The schedule might change slightly.
Simultaneous translation from Polish to English will be provided for the event.
After each part, there will be time for open discussion, exchange of experiences, and for questions.

08.30-09.00

WELCOME COFFEE, NETWORKING

Maciek Sokołowski, Kasia Biernacka

09.00-10.00

FINDING YOUR STORY

Masterclass by Eliza Kubarska

Every documentary begins with a question, a spark, a deep need to understand or share something. But how do you know if your idea has the strength to carry a film? And to carry you through the long, unpredictable
road of making it?
During this workshop, we will explore:

• How do I choose a story for a film? What is it about — in one powerful sentence?
• Does this story have the potential to become a universal narrative? (and why that matters)
• Who will find this topic interesting? Who is the target audience of this film?
• Why do you need to tell this story? What is your mission or personal motivation?
• How much control do you have over how the story unfolds? What are the possible narrative scenarios?
• How much time are you willing to dedicate to this film?
• Is this a story suited for a short, medium-length, or feature film?
• Who is the main character, and why? (this will lead us into the topic of choosing your protagonist)

This is a session about intuition, structure, and emotional clarity — a space to pause and reflect before you pick up the camera. Because the stories we choose shape not only our films, but also ourselves.

10.15-11.15

FROM “VALHALLA” TO “CHAMPIONS OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY”

HOW OUR DIFFERENT CAREERS IN FILM LED US TO MAKING THIS FEATURE DOC

Presentation by Ben Sturgulewski (film director) and Katie Stjernholm (film producer)

“Valhalla” has been hailed as the best ski film of all time. “he Champions of the Golden Valley” won 25 jury and audience awards at festivals worldwide within a year of its premiere. Director Ben Sturgulewski and producer Katie Stjernholm will discuss their filmmaking journey.

11.30-12.30

GEAR FOR FILMING IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT

Presentation by Jan Wierzejski

The author, with 20 years of filmmaking experience, will share practical insights from his mountain projects –from his first climbs in the Tatra Mountains, through trips to the Caucasus and the Alps, to the OSHEE Slide
Challenge project, which involved abseiling from the world's highest waterfalls.
The presentation will include tips on choosing filming equipment that performs well in the field – that is durable, lightweight, and versatile. A separate section will be devoted to drones, with which the author has been working for many years. We will also discuss the organization of larger mountain productions carried out by Opodal Films.

12.45-13.15

WHAT KIND OF FILMS THE FESTIVALS SEARCH FOR? AND HOW DOES THE JUDGING PROCESS LOOKS LIKE?

Kasia Biernacka in conversation with Alan Formanek – Director of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival in Canada, and with Benoît Aymon – artistic director of FIFAD, International Alpine Film Festival in Les Diablerets, Switzerland. 2025 Film Jurors – Aleksandra Leszczyńska, Eliza Kubarska and Jan Wierzejski will also share their points of view.

13.15-14.15

break

14.15-15.15

FINANCING A DOCUMENTARY FILM

Workshop by Eliza Kubarska

• Pros and Cons of National Production vs. International Co-production
• How much does it really cost to make a documentary?
• What changes when you film in extreme conditions or far-off locations?

In this presentation, we’ll explore the full landscape of documentary film financing — from local film institutes to international partners, private sponsors, and distribution deals.
We’ll discuss:

• Realistic documentary budgets
• Risk assessment and working in remote, high-risk environments
• Where to look for funding: national film funds, international co-production partners, NGOs, private investors, and more
• The benefits and challenges of international co-productions
• Key stages of documentary production: development, production, post-production, and promotion
• Crew size and structure: minimalist teams vs. large crews — what works best and when?
• Navigating the director–producer relationship
• When to start? Assessing the right moment to begin production in relation to your financing

This session offers a practical and honest look at what it takes — creatively, logistically, and financially — to bring a documentary to life.

• Bonus: Strategy and positioning of a film already at the idea stage. The relationship between producer, director, and distributor.

 15:30 – 16:00

SUSTAINABLE FILM PRODUCTION

Presentation by Aleksandra Leszczyńska

Aleksandra Leszczyńska has been combining film production with environmental protection for over five years.
She is one of the founders of the FILM FOR CLIMATE group. In her brief presentation, Aleksandra will focus on several aspects of audiovisual production: she will discuss working in nature, propose solutions to reduce carbon footprints, and present practical, „green” options for equipment and transportation. The presentation aims to inspire an even more environmentally friendly approach to mountain filmmaking.

16.15-17.15

10 TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE BETTER FILMS

Workshop by Projekt Film – Karol Lewandowski, Adam Chill Woźniakiewicz, Alina Kondrat, Marcin Mossakowski, Paulina Wierzgacz

17.15-17.45

WRAP-UP, NETWORKING