Tilda Swinton is set to make a spectacular appearance in Poznań as part of Malta Festival 2025. The Oscar-winning actress will bring Embodying Pasolini, a unique theatrical experience, to the city for four exclusive performances. This one-of-a-kind show blends cinema, costume history, and live performance in a way that only Swinton can deliver. Here’s everything you need to know about her visit, the extraordinary spectacle, and the significance of Malta Festival itself.
An Oscar-Winning Star Comes to Poznań
Tilda Swinton, one of the most distinctive and celebrated actresses of our time, is coming to Poznań. The Oscar winner, known for her transformative roles in both Hollywood blockbusters and independent cinema, will appear at Malta Festival 2025 with a one-of-a-kind performance: Embodying Pasolini. This exclusive theatrical experience, staged only once a year in a carefully chosen location, will open the 35th edition of Malta Festival from 20 to 23 June at Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie. This announcement sets an electrifying tone for the festival’s milestone year.
We’re starting the countdown to our 35th edition in the best way possible—with the visit of the phenomenal Tilda Swinton. This performance is an artistic tribute that crosses the boundaries of theatre, fashion, and cinema.
say the festival organisers.
Who Is Tilda Swinton?
For those who love cinema, Tilda Swinton needs no introduction. Her career spans decades and genres, making her one of the most versatile and mesmerising actors in the world. She won an Academy Award for her role in Michael Clayton and has collaborated with some of the most visionary directors, from Derek Jarman and Jim Jarmusch to Pedro Almodóvar. Audiences might know her as the chilling White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia, the enigmatic Ancient One in Doctor Strange, or the poetic wanderer in Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive.
Swinton’s ability to disappear into her roles has made her a muse for independent filmmakers while also shining in mainstream productions. But beyond film, she has long been fascinated with theatre and performance art, and Embodying Pasolini is one of her most unique projects yet.
Embodying Pasolini: A Tribute to a Cinematic Icon
Embodying Pasolini is more than just a performance—it’s an artistic ritual. Swinton, alongside renowned fashion historian Olivier Saillard, brings to life the essence of Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini through the lens of costume. On stage, she does not act in the traditional sense; instead, she wears, explores, and embodies the costumes designed for Pasolini’s films.
The performance features nearly 30 historical costumes created by legendary designer Danilo Donati for films such as The Gospel According to St. Matthew, Oedipus Rex, and Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. These garments, crafted in the prestigious Farani atelier in Rome, hold stories of their own. As Swinton dons them, they become more than fabric—they become characters, memories, and cinematic ghosts reawakened.
This one-of-a-kind spectacle first premiered in Rome in 2021 and has since been staged in Paris, Athens, and Taipei. In 2025, Poznań will be the next city to host this exclusive event.
What those people who watch the performance see is two people figuring out how to embody Pasolini. But honestly, even Olivier and I, we don’t really know what we are doing, which I think it’s a great place to start.
Swinton told Reuters.
The Significance of Malta Festival
Malta Festival is one of Poland’s most influential cultural events, bringing together theatre, dance, music, film, and performance art in a vibrant, interdisciplinary celebration. Since its inception in 1991, the festival has evolved from a local theatre event into a global platform for experimental and thought-provoking art.
Over the years, it has hosted performances by world-renowned artists, from avant-garde theatre companies like Needcompany and Romeo Castellucci to musicians such as Damon Albarn, CocoRosie, and Antony & The Johnsons. The festival has also been a space for political and social discourse, tackling themes such as migration, climate change, and human rights through artistic expression.
In 2025, Malta Festival will once again transform Poznań into a cultural epicentre from 20 to 28 June.
This festival is about connecting people with art in unexpected ways. With Embodying Pasolini, we’re honouring not only cinema and theatre but also the craft of costume design, the power of transformation, and the way history shapes art.
says Dominika Kulczyk, the festival’s patron.
A Must-See Event
For Polish audiences, Embodying Pasolini offers a rare opportunity to see Tilda Swinton in a theatrical setting—an experience unlike anything she has done before. The performance will be staged only four times in Poznań, making it a truly unmissable event. Tickets go on sale at the end of March, and demand is expected to be high.
Beyond Swinton’s performance, Malta Festival 2025 promises a diverse lineup of theatre, music, and performance art that will celebrate the festival’s rich history while pushing the boundaries of contemporary creativity. More details will be revealed in the coming months, but one thing is certain: this edition is set to be one of the most memorable yet.
If you’re a fan of cinema, theatre, or simply extraordinary artistic experiences, mark your calendar. Tilda Swinton is coming to Poznań, and Embodying Pasolini is not to be missed.
