Springtime excitement in Kraków

Every year, spring in the capital of Małopolska is marked by the cinema. Enthusiasts of this art should make a note of a few dates, all the more so because major international events will take place in the neighbourhood of Wawel Castle. The series of significant events connected with film and its stars will begin with Mastercard Off Camera (29.04 – 8.05). It’s an international festival of independent cinema that attracts both established names and young, talented filmmakers to the capital of Małopolska, who compete for the Krakow Film Award and $25,000. During the festival, you can not only watch world-class productions, but also take part in the Off Stage concerts organised at Klub Spotkań Poczta Główna (Main Post Meeting Club). Mastercard Off Camera was visited in previous years by stars such as Jane Campion, Tim Roth or Benedict Cumberbatch.

From the 23rd to 29th May, viewers will consume an even bigger dose of film and music emotions during the 15th Film Music Festival (FMF). For many years, it has been one of the most important events of its kind in the world and provides an opportunity to meet great artists and their artistic achievements. The Composers4Ukraine concert at the ICE Krakow Congress Centre has drawn attention, as instrumentalists from Ukraine and Poland will perform together in tribute to all those who fought for the freedom of Ukraine. The FMF will also present the music of this year’s special guest, the outstanding British composer – John Powell. It is especially worth attending the final concert of the festival to take part in a combined film screening and concert. We will see the famous animated film “How to Train Your Dragon”, with the score written by Powell.

The spring of film events in the capital of Małopolska will be crowned by the Krakow Film Festival (29.05 – 12.06), the oldest event of its kind in the city, organised for the 62nd time. During the numerous screenings, we will watch international documentaries, feature and animated films, and meet filmmakers from all over the world. The KFF is among the prestigious festivals accredited by, among others, the International Federation of Film Producers (FIAPF), the European Film Academy (EFA) and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), qualifying productions for the Oscars.

It is hard to resist the charm of Kraków’s culture, especially if it reveals its secrets to us! The 18th Night of the Museums is an event that attracts thousands of enthusiasts every year who love to discover the charms of historic collections in a mysterious, evening atmosphere. This year, fascinating discoveries await visitors from Friday to Saturday, 13th to 14th of May, after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. During the Night of the Museums, the doors of the city’s most important institutions will open, revealing real treasures of art – from antiquity to the present day. These events will be accompanied by workshops, concerts, and attractions for children.

Lovers of discovering contemporary art and small local galleries should pay attention to the Cracow Art Week KRAKERS (10 – 17.06). The event, organised under the slogan “We are multiplicity”, will present a wealth of local artistic activities, often niche or even avant-garde. This will be the 11th edition of the event, offering an opportunity to examine the work of Krakow’s visual artists.

Photography enthusiasts’ attention is drawn to the events of the acclaimed Krakow Photomonth. From the 25th of May to the 26th of June, you can take part in the events of this year’s 20th anniversary edition. — Over these 20 years, we have asked many times if and how photography can change the world. We believe it can change it for the better. Now we are going one step further. Or maybe even 20 — say the organisers from the Visual Arts Foundation.

At the beginning of June (5-6.06) lovers of the fairy-tale world of fantasy will be able to take part in the annual Great Parade of Dragons, which this year will be held for the 21st time. On the first day, a parade of flying monsters will take place in a bend of the Vistula river near Wawel Hill, and on the following day the cavalcade of dragons will pass through the streets of the Old Town.

The end of June is an important event for jazz enthusiasts. The 27th Summer Jazz Festival Krakow (25.06 – 30.07) continues to maintain the rich connections of the capital of the Małopolska region with this creative music trend. Every year, audiences can listen to the sounds of international stars. This year, it will be possible to listen to, among others, Al Di Meola, Kenny Garrett and the great John Scofield.

Krakow is not only alive in spirit! The city and its surroundings abound in interesting recreational areas, which gain new life in spring. When the time is warm, the inhabitants of Krakow like to visit the Vistula Boulevards, drawing good energy from the river flowing near the historic part of the city. This is also where Wianki, a cultural event celebrating the traditional summer solstice, takes place. During the last weekend of June, we will be able to participate in concerts and other events planned in many places around the old town. In this artistic way, Krakow will welcome the coming summer.