WATCH DOCS Film Festival 2025-2027

ongoing

This project proposal delineates the plans for the organisation and development of the 25th and 26th editions of the WATCH DOCS. Human Rights in Film International Film Festival as well as year-round festival activities, all to be carried out in the period of 24 months, starting September 2025. WATCH DOCS is the oldest documentary film festival in Warsaw, Poland. Over the years, it grew to become one of the biggest film events in the country. In the last five years, together with year-round initiatives, WATCH DOCS activities reached 599.634 viewers. The 25th WATCH DOCS. Human Rights in Film International Film Festival will take place in a hybrid format in Warsaw on December 4-14, 2025, and online on the territory of Poland. Subsequently, the 26th edition of the festival will take place on December 3–13, 2026. Both international editions of the event will be followed by a number of outreach and audience-development endeavours (among others, Travelling Festival in around 40 localities across Poland, theatrical distribution of selected titles, WATCH DOCS School Screenings), designed to enlarge the audience and attract non-core festival viewers to auteur documentary cinema. Our aim is to present strong European documentary films, outstanding both in terms of filmmaking and subject matter, dealing with most contemporary social issues and human rights agenda. The objectives for the next festival editions include first of all strengthening the festival’s role in attracting young audiences and enhancing their audio-visual competence; further development of the festival accessibility for audiences with special needs; promoting and presenting European talents to the Polish audience; and promoting European documentary filmmakers from low-capacity countries. During the project, we are cautiously estimating the number of participants in festival activities, both theatrical and online, for around 150.000 viewers.