Helena Modjeska Festival 2026 - Opening Gala

This year, the Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club in Los Angeles celebrates 55 years of promoting Polish culture on the West Coast of the United States.

2026 is a truly special year. We celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and 250 years of Polish-American friendship, as well as the Year of dir. Andrzej Wajda, Academy Honorary Award recipient.

Our patron, Helena Modjeska, captivated American audiences as one of the great Shakespearean actresses of her time, becoming a remarkable cultural bridge between Poland and America. Tadeusz Kościuszko and Casimir Pulaski also left their lasting mark on American history, fighting for the freedom and independence of the United States.

For 55 years, our Club has continued this extraordinary legacy by promoting Polish culture and supporting Polish film, theatre, music, literature, and the arts, while creating opportunities for outstanding artists to present their work to American audiences.

As part of this year’s Helena Modjeska Festival, we are proud to present The Altar Boys (Ministranci), directed by Piotr Domalewski (with English subtitles) — an acclaimed film honored with numerous awards, including the Golden Lions at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The film was produced by Aurum Film - Aneta Hickinbotham, recipient of the Helena Modjeska Heritage Award in 2025.

Through film screenings, theatre performances, meetings with artists, and special cultural events, we want to bring the very best of Polish creativity to Los Angeles, while introducing new generations and American audiences to the richness and diversity of Polish culture.

Join us as we celebrate 55 years of tradition, creativity, and cultural connection — and a friendship between Poland and America that has endured for generations.

Free parking at the venue