The multimedia and pop culture festival of film, animation, music video and video games is returning to theaters! In October 2024, thanks to the cooperation between Katowice City of Gardens and Silesia Film Institution, Ars Independent Festival will return to Światowid Cinema, and the program itself will be enriched with additional sections and events.
After five years, Ars Independent is moving from a dispersed state to a permanent cinema state. The festival, which has been operating for the past few years on the formula of four installments a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter, will next year have one full edition made entirely in cooperation with Silesia Film. Still under the Black Horse flag, still with young energy and an avant-garde, experimental program, which will not lack film screenings, exhibitions, video games, concerts and live acts, meetings and discussions. Next year’s edition of Ars Independent will be the first of its kind and the only nationwide film event organized jointly by two leading cultural institutions in the region, namely Katowice City of Gardens and Silesia Film Institution.
The festival guarantees four program sections: film, animation, video games and music videos, in addition – Silesia Film provides two author sections: a review of four Derek Jarman films, along with meetings and special events, and a video art section.
When. Between October 8 and 13, 2024 Where. The festival opens and closes at the Rialto Cinematheatre, and all screenings and events will be held at the heart of the film arthouse in Katowice, the Światowid Cinema.
You are welcome!
A word about us, that is, the organizers of Ars Independent Festival
Katowice City of Gardens
A cultural institution of the City of Katowice. It organizes, among others, the “I Love Katowice” City Birthday, Katowice JazzArt Festival, the Gardens of Sounds World Music Festival, Street Art AiR or the National Festival of Directing Art “Interpretations”. It has won for Katowice the title of UNESCO City of Music and, by implementing its membership program in the Network of Creative Cities, supports the development of music creative industries by giving young artists the opportunity to develop their talent in the MusicHub incubator, promoting them through the District Sounds Good project, broadening the competence of people from the industry during meetings of the Katowice Music Radar or co-financing the best projects with Muzykograntami.
City of Katowice
Katowice is a city that surprises anyone who hasn’t been to Silesia in a long time. It was supposed to be coal, but in the meantime this extraordinary city welcomes us with modern architecture blended with Art Nouveau, Modernism and Brutalism, alternative culture in post-industrial edifices, greenery of parks and great hospitality of residents stretching from Nikisz and Murcek to Ligota and Tauzena. The city is dynamically changing its character and image before our eyes – transforming from the industrial center of Poland to the cultural heart of a 1.5 million-strong agglomeration. Culture is intertwined here with the academic and business hub of the region. On the one hand, the city boasts major investments – the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Congress Center, the Silesian Museum – and huge events – OFF Festival, New Music, Rawa Blues, Extreme Masters. On the other hand: the young, vibrant energy of the residents throbbing in the streets every day.
Silesia Film Institution
Silesia Film Institution in Katowice is one of the key places on the cultural and film map of Upper Silesia. Silesia Film is a cultural institution of the Silesian Provincial Government. Its origins date back to the mid-1940s, and the institution is currently headquartered in a building at 5 Górnicza St. We are engaged in a wide range of activities in the field of cinematography, protection of film heritage, and promotion and dissemination of film art, primarily related to the region. We operate five studio cinemas. These are: Kosmos Cinema, which presents mainly film classics, the cinema-oriented Światowid Cinema, and the Rialto Cinema Theater, well-known to art lovers. Outside of Katowice, these include Kino Janosik in Zywiec and Kino Bałtyk in Raciborz. We also manage the Filmoteka Śląska – the only regional film archive in the country. We support film production and distribute films. Through the Silesia Film Commission, we popularize the region among filmmakers. As part of the funding awarded from the Silesia Film Fund, which we run, we co-produce films that are important to the region’s culture and contribute to its development and promotion.
Silesia Film features classics and the latest film premieres straight from world festivals. Film education and workshops for young viewers. Festive premieres of our co-produced films and meetings with their creators. Special screenings aimed at seniors, young parents, people with disabilities, lovers of classic cinema and admirers of the cinematic avant-garde. Discussions and concerts. The Silesian edition of the Millennium Docs Against Gravity documentary cinema festival. Film archives and the Silesian Digitarium project. Commercial-free screenings, competitive ticket prices, discount cards for regular viewers. Unique venues, best repertoire and loyal audiences.