October 8–9, 2026
The third edition of a film celebration for independent amateur filmmakers from Eastern Europe.
October 8–9, 2026
The third edition of a film celebration for independent amateur filmmakers from Eastern Europe.
ABOUT THE REVIEW
INDEPENDEAST is a film review dedicated exclusively to amateur filmmakers from Eastern Europe – people who create films out of passion, because they love what they do.
We want to present to audiences sincere, fresh, and original stories told by young enthusiasts who may not have formal film education, but who have the courage and sensitivity to share their unique view of the world.
Our goal is to create a space for the authentic voices of filmmakers living and working in Eastern Europe, and for films full of ideas, energy and emotion. It is a unique place on the world map, where different cultures have met and intertwined for centuries.
The third edition of INDEPENDEAST will take place on October 8-9, 2026, in Suwałki, Poland.
The three best films will receive prizes worth a total of
PLN 8,000.
We are accepting film submissions until September 24, 2026.
Details and the submission form are available below.
Selected films will also be published on the streaming platform KINEJO.
Organizer: Bardzo Dziki Wschód – Foundation for the Development of Podlasie Cinema
JURY
Rasa Rimickaitė
Cultural scholar, theatre researcher, translator, and cultural activist.
From 2012 to 2024, she served as Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Poland. She graduated in Lithuanian Philology and Theatre Studies from Vilnius University, as well as from the Graduate School for Social Research at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.
She has initiated and patronized numerous projects promoting Lithuanian culture and literature in Poland, and has actively supported cooperation among Polish, Lithuanian, and Jewish creative communities. Recipient of many Polish awards, including the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, and the Stanisław Vincenz Award of the Kraków City Council.
Bodo Kox
director, screenwriter and happening artist. An auteur filmmaker whose work combines magical realism and absurdity with a sensitive perspective on outsiders and people who defy social conventions. His films include The Girl from the Wardrobe and The Man with the Magic Box. His latest feature film, Horizon, is set to premiere in 2027. Recipient of numerous film awards in Poland and abroad.
Anita Piotrowska
Film critic and columnist for Tygodnik Powszechny, co-author of books on cinema, and columnist for Charaktery magazine. She also writes for Ekrany and Kino. Artistic Director of the Krakow Film Festival. As a member of FIPRESCI, she has served on juries at numerous festivals in Poland and abroad. In the field of film criticism, she has been awarded by the Polish Film Institute (2014) and by ZAIKS (2021).
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RULES AND REGULATIONS
fundacja@bardzodzikiwschod.pl