THE FOREST / LAS / ЛІС

Leonid Nefedovich
Sep 25
2 min read

2024 / 85' / documentary / Poland, Czech Republic

After graduating from university, Asia and Marek bought an old house near the eastern border of Poland. There in Białowieża Forest, the oldest forest of Europe, the couple created their own paradise over the years – a place where their children can grow up safely, away from the problems of today's world. For Marysia, Ignacy and Franek the forest became their second

home. Yet one day, things change as strangers show up. Refugees, unwelcome both in Poland and Belarus. Despite controversial border laws, the whole family helps those who are in need.

The new reality shows its impact on the children's world: they no longer play knights and princesses, but refugees and border guards. The growing humanitarian crisis on the EU border entered the family's safe place, leaving nothing as it used to be.

Screenings schedule:

September 28, 2025 at 10:15 a.m. at the Zhovten Cinema, Anshlah Hall

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DIRECTOR - LIDIA DUDA

Biography

Lidia Duda is a director and writer of documentary films. Her latest film “Fledglings” (2022) received the Marco Zucchi Award in the Semaine de la critique section at the 2022 Locarno Film Festival, as well as four awards at the Millennium Docs Against the Gravity Film Festival in Poland. She is a two-time winner of the Grand Prix at the Kraków Film Festival for “Hercules” (2005) and “Entangled” (2012).

She also won Grand Prix awards at film festivals in Chicago, New York, Houston, Istanbul, Mexico, Moscow, Banff, Guangzhou, and Prague. For her documentary “U nas w Pietraszach” (“In Our Village Pietrasze”, 2002), Lidia Duda was awarded the Grand Press. A member of the Polish Filmmakers Association, the Polish Film Academy and the Documentary Directors Guild of Poland.

Selected filmography