Applications Now Open: Feminist Film Criticism Workshop, 1–2 December 2026, Warsaw

Film criticism has long shaped the canon and the language we use to talk about cinema. But what happens when we look at films from a feminist perspective? Join us for a workshop where you’ll have the chance to question your own habits, discover new approaches to film interpretation and develop your skills in writing and talking about cinema. And there’s more: selected texts produced during the workshop will be published on Cineuropa.

Taking place on 1–2 December 2026, the workshop is organised in collaboration with Cineuropa and inspired by the GoCritic! training model. It will explore feminist perspectives on film history, theory and criticism. The workshop will be led by Marta Bałaga*, a film journalist and critic whose work has appeared in Variety, Cineuropa and other publications.

During the workshop, participants will take a closer look at selected films – both classic and contemporary – and examine the narratives that shape the way we perceive films and position them within the history of cinema. We will work with films from the Another Story catalogue, as well as selected contemporary titles from the HER Docs 2026 festival programme.

Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which feminist narratives are present in films – both those that are consciously constructed and those that go unnoticed or are pushed aside. Together, we will also examine the language we use to describe films, women and men filmmakers, and the history of cinema. We will consider how we consciously and unconsciously fall into established patterns and linguistic traps, and explore tools for recognising and challenging them.

The workshop will be practice-oriented. Participants will take part in exercises and practical assignments, culminating in writing their own piece of film criticism. Selected texts produced during the workshop will be published on the Another Story and Cineuropa platforms, offering participants an opportunity to present their work to a wider audience.

HOW TO TAKE PART?

The workshop is open both to those at the beginning of their professional journey in film criticism and to those already actively working in the field. We particularly encourage more experienced critics to join us and help shape the workshop by sharing their knowledge, perspectives and professional practice.

We welcome participants of all genders and nationalities. The workshop will be conducted in Polish or English, depending on the composition of the group. The final texts will be written in English to make subsequent publication possible.

The workshop is free of charge, it will take place in person in Warsaw on Dec. 1-2, 2026. Number of participants is limited, and submitting an application does not guarantee participation.

The application form is open until 20 November 2026. Applicants will be notified by email of the outcome by 24 November 2026.

Applying for the workshop constitutes acceptance of the Rules and Regulations of the Organiser, HER Docs Foundation, available here.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU!

HER Docs Foundation in cooperation with Cineuropa

The workshop is organized within Another Story project supported by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Marta Bałaga is a film journalist based in Finland and Poland. She has published in Cineuropa, Variety and regularly contributes to Finnish film magazine Episodi. She has collaborated with various festivals, including »Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy« and its industry sidebar »Finnish Film Affair« or »Les Arcs Film Festival«. Member of the Finnish Critics’ Association SARV, the International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI and the European Film Academy, where she has joined the committee deciding the nominations for the European Discovery 2019, 2020 and 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI. She has served on many juries, including Venice International Film Critics’ Week at the Venice Film Festival in 2019.