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SUMMARY:Polish movies at the Docaviv Festival
UID:https://instytutpolski.pl/telaviv/en/2026/04/29/polish-movies-at-the-docaviv-festival-3/
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DESCRIPTION:The Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival returns this year with
a rich and diverse program of documentary cinema from Israel and around the
world. In recent years, Polish documentary filmmaking has maintained a
strong and consistent presence at the festival, reflecting its prominent
position on the international scene. In 2024, for example, the film In the
Rearview by Maciek Hamela received an award at the festival—further
evidence of the recognition Polish filmmakers enjoy both in Israel and
worldwide. Polish documentary cinema is distinguished by its combination of
historical depth, social sensitivity, and a continuous search for a
distinctive cinematic language.
 
The Polish Institute in Tel Aviv is pleased to present a selection of
Polish films (as well as regional co-productions) featured in the 2026
edition of the festival.






Screening dates will be announced soon!




 


The Big Chief
Director: Tomasz Wolski
The film tells the complex story of Leopold Trepper—a Polish Jew, leader
of the “Red Orchestra” spy network, and one of the most intriguing
figures of the 20th century. After World War II, Trepper becomes a target
of persecution by the communist authorities in Poland. Through rare
archival footage and a deeply personal narrative, the film explores the
tension between heroism and political repression, as well as enduring
antisemitism.
 
Traces
Directors: Alisa Kovalenko & Marysia Nikitiuk
A powerful co-production documenting the stories of six women who survived
sexual violence during the war in Ukraine. Based on testimonies from
members of SEMA UKRAINE, the film creates a poignant portrait of trauma,
memory, and the struggle for justice.
 
Divia
Director: Dmytro Hreshko
A visually driven, dialogue-free film examining the environmental
devastation in Ukraine caused by years of war. Through striking imagery,
the film reflects on the relationship between nature and conflict, as well
as the possibility of renewal.
 
The films presented this year reflect key trends in Polish and regional
documentary cinema: a critical engagement with both the past and the
present, creative use of archival materials, and a combination of personal
testimony with broader political expression. Through stories that are both
intimate and universal, they offer a nuanced perspective on contemporary
Europe.
The Polish Institute in Tel Aviv invites Israeli audiences to discover
Polish cinema as part of the festival and to take part in the cultural
dialogue it inspires—on memory, responsibility, and identity in a
changing world.
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