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The Light of Immortality film image; man holding up two lit lanterns in the dark

The Light of Immortality

Światło Nieśmiertelności

VIFF Short Forum

International Premiere

A man’s obsession with collecting vintage lamps slowly unravels. For decades, his family has quietly supported and adapted to his ever-growing fantasy, blurring the lines between care, complicity, and imagination.

 

Supported by

Director
Featuring

Janusz Chmielniak

Credits
Country of Origin

Poland

Year

2025

Language

In Polish with English subtitles

Film Contact
18+
25 min
Documentary Family Relations Shorts
Wonderer - Andrzej Pałka

Credits & Director

Producer

Andrzej Pałka

Screenwriter

Mikołaj Janik, Martyna Wojtkowska

Cinematography

Kamil Kozik, Mikołaj Janik

Editor

Jakub Rados

Original Music

Michal Drabczyk

Mikołaj Janik headshot

Mikołaj Janik

Mikołaj Janik is the director and screenwriter of films that have appeared at more than 70 international festivals. He was awarded second place in Poland’s largest screenwriting competition, Imagine, and was a finalist in the Papaya New Directors competition. Janik received a scholarship from the Pilecki Institute in Berlin, and works as a university lecturer and film educator. In his free time, he escapes to the mountains. He is currently working on his feature-length documentary debut, High Enough.

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