Helsinki-based festival agency Raina has secured festival rights to “King Matt the First,” the new documentary by Polish director Jaśmina Wójcik (“Symphony of the Ursus Factory,” 2018). The film is set to world premiere in the International Competition at the 32nd annual Hot Docs Festival, taking place April 24 to May 4.
The film centers on sisters Zoja and Lea, whose world is filled with shared games, discoveries and conversations, alongside their daily squabbles and disagreements. Initially, the girls, who bear a striking resemblance to one another, seem to share an extraordinary bond of sisterhood.
However, as time passes, the older sister, Zoja, begins to grow apart from Lea. She loses interest in playing in the sand or swimming in the river, retreating into the realm of books and spending increasingly more time with her peers instead of her sister.
Despite their differences, both girls share a deep-seated fear of crossing the threshold into adulthood, which they perceive as a source of danger. They observe how adults seem indifferent to the destruction of their world, ignoring environmental catastrophes and fueling war conflicts.
Inspired by the novel of Janusz Korczak (the pen name of Henryk Goldszmit) of the same name, “‘King Matt the First’ invites the audience into a realm unbound by adult hierarchies and constraints,” according to a statement. “More than a century after the book’s publication, the author’s words remain profoundly relevant, resonating with the tensions and uncertainties of today’s reality—especially from the perspective of young people standing on the brink of adulthood.”
“This film represents the culmination of my search as a mother, artist, director, educator, and human being,” says Wójcik. “It is a personal voice advocating for the preservation of childhood, recognizing the essence of humanity in children, trusting them, and following their openness and needs—while also maintaining the nurturing framework and safety of the process, a responsibility that rests with the adults. It reflects the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as the wars in Ukraine (from 2022) and Gaza (from 2023). The film serves as a plea for a sensitivity revolution, one that learns from kids and reconnects us with our inner child.”
“We were immediately drawn into the magical world of Zoja and Lea, and the unique and fresh angle the film offers into our era dominated by various geopolitical tensions and crises,” Andy Norton, head of festival distribution at Raina, and Inka Achté, head of acquisitions, commented.
“King Matt the First” will also screen as part of the Polish Competition at this year’s Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival. It will mark the film’s national premiere. The 22th edition of MDAG will happen from May 9-18 in cinemas and May 20-June 2 (online).
“King Matt the First” is produced by Marta Dużbabel and Agnieszka Rostropowicz for Poland’s Pinot Films, with co-production by FixaFilm, the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Jaśmina Wójcik and Jakub Wróblewski. It was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. Helsinki’s Raina holds rights for festival distribution.
