Freshman is a two-year observation of fifteen-year-old Jędrek. Cut off from his family and loved ones, the boy gets locked up in a juvenile prison. Now he has to adapt to a new, harsh environment. At first, he is scared and lonely, but later, he meets a friend — Wojtek. The juvy slowly becomes their new home.
CREW:
Director: Michał Edelman, Tomasz Pawlik
Producer: Ewa Jastrzębska, Jerzy Kapuściński
Cinematographer: Tomasz Pawlik
Editor: Przemysław Krężel, Julia Polkowska
Sound: Bart Putkiewicz
Production
MUNK STUDIO— POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION
Sales:
Awards
2025
Gandawa (Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival) — Best Doc Short,
Koszaliński Festiwal Debiutów Filmowych "Młodzi i Film") — Best cinematography,
Ogólnopolski Konkurs Filmów Niezależnych OKFA — Young Jury Award,
Kazimierz Dolny (Festiwal Filmu i Sztuki "Dwa Brzegi") — II Award for Best Short,
Bana Film Festiwal) — Best Doc Short,
Award im. Jana Machulskiego — w kategorii: Best Doc Short,
Festiwal Filmowy "Opolskie Lamy") — Special Mention,
Międzynarodowy Festiwal Filmów Krótkometrażowych "żubrOFFka") — Young Jury Award,
Jelenia Góra (Międzynarodowy Festiwal Filmowy "Zoom-Zbliżenia") — Best Doc Short 2024,
Millenium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival - Best Short
Director
Michał Edelman
Michał Edelman — studied at the Interdepartmental Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities at the University of Warsaw and graduated in directing at the Lodz Film School. Born into a family of filmmakers, he grew up on film sets where he developed a love for cinema that has continued to grow over time. In 2020 he made his documentary debut with The Last Knights of the Right Side, which had its international premiere at the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival. He is currently working on his feature film debut, Neurosis of the Heart.Selected Filmography
Serwis (2024), Freshman (2024), Performance (2022), Ostatni Rycerze Prawej Strony (2020), Jestem Andrzejem (2019), Nastka (2018) 
Director
Tomasz Pawlik
Tomasz Pawlik — studied Artes Liberales at the University of Warsaw. In 2024, he graduated from the Lodz Film School at the Cinematography Department. During his studies, he shot many short feature films as well as documentaries. Some were recognized at prestigious film festivals including Palm Springs International ShortFest, Brussels Short Film Festival, FPFF Gdynia and Krakow Film Festival. He develops his skills by also working as a camera operator with respected cinematographers.Selected Filmography
Freshman (2024), Przystań (2016) 
