The Mill and the Cross (Młyn i krzyż) by Lech Majewski will screen in the International Competition, while Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski and Peter Weir's The Way Back, co-produced by Poland, will screen in the Challenging the Years section of the festival - a section that showcases the latest films by acclaimed directors from around the world.

A Short Film About Killing (Krótki film o zabijaniu) by Krzysztof Kieśowski will screen in a special retrospective section, 30 Years in Cinema.

The young generation of Polish filmmakers will be represented by Marek Lechki's Erratum, screening in the Young Masters section, and Made in Poland by Przemysłw Wojcieszek, screening in the section titled Mined Zone. Wojcieszek will be in attendance at the Istanbul Film Festival.