The first Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival was held in 2005. Since then, the festival is a meeting place of film-makers from around the world, and for international audience it is a chance to watch documentary films dealing with economic, social, political and everyday issues. This year, at the festival the film "A Promise of Childhood" directed by Ryszard Kaczyński and Piotr Morawski was appreciated, winning the Child and Family award.
The film "A Promise of Childhood" shows summer 1997, where an American married couple came to the children's home in Przysieka by Szklarska Poręba, and there was excitement in the orphanage. Even more so because Rita and Robert Jurotich decided to adopt all five siblings, which was very rare in Poland. Overnight, fourteen-year-old Oktawia, twelve-year-old Sylwek, eleven-year-old Andrzej, six-year-old Artur and four-year-old Kasia got a chance to have a happy life. However, soon after arriving in America, it turned out that idyllic dreams clashed with brutal reality. The film is a record of the siblings' experiences over 15 years.
You can find out more about the festival here.