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Dear friends,

my name is Krystyna Dobrzanska and I made my first documentary film at the age of 15. Since then, meandering in the directions of various specialisations, I have not stopped dreaming about storytelling. I graduated in film production from the Katowice Film School and then with honours from the Academy of Art in Szczecin, majoring in experimental film. I did two years at the Institute of Polish Culture at the University of Warsaw, deepening my interest in participatory art and cultural anthropology. And I am currently studying in an international programme in documentary filmmaking called Doc Nomads. I have produced numerous school shorts, including the widely awarded documentary 'Powder' directed by Kuba Radej, made music videos, visuals for concerts and at least 9 directed short films, including the 30-minute 'Map of the Body' with competition and festival achievements in Poland, including the main prize in the Young Wolves competition and screenings at Human Docs and Short Waves festivals. My second documentary, 'All about going abroad', was in competitions at the Young and Film and Short Waves Festivals.

My love for the world of documentary stems from the belief that the stories we tell have incredible power, and that encounters with other people have the power to change our fixed perspectives. When the two are combined, a space is created for reflection and the search for understanding in a world of tension, conflict and exclusion. When I am in the photographs I practise the attentiveness, openness and sensitivity that is very hard to achieve in everyday distraction. This state allows me to convey the stories entrusted to me with the greatest care for honesty and sensitivity. I want to continue learning how to tell them.

I am currently on a two-year journey learning how to make documentaries. I am studying for an international mobile master's degree in documentary filmmaking 'Doc Nomads', changing my country of residence every semester. Behind me is a semester in Lisbon, most of a semester in Budapest and so far 5 completed short films. A sixth is on the way!

I still have a semester in Brussels and a final (graduation) semester in Budapest ahead of me and more films to make, resulting in a portfolio with 12 short documentaries. It's a great adventure, during which I'm gaining experience and knowledge at a frenetic pace, but also a huge energy, emotional and financial challenge. And unfortunately I am running out of money.

That is why I am asking for your support. The cost of living abroad is high and studying is so engaging that space for adequate extra income is scarce. When I decided to make this brave investment in my dreams and passion, I did not know that I would soon be diagnosed with a chronic illness, the cost of whose treatment is severely affecting my budget, and that some of the financial support previously promised would be withdrawn. Attempts to obtain funding from public cultural institutions have also been unsuccessful.

I am aware that there are many more pressing issues in the world that need support. Nevertheless, I believe that documentary film has a unique power - to inform, to sensitise and to build an informed, empathetic society. This belief gives me the strength to - despite the difficulties - learn how to make films for nine years. Any amount will be a great honour for me and a real help to continue on this path.

In addition to the rewards, I would like to share with you frames from the films I have made so far - a preview of what I will be able to continue creating thanks to your support. You can find them under the English translation.

For those who decide to support me, I have prepared small gratitude packages:

• each person who takes part in the drop will be written in thanks in the credits of the films made during the study;

• support up to €10 (~£50) - a group meeting during the holidays, during which I will share my qi gong and tai chi practice as a token of gratitude
• support over €20 (~£100) - an email with a dedicated series of photos from the trip, summarising my first year of study;
• support over 50€ (~£200)- an email with a dedicated series of photos from the trip, summarising the first year of study + an invitation to a screening of the films made during the first year
• support over 100€ (~£500) - monthly newsletter with dedicated up-to-date photos and short written reports until the end of studies + invitation to a screening of films made during studies;
• support above €200 (~£1000) - everything above + links to all completed films;
• support above €600 (~£2500) - for organisations who would like to show the film publicly (amount for a series of films to be determined);
• if you are a production company - feel free to contact me by email and mutually determine the form of support for my activity;
• if you are a company interested in investing in film barter - I invite you to contact me by email and jointly find a satisfactory form of cooperation

📩 [email protected]

In addition, the prizes are discretionary, so if someone does not fit into the above categories but would like to receive a gift I invite you to send me a private message, then I will prepare a special offer for the selected person. 🌞

Meanwhile, in conclusion, an answer to the question of where the amount came from. 10,000 euros is a large sum of money. Despite living frugally and making numerous sacrifices, the costs of living abroad and being on constant travel are high. A very simplified budget is estimated like this:

🏡 renting a room in Brussels min. 600€/month: 5x 600€ = 3000€

🏡 room rental in Budapest min. 400€/month: 5x 400€ = 2000€

🍽️ board: 10x 250€ = 2500€

✈️ flights (Warsaw -> Brussels -> Budapest -> Warsaw): 500€

🩺 monthly medical expenses not covered by insurance: 10x 200€ = 2000€

TOTAL: 10.000€

Thank you for your time and support!

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Dear Friends,

My name is Krystyna Dobrzanska and I made my first documentary film at the age of 15. Since then, meandering in the directions of various specialisations, I have not stopped dreaming of telling stories. I graduated from film production at the Katowice Film School, and later from the Academy of Art in Szczecin, majoring in experimental film, with honours. I did two years at the Institute of Polish Culture at the Warsaw University deepening my interest in community arts and cultural studies. Currently I am studying in an international program in documentary filmmaking called Doc Nomads. I have produced numerous school etudes, including the widely awarded documentary "Dust" directed by Kuba Radej, made music videos, visuals for concerts and at least 9 directed short films, including the thirty-minute "The Body Map" with competition and festival achievements in Poland, including the grand prize in the Młode Wilki art competition and screenings at the Human Docs and Short Waves festivals. My second documentary, "All about going abroad," took part in competitions at the Młodzi i Film and Short Waves Festivals.

