MICHAŁ BIELAWSKI’S PROJECT SELECTED FOR DOCU TALENTS FROM THE EAST 2026
“Hotspot. A Docutherapy”, the latest documentary project by Michał Bielawski, has been selected as one of seven projects from Central and Eastern Europe for the 22nd edition of Docu Talents from the East. Exploring the experiences of people confronting the emotional consequences of the climate crisis, the film will be presented to international film industry professionals during the Sarajevo Film Festival.
“Hotspot. A Docutherapy”, directed by Michał Bielawski and produced by Maciej Kubicki, is among the seven documentary projects selected for this year’s Docu Talents from the East. The presentation will take place on August 16 during the Sarajevo Film Festival, as part of CineLink Industry Days.
Held annually since 2005, Docu Talents from the East is an industry event dedicated to some of the most promising documentary projects from Central and Eastern Europe. Each year, it brings together festival advisors, distributors, buyers and international journalists. Selected projects are presented by their directors and producers to representatives of the international film industry. This year’s seven projects were selected by representatives of the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.
The Polish project featured in this year’s programme is Michał Bielawski’s “Hotspot. A Docutherapy”, produced by Maciej Kubicki. The film is currently in post-production.
“We are the climate crisis. We’re living in it. This is what shapes us,” says Zbyszek as he opens a therapeutic process unfolding over several months in Lower Silesia. The camera follows its participants, observing both the individual protagonists and the subjects and emotions they bring to subsequent meetings. Each of them has been affected by the climate crisis in a different way.
Against this backdrop, Bielawski creates a documentary exploring the mutual relationship between humans and nature. Stories of people grappling with their emotions are interwoven with observations of the human impact on the natural world. This multilayered structure and distinctive approach to storytelling are central to the director’s cinematic language, also evident in his internationally acclaimed film “The Wind. A Documentary Thriller”.
All projects selected for Docu Talents from the East 2026 are currently in post-production, with their premieres expected between September 2026 and August 2027. During the presentation, filmmakers will have an opportunity to introduce their projects to decision-makers attending CineLink Industry Days and attract the interest of potential international partners.
More information can be found here.