Zapaleńcy. Historia polskiego filmu animowanego

Directed by Marcin Giżycki, Jacek Knopp and Michał Mróz

With Tomek Bagiński and Mariusz Wilczyński

A century of Polish animation unfolds pre-war avant-garde experiments to today’s independent scene. It foregrounds a generation of committed artists who, working amid shifting social and cultural conditions, forged a singular visual language — blending cut-outs, puppets, and experimental techniques with surrealism, philosophy, and dark humour. Drawing on pioneers such as Jan Lenica and Walerian Borowczyk, the film explores how animation became a space for artistic exploration, subtle commentary, and formal innovation. A chronicle of artistic triumphs and an intimate portrait of a medium that constantly redefined the boundaries of imagination.