7th Off Plus Camera Festival

Off Plus Camera (Press materials)

The event runs all the way until 11 May, with twelve up and coming directors from around the globe competing for the Krakow Film Award.

The main competition is strictly limited to directorial debuts and second features, keeping the focus firmly on emerging talent, with a cheque of 100,000 dollars awaiting the winner.

“This is probably my favourite so far,” artistic director Ania Trzebiatowska told Polish Radio correspondent Nick Hodge about this year's competition.

“It takes a while to select them because there's a lot of pressure and responsibility on those choices as it's a big award – it's one of the biggest awards in the world in terms of film festivals.”

Trzebiatowska also talks about what other treats film buffs have in store over the next seven days, with several specially themed side-sections and celebrity guests including Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Jean-Marc Barr (The Big Blue).

This year, the jury of the main competition is being chaired by veteran Polish actor and director Jerzy Stuhr, who will be joined by UK director Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Oscar-nominated US actress Joan Allen and 'Queen of the Indies' Parker Posey, who has played in cult movies such as Dazed and Confused, Basquiat and Best in Show, and casting ace Juliet Taylor (The Exorcist, Schindler's List).

More on all that's happening at the festival this year can be found at the event's official web site.