Results of the 2026 Ladek Mountain Festival Film Competition!

We are pleased to present the results of the Film Competition, traditionally held during the Mountain Festival in Lądek-Zdrój! After viewing all 35 titles accepted into the Film Competition of the 31st Mountain Festival, the Jury — Eliza Kubarska, Agnieszka Śmigiel, Wojtek Kozakiewicz, and Rafał Skalski — selected the best films.

Konkurs Filmowy 2026: przedstawiamy wyniki!

GRAND PRIZE

„LOVING KARMA”

What do we look for in documentary films? Extraordinary protagonists, moving stories, inspiration, and the opportunity to enter the worlds we would otherwise never encounter. The film we unanimously chose for the Grand Prix has all of these qualities. Furthermore, it offers the audience a tangible proof that love and compassion can be stronger than fear and rejection. With unusual tenderness and sensitivity, the filmmakers build a close relationship with their protagonists, allowing us, the audience, to feel part of this extraordinary place – a remarkable laboratory of care, compassion and empathy. And most importantly – it really works.

Directed by Johnny Burke, Andrew Hinton

Financial prize of 3000 EURO is sponsored by Nagroda Lokalnego Biznesu

BEST POLISH FILM

„SILVER”

Showing how brutal the reality around us is, requires remarkable sensitivity. This observational documentary film takes us into a world with no way out – both literally and metaphorically. The filmmakers are not afraid of daring camerawork and a bold narrative structure. They follow their collective protagonist through a reality that must exist for our comfortable Western lives to continue.

Directed by Natalia Koniarz

Financial prize of 3000 PLN is sponsored by Fundacja Himalaizmu Polskiego im. Andrzeja Zawady

BEST FILM ABOUT CLIMBING

„GIRL CLIMBER”

This documentary feature film captures not only the unimaginable struggle to free-climb a nearly 1,000-meters, almost vertical route on El Capitan within 24 hours. Between climbing attempts, the director allows us to enter Emily’s world. We witness her exhaustion, her pain, her fear of further accidents, and her reflections on how much she is willing to sacrifice to achieve her dream. It is through these questions that the film goes beyond the account of an extraordinary sporting achievement, and becomes a universal story of ambition, pushing boundaries, and the price of pursuing the goals.

Directed by Jon Glassberg
/ Red Bull Studios, Lauder Than Eleven

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by Polski Związek Alpinizmu

BEST FILM ABOUT MOUNTAINEERING

„ZINDABAD”

It is a film about restoring the local community’s right to the mountains – a community whose people grow up surrounded by them, in a respectful, spiritual relationship with the high peaks. The protagonist draws attention to the complex situation in Pakistan and, with enormous effort, often pushing himself beyond his own limits, tries to carve out a place for local mountaineers in the Pakistan’s mountains. His imagination and determination make us believe that we can envision a better future, off the beaten track. It is a story of an attempt to give the mountains back to their inhabitants, in opposition to Western, often colonial expeditions.

Directed by Tom Fish

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by Hanna i Grzegorz König

BEST FILM ABOUT PEOPLE AND MOUNTAINS

„THE BRIDE OF MONT BLANC”

This film shows that mountain cinema is not only about great feats and achievements. Above all, this film is about the relationship between humans and the mountains. It is also a story of commemoration and representation. The protagonist rediscovers, for herself and for the audience, the forgotten story of Henriette d’Angeville’s unaided woman ascent of Mont Blanc. She confronts her own fears, limitations and stereotypes that remain powerful even in the 21st century. Wearing historical clothing and enduring extremely uncomfortable conditions, supported by her female guide and a timeless sense of sisterhood, she creates a moving piece of mountain herstory.

Directed by Grace Taylorson Smith

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by Agencja Wyprawowa Adventure 24

BEST FILM ABOUT ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION

„THE FIVE TREASURES OF THE SNOW”

Does true victory always mean achieving the goal? Or is it sometimes the ability to stop just short of it? The story of the first successful ascent on Kanchenjunga in 1955, beautifully edited from archival footage, offers a timeless reflection on human ambition, the power of desire, but also on humility in the face of something greater than ourselves.

Directed by John Porter, Dom Bush

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by: Uniwersytet DSW Ideis

BEST FILM ABOUT MOUNTAIN SPORTS

„OLD MAN LIGHTNING”

This film about the legendary climber’s attempt to return to his former physical form, is a documentary comedy that entertains, keeps us in suspense and moves us. The filmmakers and the protagonist don’t take themselves too seriously, which allows the story to avoid pathos while giving it a universal dimension. It is a film about ambition and the need to push one’s boundaries later in life, but above all, about what really matters in pursuing a passion. Do we always have to chase the goals we set ourselves years ago, whatever the cost? Sometimes, true victory may lie in the ability to reassess our own ambitions. The filmmakers approach the subject with humour and a subversive twist, defying the conventions of most films about “great athletes”, in which victory is all that matters.

Directed by Dawn Kish

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by: Zegarki.pl

BEST FILM ABOUT BIKING

„IMMERSION – NOTHING TO HIDE”

This film is not only a portrait of an extraordinary athlete, but above all, a record of intimate confessions by a man who expresses himself through movement, risk and interaction with space. The film captivates us with its imagery, but it stays with us because of its authenticity. It shows that, for Kilian Bron, extreme bike riding is not a goal, but a way of being. A way of finding solace and order in a world, where chaos usually reigns.

Directed by Julien Raidon, Kilian Bron

Financial prize of 800 EURO is sponsored by: Auto-Partner Gdańsk

BEST SHORT FILM

„JUST CLIMBER (FR. CAP OU PAS CAP)”

Despite its brevity, this short film is thematically rich. The struggles of the charismatic protagonist, Solenne Piret, who had to develop her own climbing techniques because she has only one hand, are portrayed in a way that gives her story a metaphorical and universal dimension. The film’s technical mastery makes the risk and tension of high-altitude climbing almost physically palpable. The film gives us goosebumps without losing sight of either its protagonist or the universal dimension of her story.

Directed by Jérôme Tanon

Financial prize of 600 EURO is sponsored by: FilmyGórskie.pl

HONORABLE MENTIONS

„DISSIDENCE – TWO SHADOWS ON THE WALL”

Both in form and content, this film highlights passion, determination and the power of brotherhood. The story of two Indonesian climbers, twin brothers, is a powerful reminder that everything in the world depends on privilege, socio-economic circumstances and the place where you were born. At the same time, it is a positive story about how dreams can sometimes help us to overcome these constraints

Directed by Rama Dio Syahputra

„EXCALIBUR. A PURSUIT IN PROCESS”

A short and simple film that impresses with its form and storytelling precision. The attempt to climb one demanding wall, thanks to the filmmakers’ skill, and the charismatic protagonist, becomes something more than just a sporting challenge. It becomes a universal metaphore for overcoming one’s weaknesses and limitations

Directed by Brooke Raboutou, Ben Neilson