The 42nd edition of the Warsaw International Film Festival concluded on Sunday following an awards ceremony held the previous evening. The festival’s highest honor, the Warsaw Grand Prix in the international competition category, was awarded to Polish filmmaker Grzegorz Dębowski for his film “What Belongs to Others.” The narrative centers on a Polish burglar who adopts the identity of a deceased stranger’s girlfriend, resulting in unforeseen consequences. The jury recognized the work for its meticulous narrative approach, strong performances, and nuanced portrayal of a complicated protagonist who undergoes significant change through her assumption of another person’s identity.
The best director award went to Chinese filmmaker Cai Chengjie for “Suzhou Quartet,” recognized by the jury for its innovative concept, striking visual presentation, and experimental approach to narrative structure. The film tells of four individuals who encounter each other by chance in a small noodle shop and discover they are long-lost acquaintances. A special jury award for acting performance was granted to Maria Dębska for her work in “Through the Wall,” directed by Maciej Sobieszczański, a film examining two young political prisoners during Poland’s Stalinist period who develop a romantic relationship.
In the Competition 1–2 program, which focuses on directorial debuts and second feature films, the main award went to Lorin Terezi’s “Agia,” a narrative exploring a young woman’s resistance to patriarchal traditions. A special mention in this category was awarded to Urša Menart’s “Everything That’s Wrong With You.” The documentary competition award was presented to Jonas Spriestersbach’s “Meanwhile in Namibia,” which examines German development cooperation efforts in place of historical reparations.
Additional honors were distributed across multiple categories, including short films, animated works, and specialized awards recognizing various artistic contributions throughout the festival.
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