Gambling, gangsters, the 1990s. “The Great Warsaw Race”, directed by Bartłomiej Ignaciuk, debuts in cinemas on 23 January. The production takes viewers back to the first years of Poland’s political transformation, when new fortunes were being born and the world of horse racing was becoming an arena of rivalry, ambition and not-always-clean play. Today we present the poster and trailer of the film, which reveal the atmosphere of that era and the characters entangled in a ruthless web of dependencies.
“The Great Warsaw Race” is the story of a young jockey dreaming of a sporting career. The crowning of those dreams would be riding in Poland’s most important race – the Wielka Warszawska. The main character, Krzysiek, enters the world of horse racing with the naivety of a novice and an enthusiast. Only after some time does he realise that the races are a network of dependencies, powerful interests and fixed results. The boy believes he can change that, especially as the country stands on the brink of great transformations. The fall of communism brings hope that the future will only get better and the rules will become clearer. Yet in a world of corruption and dirty tricks it is hard to remain untainted. Will Krzysiek manage to resist big money and a fast-track career? How much is he willing to sacrifice to blow the whole scheme apart?
“The Great Warsaw Race” is a gripping story of sport, the mafia and the fight for one’s dreams, set in the turbulent early 1990s. A thrilling, large-scale spectacle set in the world of horse racing.
The screenplay was written back in the 1980s by Jan Purzycki, the author of the classics “Wielki Szu” and “Piłkarski poker”. “The Great Warsaw Race” is a return to the world of gambling and scams that viewers already know from those cult titles. Bartłomiej Ignaciuk is responsible for the direction and the adaptation of the screenplay.
This remarkable project has attracted Poland’s leading actors. In “The Great Warsaw Race” the main character is played by Tomasz Ziętek, and on screen we will also see, among others, Marcin Bosak, Tomasz Kot, Mirosław Kropielnicki, Tomasz Sapryk, Agnieszka Żulewska, Ireneusz Czop, Andrzej Konopka, Piotr Trojan, Adam Bobik, Paweł Koślik and Mary Pawłowska, for whom this is her big-screen debut.
– What convinced me to join the adventure of “The Great Warsaw Race” was director Bartek Ignaciuk, whom I had the pleasure of working with on “Wielka Woda” – says Agnieszka Żulewska.
– Firstly, it is a great pleasure to meet a legend of Polish cinema – says Ireneusz Czop about taking part in the crowning instalment of Jan Purzycki’s trilogy. – Secondly, the first read-through always brings a mixture of excitement, pressure, surprise and hope. And thirdly, your head immediately starts building the character and looking for unobvious solutions.
Similar emotions accompanied Mirosław Kropielnicki.
– I felt both satisfaction and pressure. Those two cult films with their constellation of actors immediately sprang to mind. And I honestly don’t know which of those feelings was stronger – probably the excitement. To those emotions I “added” the name of director Bartosz Ignaciuk, cinematographer Klaudiusz Dwulit, the whole crew, the superb cast and… that is when I felt the pressure. I hope those feelings spurred us all on.
The producer of “The Great Warsaw Race” is Alicja Grawon-Jaksik on behalf of MTL Maxfilm, and distribution is handled by NEXT FILM.
“The Great Warsaw Race” opens in cinemas on 23 January 2026.
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THE GREAT WARSAW RACE
Premiere: 23 January 2026
Cast: Tomasz Ziętek, Marcin Bosak, Tomasz Kot, Mirosław Kropielnicki, Tomasz Sapryk, Agnieszka Żulewska, Ireneusz Czop, Andrzej Konopka, Piotr Trojan, Adam Bobik, Paweł Koślik, Mary Pawłowska
Directed by: Bartłomiej Ignaciuk
Screenplay: Jan Purzycki
Adaptation: Bartłomiej Ignaciuk
Cinematography: Klaudiusz Dwulit
Production design: Janusz Mazurczak
Editing: Andrzej Kowalski
Costumes: Małgorzata Gwiazdecka, Joanna Pamuła
Make-up: Marcin Rodak
Music: Jan Komar, Bartłomiej Tyciński
Sound: Teresa Bagińska, Michał Bagiński, Miłosz Jaroszek
Producer: Alicja Grawon-Jaksik
Production: MTL Maxfilm
Co-production: ARTRAMA, Mazowiecki Instytut Kultury, Mazowiecki i Warszawski Fundusz Filmowy
Co-financing: Mazowieckie Voivodeship, the Capital City of Warsaw, Polish Film Institute
Partners: Totalizator Sportowy, Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec, Tor Wyścigowy w Sopocie (Hipodrom)
Distribution: NEXT FILM
THE FILM WAS MADE IN POLAND WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT GRANTED UNDER THE ACT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION BY THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE FROM THE FUNDS OF THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Maciej Gajowy
tel. 503 710 560
Aleksandra Misiak
aleksandra.misiak@next-film.pl
tel. 668050051
Author: Aleksandra Misiak
