Interspecies Cinema

What happens when cinema crosses the boundaries of a genre – not a cinematic one, but a biological one?

The series Interspecies Cinema consists of monthly screenings and discussions where classics meet new discoveries, and screenings are accompanied by discussions with invited experts and the audience.

We are interested in cinema that offers a non-anthropocentric perspective on the natural world, tests the boundaries between the human and the non-human, and encourages us to rethink our relationship with other species and nature.

The project began as a joint initiative between Kraków’s Paradox Cinema and the “Międzygatunkowo” collective, which originated at the Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at Jagiellonian University and has since expanded far beyond the university’s walls.

In the upcoming season, we’ll see both stories inspired by real-life relationships between humans and animals, as well as films that give a voice to non-human protagonists. From the biography of the eccentric illustrator and cat lover Louis Wain, to stories about dogs, chickens, and other animals, to depictions of war as seen from their perspective – this year’s program explores various forms of coexistence and interspecies interdependence. 

Screening Schedule:

October 29, 7:00 p.m.
Film and discussion: “Dandelion's Odyssey” dir. Momoko Seto

November 26, 7:00 p.m.
Film and discussion: “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” dir. Will Sharpe

January 21, 7:00 p.m.
Film and discussion: “Good Boy,” dir. Ben Leonberg

February 25, 7:00 p.m.

Film and discussion: “Us, Our Pets and the War” dir. Anton Ptushkin

March 18, 7:00 p.m.

Film and discussion: “The Hen,” dir. Gyorgy Palfi