Toronto Polish Film Festival showcases new media arts and films with a Polish focus. This year, we are celebrating our 17th edition of the festival. The films screened at the Toronto Polish Film Festival represent significant and recent contributions of Polish filmmakers to world cinema, as well as international filmmakers which films contain Polish theme. The main mission of the Toronto Polish Film Festival is to promote Polish Cinema and encourage greater understanding and communication among different cultures in Toronto and all of Canada.

Awards & Prizes

Feature Fictional Film- over 60 min
Fictional Short Film - under 30 minutes
Documentary Film- over 45 min
Documentary Short Film - under 30 minutes
People’s Choice Award- all feature films

Rules & Terms

This a Polish film festival. We are accepting films that:
- are shot in Poland, or
- directed by a Polish filmmaker, or
- have a significant representation of Polish artists, or
- are related to a Polish matter, or
- are related to Toronto or Canada and the immigration.

All films should have some connection or relationship with Poland and/or Polish cinematography; be it the film crew, the topic, or the artists involved. Additionally, the festival encourages Toronto and Canada based artists with Polish heritage to apply.

Films with non-English dialogue have to include English subtitles.
Work must have been completed in 2025 or 2026.

In 2026 Toronto Polish Film Festival is looking for:
- returning / past artists
- female cinema/ films made by women
- films dedicate to or about Polish artists (documentaries, feature, short films)
- LGBTQ film makers are welcome
- young and emerging film directors below age of 30

This competition is open to Canada, Poland and International entries. Maximum film age is 24 months. No repeat entries. In addition to on-line screeners entrants must send two Blu Ray discs or DCP and Blue Ray or DVD as a back-up, if the make the final round of judging. Send Blu Ray in reusable containers or bubble wrap envelopes. Note: Please do not use fiber-filled envelopes or oversized boxes when sending entries, as they can cause serious damage to Blu Ray discs and, subsequently, to video equipment. Entries that we receive that have been damaged or otherwise compromised in this way may be rejected from entry. If a work is selected for public screening entrants are contractually obligated to provide an exhibition copy suitable for screening and cannot withdraw their film from the festival. Entry must not be available to view in full on the internet! Please note we do not pay screening fees. Only finalists are notified in advance that their work has been selected to be part of the Festival.

ENTRY FORMATS:
Submit an On-Line Screener for pre-screening (Vimeo). If chosen for final judging a high quality region free Blu Ray disc or DCP must be sent for Festival screening. Be sure to include your FilmFreeway tracking I.D. number on it.

LIABILITY: Filmmaker shall indemnify and hold Toronto Polish Film Festival harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim in connection with the Film involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and/or loss of or damage to the screening videos submitted. In particular, Filmmaker expressly warrants it has obtained all necessary copyright clearances for original works of authorship used in the Film. All rights must be cleared.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT: Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced either in part or whole, for exhibition, educational or publicity purposes. Filmmakers can request in writing that their material not be used for such purposes six months after the Festival has concluded.

Funding for the TORONTO POLISH FILM FESTIVAL has been made possible in part by the Polish Filmmakers Association, Toronto Polish Film Institute, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto, Toronto Arts Council; and many others.

EKRAN reserves the right to change the amount of the award, split it or minimize it, based on jury consideration.

EKRAN’s programming team is available to assist should you have any questions. Please email info@ekran.ca for support.

7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Frank Tremblay

    Great festival and venue. It's an honor to have been selected there. The people who run the Ekran festival are passionate about art and promoting Polish cinema and heritage.

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Frank,
    Thank you very much for your generous and thoughtful review. It truly means a lot to us to hear that your experience at EKRAN was a positive one and that you felt honored to be selected.
    Your recognition of the passion behind the festival and our commitment to promoting Polish cinema and cultural heritage is deeply appreciated. Messages like yours are a wonderful reminder of why we do this work and encourage us to keep building with care and purpose.
    Thank you again for being part of EKRAN. I sincerely hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future.
    Warm regards,
    Marta Pozniakowski

  • Ted Sakowsky

    My short film WiFi was presented at the festival and it was overall a great experience. A hospitable welcome and a thought out thematic connection between feature and short made the experience short and sweet. The festival is only on it's 16th run but still building with promise. I can see the future of the festival being a great way for Polish artists to connect and further the cultural footprint of Polish film making on an international level.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Ted,
    Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and generous review on FilmFreeway. I truly appreciate your kind words about and your reflections on the festival experience.
    It means a great deal to know that the care we put into hospitality and thematic programming resonated with you. Your recognition of the festival’s vision and its growing role in connecting Polish artists internationally is both encouraging and motivating for us as we continue to build.
    Thank you again for being part of the festival and for your support. I hope our paths cross again at a future edition.
    Warm regards,
    Marta Pozniakowski

  • Asia Lis

    I am so happy to be a part of this special festival. It felt very welcoming and positive. The energy was amazing. If you want a good tap on a shoulder, I recommend it it to first time filmmakers. Thank you to the whole team!

    December 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Asia,
    Thank you so much for your beautiful review and kind words. I’m truly happy to hear that you felt welcomed and supported—that positive energy you described is exactly what we hope every filmmaker experiences at EKRAN.
    Your recommendation to first-time filmmakers means a great deal to our entire team. Being that encouraging “tap on the shoulder” at the beginning of someone’s creative journey is something we take to heart.
    Thank you for being part of the festival and for sharing your enthusiasm with us. We hope to welcome you back again very soon.
    Warm regards,
    Marta Pozniakowski

  • Connor Kujawinski

    Absolutely wonderful festival! Had the pleasure of having my short film screened at the festival and it was an incredible experience. The atmosphere of the festival was very welcoming and kind. Got to meet some of the team behind the organization of the festival and they were very generous and dedicated to their work! They were also without a doubt the best communication I've had with a festival, too. Would love to join again next year!

    November 2022
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Connor,

    Thank you so much for your kind words about the film festival. As the festival director, it means a lot to hear such positive feedback from filmmakers like yourself.

    We were thrilled to have your film included in this year's lineup and your participation helped make the festival a success. Your talent and dedication to your craft is truly inspiring, and it was an honor to showcase your work to our audience.

    We hope that you will continue to support our festival in the future and that our paths will cross again soon. Thank you once again for your support and encouragement.

    Best regards,

    Marta Pozniakowski

  • Mark Kozlowski

    Unfortunately I wasn't able to fly over to Toronto for this festival but it did look fabulous on Instagram. I was very fortunate to have my short film 'Life Before Life' screen before a wonderful feature film Mr Jones (Obywatel Jones) directed by Agnieszka Holland. I had lots of interaction with the team and they were very supportive throughout the process. Looking forward to being part of it again.

    November 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Mark,

    Thank you so much for your kind words about the film festival. I hope you will be able to visit us one day with your new film.

    Best regards,

    Marta Pozniakowski