Warsaw Film School

Two films directed by Warsaw Film School students are in the running for a Student Academy Award®.

 

'Kanaan', directed by Dominik Mirecki, and the international production 'Kamathipura Express', directed by Leon Korzyński, have both been shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to the list announced last night.

 

The achievement is a remarkable one: the films were selected from 2,910 submissions from around the world. Only 15 narrative films advanced to the semifinal stage, and the Warsaw Film School productions are the only Polish projects to make the shortlist.

 

 

 

'Kanaan' follows two immigrants from the Middle East who fled the war and sought refuge in Poland, where they now work illegally as construction laborers. During a renovation job, they discover a dead body—but calling the police could result in their deportation. The film is a tense and emotionally charged story about moral dilemmas, desperation, and the limits of human decency.

 

 

Shot on location in India, 'Kamathipura Express' is a vibrant and emotional story about Osi, a young Polish man living in the slums of Mumbai, where he hides from his past and the responsibilities he left behind. He falls in love with Sapna, a teenage dancer whose family is drowning in debt. When her father attempts to sell her to a brothel, the young couple is forced to flee across India, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Kamathipura—Mumbai's infamous red-light district.

 

Reaching the Student Academy Awards semifinals is one of the highest distinctions a student film can achieve. Organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the competition has long served as a launchpad for emerging filmmakers, helping them gain international recognition and begin successful careers. Past Student Academy Award winners include acclaimed directors such as Robert Zemeckis and Spike Lee.

 

The 53rd Student Academy Awards® ceremony will take place on September 14, 2026, during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

 

Kanaan

2026 | 15 min | Poland

Director: Dominik Mirecki
Screenplay: Dominik Mirecki, Żaneta Homa, Damian Homa
Director of Photography: Mateusz Gzel
Cast: Żaneta Homa, Omar Hemid
Sound: Olga Zalewska
Editor: Michał Pyszora
Producer: Maciej Ślesicki / Warsaw Film School

 

Kamathipura Express

2026 | 28 min | Poland / India

Director: Leon Korzyński
Screenplay: Leon Korzyński, Sahil Mirani
Director of Photography: Witold Prokopczyk
Cast: Oskar Karos, Mia Paul, Tomasz Kot, Agnieszka Żulewska
Music: Franciszek Skorupka
Sound: Filip Szawernowski
Editor: Krystian Łupiński
Producer: Maciej Ślesicki / Warsaw Film School

 

Films produced by the Warsaw Film School receive financial support from the Polish Film Institute.