The selection team has chosen 16 productions from various corners of the world for the International Short Film Competition.
In the international competition, we present films from around the world, showcasing diverse cinematic perspectives on the multifaceted concept of freedom. This year’s international competition lineup features films from the USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and Finland, features films from the United States, Canada, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and Finland, as well as Polish productions that offer unique and thought-provoking insights into the ongoing quest for freedom — not just in times of war, but also in times of peace.
The selection for the International Competition was once again curated by Anna Andriushchenko and the festival’s artistic director, Łukasz Adamski.
– This year’s selection brings powerful stories from some of the world’s most turbulent regions – says Adamski. – Audiences in Radom will see films exploring the war in Ukraine and the Syrian conflict, as well as the complex relations between the Arab world and Israel. But we also shine a light on more universal battles — the kind of captivity that often goes unnoticed in everyday life: debt and credit, the grip of social media algorithms, the pressure of personal image, or the burden of parental expectations. These are the themes filmmakers are engaging with in the international section of this year’s festival.
International Short Film Competition – Official Selection
The following films have been selected to compete in the International Short Film Competition at the 4th FREEDOM Film Festival:
- ILY, BYE – dir. Taylor James, USA 2024
- BEWARE OF A GOOD DOG – dir. Adelina Borets, Poland 2024
- PAPER – dir. Charles Wahl, Canada 2024
- ONE NOTE – dir. Jamie Ting, USA 2024
- THE BEAR’S RIVER – dir. Anaïs Mauzat, Belgium 2024
- I AM GLITCHING – dir. Salma Parra, Germany 2024
- I GAZE AT THE SKY – dir. Alexandra Strunin, Poland 2025
- MY NAME IS HOPE – dir. Sherwan Haji, Finland 2025
- MIRACULOUS ACCIDENT – dir. Assaf Gruber, Germany 2025
- WAVES – dir. Michael Carrington, Czech Republic 2024
- GONE – dir. Piotr Jasiński, Czech Republic/Poland 2024
- I DIED IN IRPIN – dir. Anastasiia Falileieva, Czech Republic/Slovakia/Ukraine 2024
- BORDER – dir. Maria Magriel, Poland 2024
- LOOK HOMEWARD – dir. Artem Rachkelyuk, Poland 2025
- I’M A GOOD PERSON – dir. Tamsin Topolski, United Kingdom 2024
- QAHER – dir. Nada Khalifa, Poland 2025
The winning films will be selected by a jury, with its members to be announced soon. The awards will be presented during the closing gala of the festival on July 12, 2025.
The 4th edition of the FREEDOM Film Festival will take place from July 9 to 12 in Radom.
The FREEDOM Film Festival is organized by the FILMFORUM Association.
The event’s strategic partner is the Mazovian Voivodeship Government.
The festival is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and the City of Radom.
Industry partners include: the international consortium The FILMFORUM Group, CinemaHall (Ukraine), Malfamé Association (France), and Stiftelsen Amandusfestivalen (Norway).
The co-organizer of the event is the BORKI Cultural Centre in Radom.
The organizational partner is the Mazovian Centre for Contemporary Art “Elektrownia” in Radom.
The festival’s logistics partner is KIA Plejada.
The official festival hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn Radom, and the official festival club is PaTaThai Radom.
Main Media Patron: Radio Radom.