follows a group of friends awaiting their final secondary-school exam results. They spend their days in a local bar, watching World Cup matches and pursuing their greatest passion, motocross riding. Their carefree summer comes to an end when Henryk, a mysterious man with a notorious reputation among the villagers, returns after many years abroad. His arrival sparks a conflict that shatters the group’s harmony and ultimately leads to tragedy.

The film was produced by the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia and the university’s Faculty of Radio and Television.

More information can be found here.

JULY 2026