Cinema that draws more than a weekend series on Netflix
Imagine an event that means that instead of another Hollywood super -production you prefer to watch a three -hour movie without dialogues - and you are delighted with it. It is the magic of the "New Horizons" International Film Festival , which changes Wrocław every year into the artistic center of Europe.
What is the noise for?
- Because it's different. You will not find popcorn hits or stories that can be summarized in one sentence. Instead - the cinema that turns the schemes, irritates, fascinates and makes you think about whether you have understood the last scene.
- Because it's an international phenomenon. Movies from every corner of the world - from South Korea, through Senegal to Iceland. As on a map you have never had the opportunity to discover before.
- Because Wrocław is the perfect background. Climate cinema Nowe Horizons, walks around the market between projections and in the evening discussions with creators at the lamp of local wine.
Festival not for everyone?
Let's be honest - not every viewer will withstand a three -hour document about a lonely beekeeper from Macedonia. But if you are open to movies that tell stories in an unobvious way, you will find your paradise on earth. Competition films, retrospectives of great masters, and even experimental productions, which sometimes resemble moving images than cinema - this is the essence of the festival.
What do you need to know?
1️⃣ When? Every summer - the perfect time to combine the cinema with summer vacation.
2️⃣ where? Mainly in the New Horizons cinema, although outdoor shows on the Wrocław market are a separate level of magic.
3️⃣ How? Buy a ticket earlier, because the most interesting screenings disappear faster than a place in a free parking lot in the city center.
If you think that cinema is only popcorn, superheroes and a large screen, "new horizons" will change your look. Because this is not a festival, it is an adventure that you have to survive at least once in your life. 🎬
History of the New Horizons festival
"How did it start?" - from Częstochowa to Wrocław
The beginnings of the festival date back to 2001, when Roman Gutek - a character who needs no introduction in Polish artistic cinema - he came up with the idea of creating an event that will break out of cinema schemes. And so, in a small Częstochowa festival was born, which in time was to become the biggest festival of artistic cinema in Poland.
Roman Gutek - visionary in the world of cinema
It is impossible to talk about the history of the New Horizons festival without the memory of its founder. Roman Gutek is a man-institution who has been promoting independent and artistic cinema for years. It was thanks to him that Polish viewers had the opportunity to see on the big screen films of such artists as Pedro Almodóvar or Lars von Trier at a time when no one has heard of streaming.
In 2001, Gutek gathered a group of enthusiasts around him and created a festival that from the very beginning focused on ambitious, demanding productions. At a time when other festivals chose the films "for the public", new horizons went against the tide, putting on the avant -garde and experiment.
Moving to Wrocław - a new chapter
After five editions in Częstochowa it became clear that the festival exceeded local possibilities. In 2006, Roman Gutek made a bold decision - he moved the event to Wrocław. This decision turned out to be a hit. Wrocław, with its rich history and artistic atmosphere, has become the perfect background for the festival.
The new horizons quickly fit into the cultural landscape of the city. The headquarters of the festival - Nowe Horizons Cinema - became a symbol of ambitious cinema, and the event began to attract thousands of viewers and hundreds of artists from around the world.
From the niche to the largest film festival in Poland
What distinguishes new horizons?
- Courage in choosing movies. It was here that viewers for the first time in Poland could see works that later won awards at the largest festivals in the world.
- Scale. From a small event, the festival has grown to an event hosted over 100,000 viewers a year.
- Influence on culture. The festival not only shows movies, but also creates trends, opening the Polish audience to cinema, which goes beyond the boundaries of popular patterns.
Little Fun Fact at the end. In the first edition of the festival in Częstochowa, the projections took place in ... small local cinema rooms, and tickets could be bought almost immediately. Now? If you do not make a reservation, you can end up discussing movies in front of the computer screen, looking at photos from the filled cinema New Horizons.
Format and topics of the New Horizons festival
"The cinema that you watch but also experiences"
The new horizons are a festival that gives viewers more than popcorn and comfortable armchairs. Here, the program is not a list of movies to watch - it is an intellectual, emotional, and sometimes even physical challenge (yes, a three -hour movie without dialogues can be bone).
Main competition - crème de la crème avant -garde
The International Main Competition is the heart of the festival, beating in the rhythm of experimental narratives and non -obvious film forms. If you are looking for a cinema that will knock you out of the comfort zone, then you will find your place here.
- Films chosen for the competition often break the schemes and make the viewer ask themselves: "Did I really understand it, is this cinema simply smarter than me?"
- Jury - experts in his profession - chooses the best film, but the audience can also express their opinion as part of the viewers' award. Here, every voice counts, even if you don't know the difference between American and total plan.
Thematic sections - cinema in the lens of ideas
The new horizons are also thematic sections that turn the program into something like a textbook into the modern world. You can find here:
- Directors' retrospectives - from classics to discoveries that are just conquering the international scene.
- Fokus on countries - because what is better about culture than its cinema?
- Special thematic blocks - e.g. movies related to the topics of global crises or human relationships in the era of technology.
🎬 Interesting fact : one of the previous editions had a section dedicated to films that had never hit theaters before - a real treat for connoisseurs.
Discussions, workshops and other festival flavors
New horizons are a place for people who not only watch, but also want to talk, analyze and learn more. What will you find outside the cinema?
- Meetings with creators. After the screening, you can ask the director what exactly he meant in this mysterious scene. (Answer: "It depends if you interpret it" - standard).
- Discussion panels. Experts, creators and viewers think about the directions in which the cinema is heading - and sometimes the world.
- Workshops. A chance to understand what the movie creation process looks like and try your hand at the watchful eye of masters.
Location: Wrocław as a festival place
"The city of one hundred bridges and countless cinema impressions"
Wrocław is not only the host of the festival - he is his heart and soul. When the international artistic cinema arrives at the Oder, the city turns into a lively melting pot of culture, where history and art meet in the most creative way.
New Horizons cinema - festival epicenter
The main scene of the events is of course the New Horizons cinema - one of the best -equipped cinema facilities in Poland. Nine rooms, comfortable seats and excellent acoustics are just the beginning. During the festival, the most important projections and meetings with the creators take place here. Imagine a room full of people who hold their breath during an exciting session - this is what the real cinema festival looks like.
🎬 Interesting fact : The New Horizons cinema works all year round, but during the festival this place becomes a mecca for fans of ambitious cinema from around the world.
Rynek and outdoor spaces - festival Wrocław in the open air
The festival is not limited to dark cinemas. The Wrocław market is converted at the center of festival life:
- Evening outdoor shows attract both festival participants and city residents.
- Cafe and bars around the market become a natural place to exchange impressions after screenings.
You can not forget about such locations as the Słodowa Island, where outdoor events combine art with nature.
A city that breathes cinema
During the Wrocław festival, he is filled with cinema from around the world - from students who stay in the foam pads, after film critics looking for subsequent apparitions. The atmosphere is one of a kind: informal, inspiring, full of conversations about movies until late at night.
🌉 Why Wrocław? Thanks to its charming streets, bridges and historical buildings, the city creates a unique scenery that could become a hero of the film frame.
The new horizons are not only a film festival - it is a complete immersion in the world of cinema, which goes beyond the schemes and opens their eyes to new perspectives. Wrocław, with its climate streets and a unique atmosphere, is an ideal background for such an event. Regardless of whether you are an avid cinema man or just start your adventure with an ambitious cinema, you'll find something for yourself here. 🎬
Questions and answers: everything worth knowing about the New Horizons festival
Pro Tip: It is worth following the festival program in advance and plan your screenings - the most interesting shows quickly disappear from the list of available places! 😊
