Poland in Malta

The film follows a group of teenage altar boys who, frustrated by the indifference of adults and the Church towards social injustices, decide to take matters into their own hands. Inspired by their interpretation of the Bible and a strong sense of justice, they set out on an unconventional mission to help those in need and punish those they consider sinners. What begins as an idealistic attempt to change their neighbourhood gradually turns into a dangerous game, forcing the young protagonists to confront the blurred line between good and evil.

Blending humour, energy and a contemporary perspective on faith, The Altar Boys is a coming-of-age story about friendship, idealism, moral choices and the fight against hypocrisy.

The Altar Boys received eight awards at the 50th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, including the Grand Prix – Golden Lions for Best Film, as well as awards for Best Screenplay, Best Editing and the Audience Award.

The film was produced by Aurum Film, the Oscar-nominated production company behind Corpus Christi, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and was subsequently nominated for an Academy Award.

Piotr Domalewski is a director, screenwriter and actor. While studying directing at the Film School in Katowice, he made several award-winning short films that were presented at numerous international festivals.

His feature debut, Silent Night (2017), received the Grand Prix – Golden Lions at the 42nd Polish Film Festival in Gdynia and went on to win ten Polish Film Awards (Orły) in 2018. His second feature, I Never Cry (2020), premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. He later directed the Netflix original film Operation Hyacinth (2021).

Working across both cinema and television, Domalewski continues to explore diverse forms of storytelling. His latest feature, The Altar Boys (2025), received eight awards at the 50th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, including the Grand Prix – Golden Lions.

Following the screening, the audience had the opportunity to meet Piotr Domalewski during a Q&A session. The conversation offered an insight into the creative process behind the film, its characters and the themes it explores, while also providing an opportunity for the audience to ask questions directly to the director.

The evening also provided an opportunity to meet and speak with Kamila Urzędowska, one of the film’s actresses. Her presence offered an additional perspective on the film and an opportunity to hear about her experience of working on the production and bringing its characters to life.

The EUNIC Film Festival brings together European cinema, filmmakers and audiences, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and dialogue across borders.

We were delighted to be part of this celebration of European cinema and to present contemporary Polish film to an international audience.