FIPADOC 2026
by Davide Abbatescianni
– Iga Lis’s debut feature paints an intimate, sharply humorous portrait of a smokehouse matriarch facing the uncertain future of the small seaside empire she has built over four decades
The Queen and the Smokehouse by Iga Lis
The first trailer has been unveiled for The Queen and the Smokehouse [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the debut feature-length documentary by Iga Lis, ahead of its international premiere in the European Stories Competition of Biarritz’s FIPADOC (23-31 January).
Set in a lively Baltic seaside town, the film centres on Miecia, affectionately known as the local “queen”, who has run her smokehouse for over four decades. More than a workplace, it is a social hub and a point of reference for the community around it. When declining health forces Miecia to loosen her grip on the business, a fragile transition begins, exposing the uncertain future of both the smokehouse and the people whose lives orbit around it.
Lensed by Kacper Gawron, and edited by Kosma Kowalczyk and Jakub Darewski, the pic observes this moment of suspension with warmth and quiet humour, weaving together everyday rituals, seaside folklore and the sharp wit of its indomitable protagonist.
The Queen and the Smokehouse is a Polish production staged by Munk Studio together with Silver Frame, MX35 and Canal+ Poland, with co-financing provided by the Polish Film Institute. KFF Sales & Promotion is in charge of its international sales and festival distribution.
Check out our exclusive trailer below:
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