Welcome to Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club
THE 2ND HELENA MODJESKA FESTIVAL 2026
THANK YOU!
Three days. 692 attendees. Theater, film, music, extraordinary Artists — and above all, people brought together by a love of culture.
The 2nd Helena Modjeska Festival has come to an end, but the emotions and memories will stay with us for a long time.
Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club in Los Angeles, we brought together history and the present, Poland and America, and generations of people who believe that art has no borders.
The Festival was co-funded by the Senate of the Republic of Poland and held under the Patronage of Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. The Festival was also honored with the patronage and support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, the Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP), and the Documentary and Feature Film Studios (WFDiF).
The Festival was officially opened by Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles Paulina Kapuścińskaand Beverly Hills Vice Mayor Mary N. Wells, celebrating the power of culture to build bridges between Poland and the United States.
We opened with Andrzej Seweryn’s extraordinary “Shakespeare Forever!” During our Gala, we presented the Modjeska Heritage Awards to Abel Korzeniowski, Pola Benke, Mona May, and Anna Biedrzycka Sheppard. Steve Dudek filled the evening with the unforgettable spirit of swing, jazz, and classic Hollywood.
We presented Piotr Domalewski’s “Ministranci,” and closed the Festival with two masterpieces of Polish cinema — Andrzej Wajda’s “The Promised Land” and Jerzy Antczak’s “Nights and Days.”
One of the most moving moments was having two Masters — Jerzy Antczak and Andrzej Seweryn — together with us and our audience. Some moments cannot be planned. They can only be experienced and carried in our hearts.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank our Honorary Patrons, Partners, and Sponsors: the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, the Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP), the Documentary and Feature Film Studios (WFDiF), Aurum Film, POLAM, Polish Center, Art Nova Vision, The Best Donuts, Ula Designs, Makabizu, and Beata Catering.
Special thanks to SFP for the beautiful albums celebrating the Year of Andrzej Wajda, to WFDiF for making it possible for us to present “The Promised Land” and “Nights and Days,” to Aurum Film for providing “Ministranci,” and to Art Nova Vision for donating copies of Jerzy Antczak’s book “Chopin’s Heart: The Gordian Knot.”
Thank you to all our Artists, Guests, Friends, and Volunteers, and especially to the Board and Members of the Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club, without whom this Festival would not have been possible.
And most of all, thank you to our Audience.
692 people showed us that Polish culture in California is alive, meaningful, bringing people together — and has a future.
We created this Festival together.
After 55 years, we still believe in the same mission:
POLISH ROOTS. GLOBAL STAGE.
Let art bring us together.
Katarzyna A. Śmiechowicz
President, together with the Board
Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club in Los Angeles
