The film ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’, which can still be seen on cinema screens, will be presented at the prestigious children’s cinema festivals in Athens and Tokyo. These are further international accolades for Krzysztof Komander’s feature debut. In July, the world premiere of the film ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ took place in Locarno, during one of the oldest film festivals in the world.
Athens International Children’s Film Festival (ATHICFF) 2025, one of the most important film events for young audiences in Southern Europe. Organised since 2018, the festival is renowned for its innovative educational programmes, involving children and young people in the repertoire selection process, as well as its strong emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. The screening of the film ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ will take place on 12 November 2025 at 10am at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.
Another significant accolade is participation in the KINEKO International Children’s Film Festival 2025 in Tokyo – one of the largest and oldest children’s cinema festivals in Asia. For years, KINEKO has attracted tens of thousands of audiences and visitors from all over the world creating a creative space for filmmakers, educators and young audiences to come together. ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ will compete for an award in the festival’s main competition; the film is scheduled to be screened on 1 November 2025 at 10am.
– We are delighted that our film is making its way to other continents and reaching young audiences in different parts of the world. This is a great accolade for us and proof that the story of the film ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ has a universal message,” says producer Dagmara Piasecka.
‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ is a unique story for children and adults, combining the magic of family cinema with topical themes close to contemporary audiences. Participation in the Athens and Tokyo festivals is further confirmation of the growing international interest in the production. However, before ‘Gnome. A New Beginning’ will once again travel abroad it will first compete for an award in the Main Competition of the Tauron Young Horizons International Festival.
WHAT IS THE FILM ABOUT?
Eleven-year-old Hania has to find herself in a completely new environment after moving to another town. She has no friends and her belief in the existence of gnomes exposes her to ridicule from her peers. When the girls in her class take away her locket – a priceless family heirloom – Hania decides to get it back at all costs. To do so, she must prove that gnomes really exist. In this adventurous mission, she is helped by Michal, the school outsider and young inventor. It is thanks to his support that Hania will open up to the world again and understand that real magic is hidden in friendship.
‘Skrzat. A New Beginning’ is an immersive Polish adventure film that will touch the hearts and spark the imagination of children and adults.
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SKRZAT. A NEW BEGINNING
cast: Amelia Golda, Maksymilian Zieliński, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Anna Smołowik, Wojciech Solarz, Agata Turkot, with special participation of Borys Szyc
Director: Krzysztof Komander
script: Krzysztof Komander
photos: Piotr Dudak
scenography: Natalia Anna Matejka
costumes: Dzvinka Kukul
characterisation: Magdalena Tarka
editing: Krzysztof Komander
sound: Sebastian Kordasz, Grzegorz Rozwadowski, Bartłomiej Bogacki, Michał Fojcik
music: Wojciech Frycz
producer: Dagmara Piasecka
production manager: Artur Zgadzaj
Production: Green Rat Production
distribution in Poland: NEXT FILM
global sales agent: The Yellow Affair
co-produced by Heaven’s Gate, Lonely Production, Krzysztof Komander, Documentary and Feature Film Studio (WFDiF), Matejka.Studio, Mazovia Warsaw Film Fund, Silesia Film, Haka Films, OFF Beat Films, EC1 Łódź – Miasto Kultury, Abstraction Plan, Bahama Films Wiktor Piątkowski
Co-financing: Polish Film Institute, European Union, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Ustka Region, Czech Audiovisual Fund, Silesian Film Fund
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Aleksandra Misiak
e-mail: aleksandra.misiak@next-film.pl
tel: 668 050 051
