20th Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival
MAIN COMPETITION 2025
September 10-14
ŁÓDŹ
45 YEARS OF TRADITION
A Celebration of Cinema and Nature
The twentieth edition of the International Włodzimierz Puchalski Nature Film Festival is held under the motto: “THE FOURTH NATURE – TOWARDS GREEN CITIES.” What lies behind this phrase? The term “fourth nature” (also appearing as “fourth landscape” or “fourth environment”) refers to a phenomenon more widely known as novel ecosystems—the spontaneous, dynamic development of vegetation in urban spaces, on abandoned sites, or in areas degraded by human activity. These plant communities—“wild” and distinct from planned “urban greenery”—significantly increase the presence of nature in cities.
Historically, cities developed at the expense of green areas, but today urban nature is scarce, and local communities strive to create new green enclaves and bring back animals and birds into urban spaces. At the same time, nature itself—especially vegetation, with its vitality and growth dynamics—spontaneously colonizes wastelands and degraded sites. Following this “wild” vegetation, animals are increasingly appearing in cities. And it is not only pigeons or sparrows—martens, foxes, wild boars, and deer are often observed, and even wolves occasionally “visit” the outskirts of housing estates. This is a vivid example of ecological succession: nature reclaiming neglected or abandoned urban areas.
Striking examples of this phenomenon can be found right here in Łódź, where our Festival takes place. In many places, post-industrial sites are spontaneously overgrown with self-sown plants and wild thickets. This shows that nature, even without human intervention, can effectively reclaim spaces once taken away from it, even within heavily urbanized landscapes. It gives us hope that our cities may cease to be primarily concrete and asphalt and instead become truly green.
I invite you to take part in the film screenings and other festival events, as well as to enjoy walks through the green areas of Łódź and the Łódzkie Voivodeship, reclaimed by nature. May your encounters with the art of cinema and the beauty of Nature bring inspiration and rich experiences.
Director of the
20th International Włodzimierz Puchalski
Nature Film Festival
Dr. Sławomir Kalwinek
PROGRAMME OF THE 20th INTERNATIONAL WŁODZIMIERZ PUCHALSKI NATURE FILM FESTIVAL
10 September 2025 – Wednesday
- 9:30 – 15:30 Competition screenings – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
- 19:00 Official Opening Ceremony of the Festival – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
11 September 2025 – Thursday
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9:30 – 15:30 Competition screenings – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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12:00 “Life is Movement – A Story Written in the Body” – opening of the exhibition of microscopic photography by Małgorzata Lisowska, accompanied by screenings and analysis of relevant biological films from WFO, led by Michał Matuszewski – University of Łódź Library, 32/28 Jana Matejki Street, Łódź
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16:00 Opening of the photography exhibition “Bird Portraits” by Michał Ogrodowczyk – “OlimpijKa” Gallery, 132 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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17:30 Exhibition openings:
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“Towards Green Cities” – Łódź Branch of the Nature Association – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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“The World of Frightened Owls” by Marek Trzeciak – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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Post-competition exhibition of photographs from the International Festival of Visual Arts Inspired by Nature “Art of Nature” (Toruń) – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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18:30 Scientific seminar “The Fourth Nature – Towards Green Cities”, hosted by Dr. hab. Janusz Majecki and Dr. Artur Frątczak – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
12 September 2025 – Friday
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9:00 – 18:00 Festival Guests’ excursion to Jeziorsko Reservoir
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9:30 – 15:30 Competition screenings – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
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10:00 – 12:00 Film workshops with professionals – Botanical Garden, 36/38 Krzemieniecka Street, Łódź
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12:00 – 14:00 Photography workshops with professionals – Botanical Garden, 36/38 Krzemieniecka Street, Łódź
Special event: “The World of Nature of Włodzimierz Puchalski – Music, Film, Workshops” – WFO headquarters, 20 Kilińskiego Street, Łódź
- 10:00 – 14:00 film workshops
- 14:00 – 15:00 screening of workshop films
- 16:00 – 17:00 screening of the film “Bloodless Hunting” directed by Włodzimierz Puchalski
- 19:00 – 21:00 electronic music concert
13 September 2025 – Saturday
- 10:00 – 14:30 Competition screenings – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
- 16:00 – 17:00 Screening of nature films from the WFO archives – Museum of the History of Skierniewice (named after Jan Olszewski), 64J Stefana Batorego Street, Skierniewice
- 18:00 Closing Ceremony of the Festival – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
- 18:30 Special screening of the feature film “The Faint Cackle of Birds” directed by Franciszek Berbeka – Museum of the History of Skierniewice (named after Jan Olszewski), 64J Stefana Batorego Street, Skierniewice
14 September 2025 – Sunday
- 14:00 – 17:00 Screening of the Award-winning Films of the 20th International Włodzimierz Puchalski Nature Film Festival – Charlie Cinema, 203/205 Piotrkowska Street, Łódź
News
Winners of the 20th edition of the MFFP!
The Jury of the 20th Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival consists of:1. Prof. Adam Adamski – Chair2. Kateřina Javorská4. Kornel Nocoń5. Katarzyna Madaj-KozłowskaAt its meeting on September 10, 2025, after reviewing 44 films qualified for the main...
Selection results for the 20th edition of the Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival!
Dear Authors, We are very pleased to inform you that, by decision of the Selection Committee, 44 films from both domestic and international sources have been selected for this year's milestone 20th edition of the Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature...
NEW FESTIWAL DATE!
Dear Sir/Madam, We would like to inform you that due to the high interest from filmmakers in participating in our Festival and the desire to secure additional funds for its organization, the Organizing Committee has made the decision to extend the deadline for film...
The call for films for the 20th INFF has started
WFO Film Studio - the main organizer of the 20th International Nature Film Festival kindly announces that the main Film Competition intended for professionals and the accompanying events will take place in Łódź on September 10-14, 2025. The main theme of The Puchalski...