Pete Ohs’ "Erupcja", starring Charli XCX, joins the 16th AFF lineup
Yesterday, Erupcja—a film developed within US in Progress and in collaboration with Polish filmmakers—premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Charli XCX and Lena Góra are electrifying on screen as characters who rediscover their relationship against the backdrop of Warsaw. The film has already earned rave reviews, and we are thrilled to announce that Pete Ohs’ Erupcja will be part of the 16th American Film Festival.
Filmed using the director’s signature method—working from only a rough outline and drawing energy from improvisation and collaboration—Erupcja tells the story (nomen omen) of suddenly erupting emotions and desires. Bethany (Charli XCX) takes her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden) to Warsaw. A romantic getaway? Yes, but she also has another agenda: to see whether Nel (Lena Góra), a friend from previous visits, is still in the city. Every time they met, a volcano erupted somewhere in Europe—now Etna is boiling, flights across the continent are grounded. Bethany and Rob stay in Warsaw for longer, entangling themselves in a web of confessions and hidden desires.
“I met [Charli] days before ‘Brat’ was released. She knew good things were coming, but I don’t think she knew how good it was going to be. Even at that point, she was expressing interest in acting,” Pete Ohs told Variety.
“I was immediately fascinated by Pete’s process and the kind of rough outline for this sort of anti-love story in Warsaw. I was hooked from the jump, and I just thought it sounded like a really fun and unique project,” Charli xcx said in an interview with Filmmaker Magazine.
An intimate, truly independent production—Ohs makes films with crews of only a few people, often acting as cameraman, editor, co-producer, and co-writer—allowed him to work dynamically and stay in constant creative motion. As a result, he remains highly prolific, and the 16th AFF program will also include other films connected to him: The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick and Obex, produced by Ohs and directed by Albert Birney.
US in Progress – call for projects now open
Erupcja was made possible thanks to US in Progress, a program connecting North American filmmakers with Polish post-production companies. The call for this year’s edition is open until September 10.
““It’s the only industry event outside the U.S. that focuses on and gives priority to American filmmakers in order to recognize and bring awareness of Polish production and post-production assets.” says Ula Śniegowska, director of the American Film Festival, in Variety.
This year's US in Progress will take place on November 4-8, 2025, in Warsaw and Wrocław.
The 16th American Film Festival will be held on November 6–11 in Wrocław. Pass vouchers are already on sale. Regular passes and accreditations will be available starting September 9.
