THE QUEEN AND THE SMOKEHOUSE

POLISH TITLE: BAŁTYK

REPRESENTED BY KFF

In a Polish seaside town, Miecia, known as the local “Queen,” rules over her smokehouse - a beloved community fixture. For forty years, her dedication has sustained both the business and its employees. But when health issues force her to step back, its survival is at stake.

Set in Łeba, a bustling tourist hub shaped by its post-communist legacy, the film explores the intersection of womanhood, ambition, and identity, asking: What do we lose—and what might we gain—when we let go of the roles that define us?

GENRE:
documentary
COUNTRY:
Poland
RUNNING TIME:
65'
YEAR:
COLOUR:
colour
DIRECTING:
Iga Lis
SCRIPT:
Iga Lis
DOP:
Kacper Gawron
EDITOR:
Kosma Kowalczyk, Jakub Darewski
MUSIC:
Bartosz Kruczyński
SOUND:
Tadeusz Chłoń
PRODUCTION:
Studio Munka
COPRODUCTION:
Silver Frame, Canal+, MX35

Iga Lis »

Iga Lis is a Polish filmmaker. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree in History from the London School of Economics in 2021, Iga channeled her social initiatives into her film work. She wrote and directed short films on environmental topics and co-founded projects aimed at increasing voter turnout among the Polish youth. Age and the stages of human life are concepts at the heart of Iga's work, reflected in her short film "In My Day" (2024) and documentary feature film “The Queen and the Smokehouse” (2025). 
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