Events
BellaTOFIFEST 2026: opening gala and special awards
On Saturday, 27 June 2026, the opening gala of the 24th BellaTOFIFEST International Film Festival was held at the Jordanki Cultural and Congress Centre in Toruń. The event also featured the presentation of the festival’s special awards — the Golden Angels and the Film Award of the Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in memory of Pola Negri.
This year’s gala officially opened another edition of one of the region’s most important film events. For years, BellaTOFIFEST has brought filmmakers, actors, cultural figures, partners and audiences to Toruń, creating a space for meeting, conversation and reflection on cinema and its role in the modern world.
The evening at CKK Jordanki was exceptional and dignified, but also deeply moving. The proceedings were accompanied by the musical project Beyond the Screen with Emilio Piano, and the gala concluded with a concert by Emilio Piano and his band.
Honorary awards for the 24th MFF BellaTOFIFEST were presented during the gala. This year’s laureates included Agata Kulesza, Dorota Stalińska, Agata Turkot, Magdalena Czerwińska and Tomasz Schuchardt.
Magdalena Czerwińska received the Film Award of the Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in memory of Pola Negri. In her speech, she spoke about the feeling of being seen and the importance of being attentive to others. Her words resonated beautifully with the atmosphere of the entire evening — one filled with gratitude, emotion and reflection on how important it is to recognise other people’s stories, experiences and sensitivities.
Agata Turkot was honoured with the Golden Angel for European Actress Bella Woman. The actress drew attention to domestic violence, a subject addressed in her film work, highlighting the need to respond, recognise harm and not turn a blind eye to another person’s problems.
Dorota Stalińska received the Golden Angel for the Grande Dame of Polish Cinema. This year, she is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her creative career. Her speech was full of emotion, wisdom and reflections on life, creative work and difficult experiences, which cinema so often seeks to portray and help us come to terms with.
The Golden Angels for Creative Nonconformity were awarded to Tomasz Schuchardt and Agata Kulesza. This distinction is especially closely aligned with the festival’s ethos: for years, it has recognised artistic courage, independent thought and filmmakers’ willingness to tackle subjects that demand sensitivity, truth and courage.
The opening gala was not only the official start of the festival, but also a reminder that cinema remains an important language for conversations about people, society, emotions and responsibility. It is at events like these that culture shows its strength — bringing people together, helping us see more and creating space for conversation beyond everyday divisions.
ELETOR was one of the partners of this year’s BellaTOFIFEST. As a company connected with Toruń and the region, we are pleased to be part of events that strengthen local cultural life, promote work of real value and raise our city’s profile as a place open to culture, dialogue and the arts.
Congratulations to all the laureates, organisers, artists and everyone involved in preparing this exceptional evening.
The 24th BellaTOFIFEST International Film Festival runs until 3 July 2026.
Details, the programme and tickets are available on the website:
