U.S. in Progress 2025: Poland to Park City

"Though the festival's based in the Southwestern, thousand-year-old metropolis of Wrocław, the program's international cohort landed at Warsaw Chopin Airport, nearly 200 miles away from AFF's home base, in the days preceding the event itself. Inconveniently, the Wrocław airport underwent extensive renovations from October 26 through December 4 of this year. As the AFF and its U.S. in Progress showcase unfold between November 6-11, the timing couldn't be more headache-inducing."

"A handful of American filmmakers-between six and 10, though this edition boasted a charmingly uneven nine-are selected to screen 20 minutes of their work-in-progress narrative features in various states of completion. Most just need finishing touches-color correction, sound mixing, VFX, score-before they're picture-locked. These WiP samples are divided into two blocks over one afternoon, screened exclusively for international industry folk as well as Polish post-production companies, the latter eventually awarding filmmakers of their choosing with funds that will aid in completing their features."

"Yet for those of us lucky enough to fly out for the festivities (participating filmmakers and producers, European and American festival programmers, sales agents, the odd journalist), this Warsaw detour only further exemplified the immense organization, commitment and generosity indicative of the team behind U.S. in Progress. A handful of American filmmakers-between six and 10, though this edition boasted a charmingly uneven nine-are selected to screen 20 minutes of their work-in-progress narrative features in various states of completion."

U.S. in Progress operates as an industry market and post-production prize competition within the Tauron American Film Festival in Wrocław. Filmmakers travel internationally to present 20-minute work-in-progress excerpts from narrative features needing finishing work such as color correction, sound mixing, VFX, and score. Screenings occur in two afternoon blocks for international industry professionals and Polish post-production companies, which award funds and services to selected projects. The program often facilitates American-Polish co-productions and highlights DIY, politically and culturally resonant U.S. independent filmmaking. Logistical challenges such as airport renovations have required travel detours but have not hindered the festival's organizational commitment.

Read at Filmmaker Magazine