My love for the world of documentary stems from the belief that the stories we tell have incredible power, and that encounters with another human being have the ability to change our established perspectives. When the two are combined, space is created for reflection and the search for understanding in a world full of tension, conflict and exclusion. When I'm filming I practice attentiveness, openness and sensitivity that is very hard to achieve in everyday distraction. This state allows me to convey the stories entrusted to me with the utmost integrity and sensitivity. I want to continue learning how to tell them.

I'm currently in the middle of a two-year journey, learning how to make documentary films as part of the international, mobile Master's programme Doc Nomads in documentary directing. I've already completed a semester in Lisbon, I'm about to finish another in Budapest, and next up are semesters in Brussels and again in Budapest. So far, I've made five short films - and the sixth is on its way! Altogether, I will complete twelve films by the end of the programme.

This path has been an extraordinary adventure - full of intensive learning, personal growth, and creative development. But it's also an enormous emotional, physical, and financial commitment. And right now, I'm running out of money.

That's why I'm reaching out to ask for your support. Living abroad and being in a constant journey is expensive, and the programme is so demanding that it's impossible to sustain a regular job on the side. When I decided to follow this dream, I didn't know I would soon be diagnosed with a chronic illness - something that has drastically affected both my energy and budget. Additionally, part of the financial support that was initially promised has been withdrawn. Also my attempts to secure funding from public cultural institutions didn't bring the expected results.

I know there are countless causes in the world that need urgent help, but still, I believe that documentary filmmaking has a unique power - to inform, inspire empathy, and help build an open, responsible society. That belief has driven me to keep learning how to make films for the past nine years, despite all obstacles. If you decide to support me, which will be a great distinction and a privilege - it will allow me to continue creating films that aim to be of social value.

Besides that, I'd like to share with you some stills from the films I've made so far - a preview of what your support will help me continue creating. You'll find them at the end of the text.

For those who decide to support me, I've prepared a few small gratitude packages:

• each person participating in the campaign will be mentioned in the credits of the films made during the studies;

• support up to €10 - a group meeting in Warsaw during the holidays, on which I will share my qi gong and tai chi practice as a thank you;
• support above €20 - a dedicated photo series from my journey, sent by email, as a reflection on the first year of studies;
• support above €50 - an email with a dedicated series of photos from the trip, summarising the first year of study + an invitation to a screening of the completed films during the first year;
• Support above €100 - a monthly newsletter with selection of recent photos and short updates from my studies, continuing until the end of the programme + an invitation to the screening of completed films during studies;
• Support above €200 - everything above, plus access to links with all completed films;
• Support above €600 - for organisations interested in publicly screening the films (price for series of screenings to be discussed);
• If you are a production company - I'd love to connect via email and find a form of collaboration;
• If you're a company interested in a barter-based film collaboration - please reach out and let's find a way to work together.

📩 [email protected]

Additionally, all rewards are flexible - so if your contribution doesn't fall into any of the above categories but you'd like to receive a personalised thank-you gift, please feel free to send me a message. I'll gladly prepare a special offer just for you. 🌞

And finally - here's the answer to the question: Why this amount? €10,000 is a significant sum. Despite living modestly and making many sacrifices, the cost of living abroad and being on a constant journey is high. A simplified estimate of the budget looks like this:

🏡 Room rent in Brussels, min. €600/month: 5 × €600 = €3,000

🏡 Room rent in Budapest, min. €400/month: 5 × €400 = €2,000

🍽️ Food expenses: 10 × €250 = €2,500

✈️ Flights (Warsaw -> Brussels -> Budapest -> Warsaw): €500

🩺 Monthly medical expenses not covered by insurance: 10 × €200 = €2,000

TOTAL: €10,000

Thank you for your attention and support!

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Some stills from the films I've made so far

Group outdoor exercise realised in the Hungarian town of Kazincbarcika. A short participatory documentary about a meeting in a retirement home. Contributors to the film: Georgina Snaddon, Andres Felipe Angel Machete, Bendegúz Palkó

Group field exercise carried out in the Hungarian town of Kazincbarcika. A short participatory documentary about an encounter in a retirement home. Co-creators: Georgie Sandonn, Angel Andres, Bendegúz Palkó

Individual documentary exercise at the end of the semester in Lisbon - a short documentary about a community of people who stutter.

Individual documentary exercise at the end of the semester in Lisbon- a short documentary about a community of people who stutter.

First 'point of view' documentary exercise. Main assumptions: 3 minutes, non-dialogue film, one place and time of action, work-related subject matter. A film meditation on inner work in Tai Chi practice, made in collaboration with Jaewon Yoo.

First 'point of view' documentary exercise. Main guidelines: 3 minutes, non-dialogue film, one place and time of action, theme of labour. A filmic meditation on inner work through Tai Chi practice, made in collaboration with Jaewon Yoo.

An outdoor group exercise made in the Portuguese town of Amarante, in collaboration with Himanshu Gaira, Wyneke van Nieuwenhuyzen, Fabio Zilberman Iuchno and Ziyi Wang. A short documentary about the shades of love in a Portuguese town.

Group field work exercise carried out in the Portuguese town of Amarante, in collaboration with Himanshu Gaira, Wyneke van Nieuwenhuyzen, Fabio Zilberman Iuchno and Ziyi Wang. A short documentary about the shades of love in a Portuguese town.

An exercise in pairs 'beyond observation'. Main objectives: 5-7 minutes, non-dialogue film, the film should include a sequence illustrating the inner reality of the hero/heroine. A film about a card magician with the experience of temporary sight loss in his teenage years. Made in collaboration with Adarsh Gurung.

Paired exercise: 'beyond observation'. Main guidelines: 5-7 minutes, no dialogue, the film must include a sequence illustrating the protagonist's inner reality. A film about a card magician who experienced temporary blindness during adolescence. Created in collaboration with Adarsh Gurung.