International Premiere
A young man’s house party takes an unexpected turn when his gangster neighbour breaks into his apartment. A carefully crafted morality story, For Real forces its protagonist to make uncomfortable choices. This is a tough survival drama that effectively chronicles a series of bad decisions that lead to life-changing events. Exceptionally well-acted, shot, and edited, the movie takes the audience on a complete journey that’s entertaining and frightening. Tense, unpredictable, and frustrating, this is a complicated scenario where any choice has dangerous consequences.
Community Partner
Dawid Ściupidro, Maciej Kosiacki, Bernadetta Statkiewicz, Daniel Namiotko, Hubert Fiebig
Poland
2022
In Polish with English subtitles
Featured in:
International Shorts: Morality Plays
Morals are being challenged on many fronts. The protagonists in this program of short films are all faced with difficult moral choices and they don’t always make the right decisions.
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Sirât
A desperate father (Sergi Lopez) searchers for his missing daughter through the spiritual wasteland of the Moroccan desert. An unforgettable sensory powerhouse, Sîrat will have you riveted and rattled for hours after the end credits have rolled.
Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary, and Special Jury Prize Winner, Sundance, 2025, this exposé shot by a Russian primary teacher shows how the Putin propaganda machine works to militarize children.
2026 Oscar® Shorts (Documentary)
Don't come to the program of Oscar®-nominated documentary shorts for escapism. But let's talk about the Canadian contender, Perfectly a Strangeness, featuring an abandoned observatory and three donkeys. More of this, please.
Round Midnight: Ardeshir Plays Dexter Gordon
Loosely based on Bud Powell's time in Paris, Round Midnight (131 mins) is maybe the greatest of all films about jazz thanks to the towering performance of real-life jazz great Dexter Gordon. Saxophonist Ardeshir channels Gordon's vibe in his live set.
The Love That Remains
Anna and Magnús have separated, leaving her to raise their three children as he spends long stretches at sea, working as a fisherman. As the seasons pass, their emotions ebb and flow. A richly conceived story with unexpected delight and humour.
Credits
Producer
Agata Golańska
Screenwriter
Ernest Lorek
Cinematography
Edgar Grishchuk
Editor
Marta Ossowska
Original Music
Michał Lejczak
Production Design
Katarzyna Tomczyk
Director
Ernest Lorek
Director and actor Ernest Lorek was born in Warsaw and studied Philosophy at the University of Warsaw. He is currently a fifth year student in the directing department of the Polish National Film School in Łódź. He creates music videos for leading Polish rappers and others. He has directed many short films including Into the Forest (2018), which was awarded as Best Student Film at Opavský páv.