Helena Ganjalyan and Bartosz Szpak are a multi-disciplinary, dynamic directors duo. Helena is a graduate of the Academy of Theater Arts St. Wyspiański in Kraków, and Bartek graduated from the Łódź Film School.

For many years, they have been working simultaneously across various creative fields – both have acting education and experience; Helena’s background also includes choreography, theatre direction, and photography, while Bartek’s extends to music composition and audio directing.

Their debut feature film “GLORIOUS SUMMER” had its world premiere at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX. The film has been showcased at numerous international festivals, including New Horizons International Film Festival (Main Competition), where it got Marcin Wrona Award, 49th São Paulo IFF Mostra (New Filmmakers Competition), NOT Film Festival (where it won the Best Performance Award at Shooting Star Competition), REC International Competition Tarragona and Gdynia Polish Film Festival, where it won the main award – SAPPHIRE LION – at Perspectives Competition.

Their works have been featured on prestigious platforms such as Directors Library and Promonews. Recent music video „CORE” was shortlisted at the Berlin Commercial Awards (Direction, Idea, Cinematography, Costume and Styling), and won the Cinematography Award.

They have collaborated with brands such as Google, Samsung, PUMA, Coca-Cola, Hertz and Disney. Their film “JA” for the Tyskie brand won the Grand Prix and 1st Prize in the Branded Stories category at Papaya Young Directors 2020.

Currently, Helena and Bartek are developing their second feature film, “TWO PEAS.”

Their acting background allows them to direct performers with precision, formulate clear and effective tasks, and create organic, vivid dialogue. They approach casting with an emphasis on personality and chemistry, choosing to work with people who naturally bring depth and authenticity to the story.

They treat all their fields of activity as a set of interconnected vessels and try to let the experience and skills acquired in each of them influence one another.

Whether it’s through their sense of humour or their ability to craft exceptional atmospheres, Helena and Bartek always seek to create visually striking and self contained universes. Their creative process is characterized by attention to detail, precise planning and searching for the best visual form for the stories told. Their work recognizes the extraordinary in the ordinary – always with a human story at its core – realistic or abstract.

PHOTO ©WIKTOR FRANKO