The Youth and Film festival kicks off in Koszalin, northern Poland, today, showcasing the latest Polish films made by first time movie makers.

The festival is organized by the city hall, the Polish Filmmakers Association and the Marshall Office of the Zachodniopomorskie province. It is the only event in Poland presenting only first productions of young filmmakers, said the festival’s programme director and filmmaker Janusz Kijowski. He believes the quality of Polish film debuts is improving by the year:

"I think there is more scrupulousness and thoroughness in presenting the construction of the film and portraying its language, and more heed is paid to lending the production a metaphorical message."

A total of 14 feature films are contending for the main prize, the Grand Amber. Young filmmakers who have made their mark as authors of documentaries or short films are running in the full-length feature film contest; these include Kinga Dębska, Paweł Sala, Marek Lechki and Ewa Stankiewicz.

A separate contest has been launched for the authors of short feature films, documentaries, and animation. The festival will run until 18 September. (ab)