Madison Polish Film Festival

Can you name any Polish films? Directors? Actors? No? It's time to rectify this and open up a new side to your cultural life. The UW-Madison's long-running Polish Film Festival showcases the latest in Polish cinema. The festival concludes with a double feature on Nov. 21, including screenings of Back Then, a comedy by acclaimed director Kinga Dębska about a family living in the Communist era; and Leave no Traces, a political story of the witness to a crime who becomes an enemy of the repressive state. More details here.

press release: After an online edition in 2020, the Madison Polish Film Festival returns to its traditional, in-person format with an eclectic selection of the latest in Polish cinematography. This year, the festival will take place on November 14 and 21 at the Marquee Cinema and UW Cinematheque on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. All screenings are FREE and OPEN to the public. Join us to celebrate Poland’s vibrant and universally recognized cinematic tradition!

The 2021 edition of the Madison Polish Film Festival will take place on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus on two consecutive Sundays before Thanksgiving – November 14 and November 21. Traditionally, all screenings will be FREE and open to the wider public and local community beyond UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff. Everyone is welcome! Zapraszamy na festiwal!

PLEASE NOTE: In line with the university campus masking policy, all students, employees, and visitors to campus are required to wear masks when inside campus buildings.

The 2021 selection for the Madison Polish Film Festival includes:

Sweat (dir. Magnus von Horn, 2020) | Running time: 107 min. Sunday, November 14, 3:00 pm, Marquee Cinema, Union South, Room 245 (2nd floor), 308 W Dayton St

Kill It and Leave This Town (dir. Mariusz Wilczyński, 2020) Polish title: Zabij to i wyjedź z tego miasta | Running time: 88 min. Sunday, November 14, 5:30 pm, Marquee Cinema, Union South, Room 245 (2nd floor), 308 W Dayton St

Back Then (dir. Kinga Dębska, 2021) | Polish title: Zupa nic | Running time: 94 min. Sunday, November 21, 2:30 pm, UW Cinematheque, Vilas Communication Hall, 821 University Ave.

Leave no Traces (dir. Jan P. Matuszyński, 2021) Polish title: Żeby nie było śladów | Running time: 160 min. Sunday, November 21, 4:30 pm, UW Cinematheque, Vilas Communication Hall, 821 University Ave

The Marquee Cinema is located in Room 245 on 1308 West Dayton Street in Madison. Parking is available on lots 80 (Union South Garage), 17, and 20, in addition to numerous UW and City of Madison parking options. The Marquee is located close to bus routes 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 28, 38, 44, 48, 70, 72, 80.

For more information on South Union parking, visit this guide. For a guest user guide, see this booklet. To find the best bus route, visit the Madison Metro Transit trip planning guide.

The Cinematheque is located in Room 4070 on the fourth floor of Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue in Madison (south-east corner of the Park Street and University Avenue intersection). Room 4070 is accessible from Park Street (elevator and stairs) and the stairs facing University Avenue and University Square. Parking is available on the Lake and Park Street lot, Johnson and Lake Street lot, the Fluno Center underground lot on Frances Street, in addition to numerous UW and City of Madison parking options. The Cinematheque is located close to bus routes 2, 7, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 28, 38, 70, 72, 80, 81, 82.

For more information on UW Cinematheque parking, visit this guide. To find the best bus route, visit the Madison Metro Transit trip planning guide.