2026 – 173,522 entries. 2025 – the highest attendance in history. This is enough to confirm that the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival is an exceptionally important and prestigious celebration of short film. We are delighted that the Lodz Film School can make its presence felt there every year.

Our films at the Festival include: * DYING OF THE YOUNG DEER, dir. Angelika Cygal, film in the International Competition

This fiction film by Angelika Cygal premieres internationally as the only Polish film in the competition among 64 films.

Film synopsis: Helka leaves her family home and walks through the village to her husband's house. She carries with her a duvet filled with goose feathers. Despite the silence of the journey, Helka hears things that have never been spoken before.

Credits:
screenplay and direction: Angelika Cygal
cinematography: Szczepan Lewandowski
editing: Michael Stoklosa
production management: Alicja Krajewska
artistic supervision: Łukasz Barczyk, Andrzej Musiał, Piotr Śliskowski, Roman Kałuża
cast: Helena Rząsa, Ewa Cygal, Zdzisław Cygal

* MY SECRET CYBERLOVE, dir. Bartosz Stankiewicz, will compete for the European Audience Award

In the European Short Film Audience Award section, each of the films presented won the Audience Award in its country.
Now, these films will compete for the European Award, but before that happens, they will be seen by festival audiences in 10 countries. Next stop is Clermont-Ferrand.

Film synopsis: Robert is in a relationship with a sex robot and runs a cake shop with his mother. When the cake oven breaks, his toxic father returns to fix it. The presence of his father tests Robert's love for the robot.

Credits:
direction: Bartosz Stankiewicz
screenplay: Piotr Hadyna, Bartosz Stankiewicz
cinematography: Jan Cisiecki
editing: Aniela Andrejczyk
production management: Katarzyna Lipińska, Julia Machowska
cast: Marcin Cieślikowski, Hanna Klepacka, Ewa Stańczyk, Kordian Rekowski
artistic supervision: Łukasz Barczyk, Piotr Kukla

Film catalogue: static.shortfilmwire.com/catalogues/2026

* Filip Jakubowski, a film directing student, will present his extracurricular project, "Ships Are Note Ships," at Talents Connexion. This industry-wide programme aims to promote and support young European talent. Filip will have the opportunity to present his project to international film producers and distributors and participate in workshops.

Talents Connexion catalogue: heyzine.com/flip-book

We’re keeping fingers crossed for our students!

1 – festival press materials
2 – still from the film DYING OF THE YOUNG DEER
3 – still from the film MY SECRET CYBERLOVE