ANIM: RENATA GĄSIOROWSKA’S “PUSSY” – THE MOST FREQUENTLY SCREENED POLISH ANIMATED FILM – TURNS 10

In 2016, “Pussy”, an eight-minute animated film directed by Renata Gąsiorowska and produced by the Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź, premired. A full decade has now passed, yet the film remains active on the festival circuit, continuing to reach audiences around the world. To date, ir has made over 250 of them, which places it amongst the world’s most frequently screened short animated films of the past decade.

“Pussy” is a charming romantic comedy about one’s relationship with their body. When a young woman spends an evening alone in her apartment, she decides to indulge in some self-pleasure. Things, however, do not go quite as planned.

The film made a strong impression on the international festival circuit in its premiere year, winning, among other awards, the Grand Jury Prize at AFI FEST in the United States, the Grand Prix at the Tabor Film Festival in Croatia, and the Audience Award at DOK Leipzig. In 2017, it was the only Polish animated film represented at the Sundance Film Festival, setting the stage for another successful year. Shortly afterwards, it won Best Animation at the 39th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, followed by a Special Jury Recognition at SXSW in the United States. In total, the film has received more than 30 awards worldwide. Its festival journey, however, did not end after the usual two-year run.

Since 2018, Gąsiorowska’s animation has continued to return to festival screens, appearing in curated programmes and special sections. In 2025, it was featured in the Focus on Poland section at the 18th edition of Central and Eastern European Film Festival in Luxembourg. In 2026, it was included in “The Future is NOW” section of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The programme was organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

“Pussy” not only challenges taboos surrounding the body and female sexuality without compromise, but also continues to attract the attention of festival programmers, juries and audiences a decade after its premiere.  In the 10 years since its premiere, it has been screened at over 250 festivals, making it one of the most frequently screened animated shorts in history and placing it amongst the top three films of this kind featured at festivals over the last decade – just behind the Brazilian-Spanish ‘Carne’ (‘Flesh’) by Camila Kater and the French film “Negative Space” by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata.*

 

* figures on the number of festivals are based on statements from artists and producers of both films