Cultural Backgrounds series is an original idea for the screening of films that describe specific cultural climate and social phenomena characteristic for a certain part of the world, regardless of whether the director used a form of documentary, feature or animation. The films in Cultural Backgrounds are a peculiar reaction to those phenomena in cinema, allowing us to look at the matters of people from other cultural circles through their own eyes, and not through the perspective of the Western culture.

screening curator: Andrzej Rusin

Head on the Wall, dir. Manuel Manrique (Spain) 2024, 21’, 16+
Rafael Jesús was destined to become a legendary bullfighter, but for the past three years, bullfighting has been banned. The man wanders the streets, trying to fit into a world that no longer has a place for him.
Winner of six Fugaz awards. Polish premiere.

Mona, dir. Abdulrahman Alshowaiki (Belgium) 2023, 11’, 15+
A Syrian mother has her hands full preparing refreshments for a special guest. Her younger daughter resents her lack of attention before an important exam, while the older daughter, who is meeting her future husband today, refuses to leave her room. Will Mona find a way out of this difficult situation?
Film presented at e.g. FEST.

Across the Waters, dir. Viv Li (France) 2024, 15’, 15+
A teenage girl living in a remote mining town without any radio signals becomes interested in a truck driver from the big city. The man has a device she has never seen in her life.
Film awarded at Cannes IFF. Polish premiere.

Bondi Boy, dir. Rhavin Banda (Australia) 2025, 11’, 16+
Radhesh, a high school student in the wealthy Sydney suburb of Bondi, climbs the social ladder by rejecting those close to him – and his own dignity.
Film presented at e.g. London SFF. Polish premiere.

Rachid, dir. Rachida El Garani (Belgium) 2023, 19’, 15+
Rachid doesn’t want to be seen as a stereotypical Muslim living in Belgium. He is looking for a good job, but the only place willing to hire him is a halal butcher shop.
Film awarded at e.g. Leuven ISFF.