MediaLab
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For the third time, you’re welcome to join us at the MediaLab!
The third edition of the MediaLab will take place as part of the 12th TAURON International Young Horizons Film Festival. This year, we are introducing some new initiatives, while also bringing back some projects you enjoyed during past editions.
At the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, supported by a team of experienced educators and volunteers, you will be able to enjoy activities that are both engaging and educational. Have you always dreamed of making a film, but never knew where to start? Do you pay particular attention to everyday sounds, both in real life and on screen? Maybe you would love to be instantly transported to another place on Earth or beyond? To discover the traditions of faraway cultures, or to unleash your own artistic expression? If so, this is the perfect space for you!
Informacje praktyczne
17 September - 5 October 2025
monday–friday
10:00–16:00 orgnazied groups
monday–friday
16:00–18:00 individual participants
saturday–sunday
10:00–18:00 individual participants
- for viewers over 4 y.o.
- VR installations are recommended for viewers over 13 y.o.
This year we're inviting you to Zachęta – National Art Gallery, Cinema room (pl. Małachowskiego 3).
Co na Was czeka?
MediaLab original project, 2025
Have you ever wondered what a film set looks like, or how scenes set on other planets or in outer space were created by filmmakers? It’s not down to some kind of cinematic magic, but the result of using modern technology and many days of special effects experts’ work. With us, you will learn firsthand how green screen technology functions and discover how it can place you in any location on Earth or even in space and how the fantastic scenes in your favourite films were actually made.
MediaLab original project, 2025
Sound plays a unique role in cinema. It can enhance the mood of a scene, stir our emotions, and even send shivers down our spine. The sounds of rustling leaves, creaking stairs or the crackling of fire make the visuals more vivid and convincing.
In our recording studio, you will discover that many sounds were not created on the film set but in a small room full of everyday objects. As foley artists, you will meticulously observe animated movie sequences and produce sound effects that will make the visuals come to life.
The Young Horizons Sound Recording Studio will only be open on weekdays.
MediaLab original project, 2025
In the Animation Zone, you will discover various stop-motion film techniques, from the traditional to the most creative. Each one of them relies on the use of different materials and objects that create unique cinematic effects. At several stations you will be able to bring dolls, paper cut-outs, building blocks, and even… your own image to life! To create your own unique story, frame by frame, all you need is a little imagination!
Studio Interactive Culture, The Netherlands, 2018
Can a metal storage container tell stories? Thanks to the technology used in StoryScope, yes – it can! Still, nothing will happen without your help. You will choose the elements that will shape this story. Pick the main character and the adventures they will encounter on their journey – just as if you were writing a script.
Check out a digital floor that reacts to your every move! You can interact with it by using magical wands, pens, or even your own bodies. Walk on it, run, or dance: light and sound effects will appear under your feet, and you will be able to control them with your own body.
Charlotte Broccard & Playables, Switzerland 2023
Imagine your guests are about to arrive, and you still need to quickly put together a special feast for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year! In this short, colourful, hand-illustrated game, you will encounter plenty of tasty surprises.
Through a series of mini-quests, you will enter the world of delicious Vietnamese food: slice tofu, wash cabbage, prepare spring rolls, and discover the secrets of special recipes.
FableVision Studios, 2024
Do you like drawing and painting? Thanks to Paint’n’Play, you can become a real artist! Choose a brush and a colour palette and create your own masterpiece – just like famous painters do!
In this game, paints and shapes come alive on the screen. You can paint however and whatever your imagination tells you! Would you prefer to recreate a famous Van Gogh work, or create something of your own in the same style?
There are no bad ideas: every painting is special, because it is yours.
dir. Amaury Campion, Francja 2024 / 14’
Jack lives on a high, rocky island in the middle of the ocean. He lives a quiet life and divides time between his home, lighthouse, a small tree, and solitary fishing. Seemingly, Jack is the last man on Earth… until one day he meets Flo, a large white pelican who, by chance, lands on his island.
This is the start of a beautiful adventure and a story of friendship that will turn Jack’s life upside down. Thanks to Flo, he realises that instead of living alone, he can share his life with someone close. When the time comes to part ways with Flo, Jack learns the importance of memories and what stays in the heart after time spent together.
This story resembles a fairy tale about loneliness being turned into friendship, and hope that emerges in a world full of silence. It is a beautiful VR project for young and old, reminding us that anyone can find a friend.
Better Than Life, The Netherlands 2022 / 15’
This time, not a film but virtual reality will help you visit extraordinary places and have an adventure. If it’s not always easy for you to escape your duties and relax, this form of activity will help you momentarily forget about the real world.
In this VR zone, you will also find a real kayak and paddle. When you are ready to set off, put on the VR goggles and transport to a place where rushing water and wild nature will set the rhythm of your journey.
Paddle through ice caves in Antarctica, watch the northern lights at the polar circle, swim with dolphins in Costa Rica, explore underground caves in Mexico with rushing streams, and experience a storm in Norwegian waters.
You will have the option of making your VR experience a free-form, leisurely exploration or a task-filled challenge. When you get tired of paddling, you can comfortably lie back in the kayak and look around to admire the beauty of the surrounding nature.
