Who needs Cannes?

Some 24 movies, which include 14 debuts, will take part in the competition, with the prestigious Golden Lion awards up for grabs across a number of categories. This year the jury will be led by Feliks Falk, whose production Komornik (The Bailiff) won last year's Grand Prix award at the Gdynia festival.

"Movies that were accepted to the festival's screening represent everything that is happening in the Polish industry," said Juliusz Braun, the head of the festival's committee. "There are debuts, commercial movies, as well as those with a more artistic approach."

Seven films that were not accepted for the main contest will be shown during special screenings under the "Panorama of Polish Cinematography" banner. The organizers are also looking to the next generation of Polish filmmakers and have prepared a presentation of the final works of graduates from major Polish film schools.

Beside the main competition and the artistic part of the Gdynia festival, the organizers have also prepared numerous additional events and workshops that could help improve the industry in the future. For example, a Polish-German panel will take place, where several members from German local governments will brief their Polish counterparts on how to secure local funding. Moreover, producers and directors will have an opportunity to participate in a workshop during which they will discuss how to promote Polish productions on the international market.

The grand finale and awards ceremony will take part on September 16 at Gdynia's Music Theater.