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FEMEN, a Belgian courtroom, and childhood in the Amazon rainforest. Meet the Main Competition films of the 23rd BellaTOFIFEST IFF!

We are pleased to announce the twelve titles selected for the ON AIR International Competition for First and Second Feature Films at the 23rd BellaTOFIFEST International Film Festival! The director of the winning film will receive the Golden Angel Award for Best International Director. The verdict will be announced by the jury, composed of Gabriela Muskała, Jowita Budnik, Anna Maliszewska, Andrzej Konopka, Piotr Trojan and Tomasz Wasilewski.

Each year, the International Competition for First and Second Feature Films ON AIR highlights bold and original works from across the globe — often acclaimed at major international festivals. These are fresh, uncompromising voices in cinema, and each film offers something unique, whether through story, form or artistic approach.

This year’s competition features twelve titles, all having their Polish premieres at the BellaTOFIFEST IFF. Among them: “Oxana”, a compelling portrait of the FEMEN leader directed by Charlène Favier; “Christy”, a piece of Irish social realism recognized at the Berlinale; the Hungarian drama “Lesson Learned”, praised at Locarno; the Belgian courtroom story “We Believe You”, showcased in Berlin IFF; and Sundance Film Festival contender “Where the Wind Comes From”, a coming-of-age tale about Tunisian youth. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance and will join audiences for post-screening Q&As.

This year’s line-up also features a strong Polish entry. “Loss of Balance”, a film that won over both critics and audiences and received multiple awards at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, will compete for the main prize. Festival-goers will have the chance to meet the filmmakers — Korek Bojanowski, Nel Kaczmarek, Angelika Smyrgała and Mikołaj Matczak — during a special screening.

1001 Frames offers a poignant reflection on the Iranian film industry, where women’s voices are too often manipulated or silenced.

Christy tells the story of a teenage boy living with a foster family on the outskirts of an Irish city. When he loses his home, he turns to his estranged older brother in search of shelter and support.

In Lesson Learned, ten-year-old Palkó returns to his native Budapest from Berlin and struggles to adapt to life in a rigid Hungarian elementary school. Only Juci, a young teacher rebelling against the system, sees his inner turmoil.

Manas is based on the director’s field research in remote Amazonian villages, where girls are often scarred from a young age by sexual abuse within their homes.

The New Year That Never Came transports viewers to Romania in 1989, during the final days of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime. Six lives intersect amidst the chaos — will their stories spark a new revolution? The film received an award at the Venice International Film Festival.

Charlène Favier’s Oxana offers an intimate look at FEMEN through the story of its longtime leader, Oksana Shachko — a revolutionary and artist who stood up to propaganda and authoritarian power alongside her friends.

Paternal Leave follows 15-year-old Leo as she seeks out Paolo, the father she has never met. When she finds him living with a new family, the encounter leads to unexpected consequences for everyone involved.

Perla centers on a single mother and exiled artist struggling to support herself and her musically gifted daughter. Her journey deep into Czechoslovakia becomes a powerful tale set against the backdrop of 1980s communist Europe.

To Kill a Mongolian Horse invites viewers into the Mongolian steppe, where Saina — deeply rooted in tradition and nature — finds himself at odds with economic pressure, climate change and cultural transformation.

Praised by both audiences and critics, Loss of Balance marks a powerful debut from Korek Bojanowski. The film follows Maja, a young acting student who dedicates her life to the craft. When she gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with a legendary director, she believes her dream is finally coming true — but quickly learns the price of fame may be more than she expected.

Where the Wind Comes From is a story of deep friendship between a rebellious girl and a shy, sensitive artist. Alyssa and Mehdi embark on a journey that might offer a path to a better life. The film tackles the struggles of Tunisian youth with boldness and a sense of humor.

The courtroom becomes a battleground in We Believe You, a Belgian social drama centered on Alice’s fight for custody. Every word she speaks and every action she takes is scrutinized, as her interactions with social services deepen her sense of helplessness.

The program includes

  1. 1001 Frames, dir. Mehrnoush Alia, USA, Iran, 2025, 85’
  2. Christy, dir. Brendan Canty, Ireland, 2025, 94’
  3. Lesson Learned, dir. Bálint Szimler, Hungary, 2024, 119’
  4. Manas, dir. Marianna Brennand, Brazil, Portugal, 2024, 101’
  5. The New Year That Never Came, dir. Bogdan Mureşanu, Romania, Serbia, 2024, 138’
  6. Oxana, dir. Charlène Favier, France, Ukraine, Hungary, 2024, 104’
  7. Paternal Leave, dir. Alissa Jung, Italy, Germany, 2025, 113’
  8. Perla, dir. Alexandra Makarová, Austria, Slovakia, 2025, 110’
  9. To Kill a Mongolian Horse, dir. Xiaoxuan Jiang, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, USA, 2024, 97’
  10. Loss of Balance, dir. Korek Bojanowski, Poland, 2024, 98’
  11. Where the Wind Comes From, dir. Amel Guellaty, Tunisia, France, Qatar, 2025, 99’
  12. We Believe You, dir. Charlotte Devillers, Arnaud Dufeys, Belgium, 2025, 78’

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