Wrocław Water Film Festival is an international film festival dedicated to stories about water — rivers, oceans, climate, cities and the future of our planet.

Held in the historic city of Wrocław, Poland — known as the “City of Rivers” — the festival connects cinema, science and public debate in one dynamic event. We believe water is not only a resource, but a narrative — a character shaping civilizations, conflicts, ecosystems and imagination.

What makes us different?

• A unique focus on water in all its dimensions — environmental, social, political and poetic
• A strong connection to urban river culture and real-world climate challenges
• Screenings in a leading arthouse cinema and open-air city spaces
• Expert panels with scientists, activists and industry professionals
• A growing platform linking filmmakers with environmental institutions and media

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Wrocław Water Film Festival is an international film event dedicated to cinematic storytelling about water, rivers and the global water crisis.

The festival program includes:
• international competition screenings (documentary, narrative and educational films)
• expert panels and discussions connecting filmmakers with scientists and practitioners
• educational morning screenings and interactive sessions for youth (Water Academy)
• public screenings and a closing awards ceremony with networking opportunities

Selected filmmakers benefit from theatrical screenings at Nowe Horyzonty Cinema in Wrocław, Q&A sessions with audiences, media exposure and awards presented by an international jury.

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Festival Sections

• International Competition (Short & Feature)
• Documentary Competition
• Student Competition
• Special Screenings
• Water & Climate Focus
• Urban Rivers Spotlight

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Why submit?

Wrocław Water Film Festival is building a European platform for films that matter. We welcome bold storytelling, powerful visuals and unique perspectives on water-related themes — from intimate human stories to large-scale environmental narratives.

Selected films will be screened in front of an engaged audience including filmmakers, media representatives, environmental experts and cultural institutions.

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About Wrocław

Wrocław is one of Central Europe’s most vibrant cultural cities, built on islands and river branches of the Odra. The festival brings water back to the center of the city’s cultural identity.

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We are looking for films that explore:

• Rivers and urban water systems
• Climate change and water crises
• Ocean and marine ecosystems
• Floods, droughts and resilience
• Water justice and social impact
• Experimental and artistic interpretations of water

If water plays a meaningful role in your story — we want to see it.

Awards & Prizes

A. BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
B. BEST NARRATIVE FILM
C. BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM
Official awards will by trophies and diplomas.

Rules & Terms

§1. Organiser
1. The organiser of the 1st edition of the Wrocław Water Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as “the Festival”) is Fundacja Green Festival, with its registered office at Śledziejowice 172, 32-020 Wieliczka, Poland, KRS 0000718705, TIN: 6832099124 (hereinafter referred to as “the Organiser”).

§2. Date and Nature of the Festival
1. The Festival will take place in Wrocław, Poland, on June 12–14, 2026.
2. The Festival is of an international character.
3. The Festival is dedicated to films addressing water-related themes, including but not limited to rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, water ecosystems, climate change, water crises, floods, droughts, water justice, and environmental sustainability.
4. The Festival aims to promote cinematic works that explore water as an environmental, social, cultural and political issue, as well as to foster environmental awareness through film screenings, discussions and educational activities.
5. An International Jury appointed by the Organiser shall evaluate films selected for competition and determine award winners.

§3. Eligibility
1. Films submitted to the Festival must address water-related themes.
2. Films completed after January 1, 2021 are eligible for submission.
3. The Festival accepts the following categories:
• Documentary Films
• Narrative Films (including animation)
• Educational Films
4. Minimum duration:
• Narrative films: 5 minutes
• Documentary films: 10 minutes
• Educational films: no minimum duration
5. All films must be subtitled in English if the original language is not English.
6. Films must be submitted via the FilmFreeway platform.
7. The person submitting the film confirms that they hold all necessary rights to submit the work and grant the permissions specified in these Regulations.

§4. Submission and Technical Requirements
1. Submissions must be made exclusively via FilmFreeway.
2. Selected films must be delivered by the deadline indicated by the Organiser.
3. Accepted formats for screening copies:
• .MOV or .MP4
• Full HD quality (minimum 1920x1080 resolution)
4. The Organiser reserves the right to request additional materials for promotional purposes (stills, trailer, press kit, poster).

§5. Selection Process
1. All submitted films will be reviewed by the Festival Selection Committee.
2. The Selection Committee determines the official selection and assigns films to appropriate competition categories.
3. The decisions of the Selection Committee and the Jury are final and not subject to appeal.
4. The Organiser is not obliged to provide justification for selection or non-selection decisions.

§6. Awards
1. The Festival Jury will award prizes in each competition category.
2. The Organiser reserves the right to introduce additional awards or honorary mentions.
3. Awards may include trophies, certificates and/or financial prizes, depending on the final Festival programme.

§7. Screening Rights and Promotion
1. By submitting a film, the applicant grants the Organiser the right to screen the film during the Festival.
2. The applicant grants the Organiser the right to use excerpts (up to 3 minutes), trailers, stills and promotional materials for marketing and promotional purposes related to the Festival.
3. The Organiser does not acquire ownership of the film.
4. The film will not be screened outside the Festival without the explicit consent of the rights holder.

§8. Liability
1. The Organiser is not responsible for technical problems arising during the submission process.
2. The Organiser is not liable for any claims related to copyright infringement made by third parties.
3. The submitter bears full legal responsibility for the content and rights related to the submitted work.

§9. Final Provisions
1. The Organiser reserves the right to amend these Regulations.
2. In case of interpretation discrepancies between language versions, the Polish version of the Regulations shall prevail.
3. Submission of a film constitutes acceptance of these Regulations.