9th-12th November in York

13th-17th November in Manchester

Watch the trailer here

A Bear Named Wojtek tells the fantastic journey of an orphaned Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II, becoming a beacon of hope and an emblem of their fate.

A half hour animated film, A Bear Named Wojtek is essentially a love story for one’s homeland – an important subject in times of refugees, nationalism and xenophobia. It relates the experience of the Polish people during World War II through the true story of Wojtek and his friend Piotr Prendys, a member of the 22nd Artillery Corps of the 2nd Polish Army.

The story begins with a platoon of Polish soldiers, exiled in the Persian Desert, trading rations for a small orphaned Syrian bear cub that Piotr names Wojtek – ‘the happy warrior’. To Piotr, the bear comes to represent his lost homeland, needing protection and care to become strong and independent again. To Wojtek, Piotr and the soldiers become his only family.

“Wojtek the Bear is a cult figure in Poland and his story a symbol of Polish fate during and after WW2. Strongly connected with Britain and especially Scotland, where he lived after the war,” says Włodzimierz Matuszewski, one of the producers.

The film will be competing for the Best British Animation at the Manchester Animation Festival.

The film will be screened in York at the Aesthetica Film Festival and at the Manchester Animation Festival this November.

In York as part of the It’s Not Done Until It’s Done collection on 9th at 17:30, 11th at 19:30 and 12th at 16:30. Information about York tickets can be found here.

In Manchester as part of the British Animation Short Film Award Competition on 13th November at 10:00, 14th Nov at 20:30, 16th Nov at 10:00 and 17th Nov at 16:30. Tickets for Manchester screenings can be purchased here.