And what happens off screen? Accompanying events at the 16th TAURON AFF
After all, people don’t come to festivals just to charge up on films alone — the TAURON American Film Festival, there will be plenty of opportunities to listen, dance, get inspired, and have a good conversation with someone smart. What, where, when, and for whom? Here’s your guide to AFF’s accompanying events. The festival kicks off this Thursday, November 6!
For the youngest
As the twig is bent... Matinées for kids with Project Muzyka Band. We’ll screen Polish classics and contemporary animations with an American twist — accompanied by live sounds and melodies performed by Projekt Muzyka, the duo of Ola and Janek Korpak. For over 15 years, they’ve been musically educating families, composing original songs and teaching aids, leading workshops, and performing at concerts throughout Poland.
For the chatterboxes
That is — activities without leaving the cinema hall. You can start academically with masterclasses by Susan Seidelman and Alexandre O. Philippe. The festival itself offers countless chances to meet AFF filmmakers (see the full list here), but there are also plenty of occasions for deeper conversations. Join film discussion clubs (DKF) led by Pełna Sala and Immersja. The latter will also host a debate on the current state of American cinema, featuring Łukasz Muszyński (Filmweb), Ula Śniegowska (AFF), and Filip Mańka (Immersja). Fans of Podkast Amerykański can meet its hosts, Łukasz Pawłowski and Piotr Tarczyński, on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the New Horizons Cinema. It’s also worth catching screenings in the Politics on Screen section, co-curated with the podcast — each film will be preceded by introductions from Łukasz and Piotr.
For the bookworms
Follow Piotr Tarczyński to Club Proza for American literature talks. Four festival evenings (each at 7 p.m.) bring literary journeys through America: Oślizgłe macki, wiadome siły. Historia Ameryki w teoriach spiskowych (Znak Literanova) — conversation with Piotr Tarczyński; The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism (Czarne) — conversation with Katherine Stewart; Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman (Port) — conversation with Marta Nowak and Marta Zdzieborska; Queer by William S. Burroughs (Filia) — conversation with Rafał Księżyk. No need to have read the books — just bring your curiosity. Admission is free, subject to capacity.
For the jokesters
Welcome to the AFF Comedy Club! The laughs start with the Freaks and Geeks section and continue with the discussion Comedy at the Beginning of the Millennium, featuring screenwriter and producer Łukasz Sychowicz, filmmaker and BIG Festivalowski artistic director Alek Pietrzak, and moderator Łukasz Muszyński (Filmweb). And on Sunday, see how American stand-up comedy fares on Polish soil during Three Americans Go to the Movie.
For the adventurous
Looking to make new friends? Try Speedfriending with the Psychoczule collective. Want to test your film knowledge? Join a quick film quiz with Twoja Stara. Curious about new flavors? Check out the wine and food pairing at the Focus Premium Hotel restaurant. Feeling spontaneous? Don’t miss the Secret Screening from SkyShowtime. AFF has something for every kind of explorer.
Sleep? Who needs it? Where to go for an AFF-ter party
Where does the night take us? To the second floor of the New Horizons Cinema – straight to a real American house party. During the festival we’re opening the Top Floor Bar – a late-night hangout where you can relax, chat, and refuel at the AFF-ter parties (also in the cinema space). The opening night will be graced by Tycjana with her set, on Friday we’ll party at Silent Disco inspired by the Freaks and Geeks section, Saturday night will be spent in the spirit of Erupcja (with the help of the duo ANDIAMO and Lena Góra), and the last two nights belong to Corona Sunset Hours. All AFF-ter parties are free (Silent Disco headphones: PLN 25). Entry via the side door on Św. Antoniego Street — with a festival pass, accreditation, or a film ticket for that day.
We invite you to the 16th TAURON American Film Festival, November 6–11, at the New Horizons Cinema in Wrocław (we start this Thursday!). And until November 23, you can bring the festival home with our online screenings. The full program is now available on the AFF website.
View the full festival program
