Polish community in California had a unique opportunity to see a Polish production at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the region. "Altar Boys" directed by Piotr Domalewski represented Polish cinema at the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival, which took place in early January.
FILM FESTIVAL IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA
Palm Springs, a well-known Polish community hub in Southern California, attracts film lovers from around the world to its annual festival. This year's edition gathered 168 films from 72 countries. Among them was only one Polish production - making this success even more significant for our community abroad.
Director Piotr Domalewski personally came to California and met with audiences during two Q&A sessions after screenings. This was an excellent opportunity for Polonia to have direct contact with a Polish filmmaker and discuss a film that touches universal themes of morality and responsibility.
THE STORY
The film tells the story of a group of teenage altar boys from a Polish housing estate who come up with a controversial idea - they install a listening device in the confessional. Hearing parishioners' confessions, they begin to interfere in neighbors' lives on their own. They help some, punish others. The line between good and evil begins to blur.
For many Poles in California who grew up in similar realities - parish communities, altar service, strong church bonds - this film may evoke special memories and reflections.
CAST AND AWARDS
The main roles were played by young actors: Tobiasz Wajda, Bruno Blach-Baar, and brothers Mikolaj and Filip Juszczyk. They are joined by acclaimed Polish cinema artists - Kamila Urzedowska, Tomasz Schuchardt, Slawomir Orzechowski, and Artur Paczesny.
Before coming to America, the film won the Golden Lions at the Gdynia Film Festival and the Audience Award. It has been showing in Polish cinemas since November 2025.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The presence of "Altar Boys" in Palm Springs signals that Polish cinema is thriving and being noticed on the international stage. For California Polonia, this is a source of pride - our film competed with productions from around the world and was selected for the prestigious World Cinema Now section.
Hopefully, the film will soon reach wider distribution in the USA, giving more of our compatriots abroad a chance to see it.
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