Thanks to this experience, you will undertake a journey that simultaneously calms the mind and strengthens the body.
dir. Eliza McNitt, France 2024, 15'
Embark on an interactive journey through the Solar System, visit different planets and moons in search of signs of life, feel at home inside a spaceship, and explore the unknown!
This phenomenal experience relies on two technologies: VR offers you immersion in a digital world, and AR (augmented reality) enables you to see both real surroundings and added elements.
Astra is not only a space adventure, but also an excellent educational tool. During the journey, you will learn about celestial bodies and outer space, and the unique way in which you acquire this new knowledge will make you reluctant to go back to Earth.
Ninja Whale Studios, Norway 2022 / 15’
In our MediaLab, you can travel through the Solar System, explore faraway planets, and explore various parts of the world by kayak. But would you like to try flying?
Put on a special, digital wingsuit and feel like a bird! In this virtual adventure, you will be transported to a vast, open world and glide over mountain peaks, perform dangerous stunts, and discover hidden passages.
Choose from a number of unique wingsuits, carry out daring missions, and earn points for flying in coles proximity to the rocks. And if you don’t feel like playing against others, you can simply soar around. The expansive game world is full of hidden places and surprises!
Mount Wingsuit 2 is an aerial, fun adventure – only in a safe environment. It’s as thrilling as a roller coaster ride!
dir. May Abdalla & Barry Gene Murphy, United Kingdom, France 2024 / 15’
Imagine that a simple room is suddenly transformed into a magical space: walls open onto mysterious corridors, different objects come to life, and thoughts whirl in the air as if in a fairy tale. Impulse: Playing with Reality is a unique story that allows you to explore the world of people with ADHD.
You will encounter four protagonists:
- Leanne, who sees life as a game
- Omar, who can find energy in chaos
- Errol, who invents extraordinary personalities to gain attention
- Tara, who is facing a difficult moment in her life.
First, you will play a fun mini-game: you have to ‘catch’, organise, and arrange scattered thoughts. This will help you to understand how hard it can be to focus on one thing.
Full of colours, sounds and movement, this story helps us see the world through the eyes of others. It shows that any world – even one full of chaos – can hide beauty and hope. What better way to experience a new perspective on the world than through VR goggles?
dir. Simone Fougnier, Canada, United States 2021 / 15’
Welcome to the underground kingdom of ants! The Golden Record: Tales from Soda Island – Chapter 4 is an extraordinary tale that takes us to a giant anthill – a city teeming with life, where thousands of ants work day and night.
There, we meet TT, a small worker ant. Her days are all the same: work, work, and more work. But one day, something unexpected turns her world upside down. TT discovers that even during the most repetitive and boring day, something extraordinary can happen: all it takes is some curiosity and a little courage.
This beautifully told story is full of images, sounds, and emotions. It reminds us that even the smallest creatures can have big dreams, and that everyday life can turn into an extraordinary journey.
A magical VR film about friendship, discovery, and the value of seeing life from a different perspective.
Imagine that a simple drawing can suddenly become a real, tangible object. This is exactly how a 3D printer works! It’s an extraordinary device which, step by step, “draws” with layers of plastic until a figurine, a toy, or any other shape emerges.
Ground-breaking technology at your fingertips: you can see the printer at work and discover some 3D printed creations! Here, learning and fun go hand in hand: you can expand your imagination, learn to be patient, and create something that has never been done before!
Together with Coding Giants, we present a great treat: a weekend coding workshop!
During the creative workshops you will turn into creators and design and code your own games and applications, inspired by popular board, arcade, and puzzle games.
Depending on your age, you will work in Scratch, Minecraft, App Inventor, Python, C#, as well as graphics programmes such as Photopea.
What can you create during the workshop?
- Turbo Animals (Scratch; aimed at children aged 7–9)
Prepare for a thrilling competition! In this board racing game, two players compete to become the Fastest Hero. Choose your character and take on the challenge! This race is all about brains, quick reactions, and a bit of luck. Every move can bring you closer to victory… or leave you behind! Will you beat your opponent and be the first to cross the finish line? - Trains and Level Crossings (Scratch; aimed at children aged 10–12)
Do you know “Snakes and Ladders”? It’s a classic board game where you climb ladders and fall down snakes. This time, we’re moving it onto a whole new track: literally, as we jump into a world inspired by another popular game, “Subway Surfers”. Accept the challenge and join the race. Hop on a train that can take you a few fields ahead, but watch out for crossings blocking the way! Who will be the first to reach the end of the track? - Mastermind (Python; aimed at children aged 13-18)
During this workshop, we will travel back in time and take on the role of programmers who created the first computer games. With the use of Python, we will create a game, which will resemble “Mastermind”. We will explore how such games are built, and in the process you will learn more about the fascinating world of coding.
To participate in any of these workshops, please register via a Google form.
Participation in the workshops is free of charge. However, due to their duration, it is not possible to use the MediaLab at the same time. We encourage you to stay with us for the next time slot! The workshops are held in Polish.
MediaLab wspierają:
Trailer
Young Horizons vod!
Young Horizons at home! A unique offer for young audiences on the Young Horizons VOD platform.
Basia, dir. Marcin Wasilewski, Łukasz Kacprowicz