The annual, two-part festival presents classic Polish cinema as well as contemporary works produced by the newest generation of the country's filmmakers. It showcases internationally recognized films that might not otherwise be seen in the area and attracts renowned Polish actors, directors, screenwriters, and critics to Rochester.

The festival is sponsored by the Skalny Center, the Polish Film Institute, the Polish Filmmakers Association, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York and the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester.

Schedule of Events:

7:00 pm: The Girl with the Needle - 115 minutes

Karoline, a young factory worker, is trying to survive in Copenhagen right after WWI. When she falls pregnant, she loses her job and is left to her own devices. That's when she meets Dagmar, a charismatic owner of an illegal adoption agency assisting mothers in finding new homes for their unwanted children. With no other option, Karoline starts working at Dagmar's agency as a wet nurse. The two women start to bond, but Karoline's world falls apart once she discovers the shocking truth about her employer.

Inspired by a true story The Girl with the Needle is an unsettling tale about a woman struggling to find love and a sense of morality.

Denmark has selected The Girl with the Needle as its Oscar submission for the Best International Feature Film category. The film received a fantastic reception at its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and the North American premiere in Toronto. Silver Lions at the 2024 Gdynia Polish Film Festival.