Day 5 – Slano Film Days 2026
The final day of the third edition of Slano Film Days was marked by a Film Talk with director Paweł Pawlikowski, moderated by director Ruben Östlund. The conversation offered an intimate and nuanced insight into the creative process of a filmmaker whose work is characterised by visual precision, emotional restraint and a lasting interest in human contradictions. At the beginning of the conversation, Pawlikowski reflected on his roots and his life between different countries and cultures. Speaking about growing up in Poland, living in London and Germany, and his experience of returning to Poland, he explained how this simultaneous sense of belonging and distance strongly shaped his perspective as a filmmaker. Before turning to feature films, Pawlikowski made documentaries for the BBC, which, he noted, taught him to remain open to the unpredictable and to recognise moments during filming when reality offers something more powerful than what was originally planned. Speaking about his visual approach, he emphasized his desire to create worlds that audiences want to immerse themselves in. For him, filmmaking is not simply about telling a story, but about creating an atmosphere that draws the viewer fully into the experience. The conversation also touched on his new film FATHERLAND, which arrived in Slano shortly after its premiere at Cannes, where Pawlikowski received the Best Director award. He spoke about his interest in historical moments in which personal stories intersect with major social changes, as well as his desire to explore broader political and cultural circumstances through intimate relationships. This approach is also present in his latest film, which explores questions of identity, belonging and memory through the relationship between Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika.
The afternoon was dedicated to Career Talks, attended by all participants from the region. The first Career Talk was with director Lili Horvát, moderated by director Ognjen Glavonić. Horvát shared experiences from her previous films and spoke about her new film MY NOTES ON MARS, her first feature film in English. The conversation explored the creation of atmosphere, working on international co-productions and developing an auteur film within larger production frameworks. The second Career Talk was with director Michel Franco, moderated by director Maura Delpero. Franco spoke about his approach as a filmmaker, his work with actors and the themes that characterize his films, including family relationships, social tensions and the moral dilemmas of contemporary society. Participants discussed with him the relationship between the personal and the political in film, the responsibility of filmmakers, and the ways in which contemporary cinema can encourage dialogue on social issues.
The final evening screening of this year’s program featured the award-winning film PREPARATIONS TO BE TOGETHER FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME, written and directed by Lili Horvát. The film follows Márta, a successful neurosurgeon who returns to Budapest after a successful career in the United States to begin a new life with the man she loves. But a meeting that was supposed to change her life raises a series of questions about love, memory and the perception of reality when the man claims that the two of them have never met before.
The screening was introduced to the audience by director Lili Horvát and lead actress Natasa Stork. Horvát thanked the organizers for bringing filmmakers and participants together and highlighted how valuable the conversations and encounters during Slano Film Days had been to her. Natasa Stork recalled her first meeting with Lili Horvát while she was still studying, when she already hoped they would work together, although that wish only came true years later. “And this is the result,” the actress concluded before the screening, inviting the audience to enjoy the film.
