Audiovisual Design | Graduation Series 2025
Kasia Pluskota (22) has always been curious about people, places, and the stories that connect them. Born and raised in Wrocław, Poland, then moved to Rotterdam to study Audiovisual Design at WdKA. Along the way, she also spent time living and studying in Chile, which sparked a strong interest in Latin America, a place that now plays a big role in her graduation work.
“I’ve always been drawn to making films that explore cultural identity,” Kasia says. “I often look at the connections between Poland and other parts of the world. Lately, that’s led me to Latin America.”
Her graduation project is a documentary film shot in Misiones, a region in northern Argentina that has a surprising connection to Polish culture.
From Personal Curiosity to Documentary Film
The documentary centers around Polish-Argentinian communities and asks timely questions about cultural memory, heritage, and identity. “At first, I wanted to explore how people maintain Polish traditions in Argentina,” Kasia explains. “But I quickly realized this wasn’t just a heartwarming story about heritage, it also raised questions about conservatism, identity politics, and eurocentrism.”
What began as a curiosity about Polish settlers in South America soon evolved into a critical, anthropological inquiry. “I didn’t want to glorify Polishness. I wanted to understand how this identity is preserved and what gets lost or distorted in the process.”
International Production
Kasia planned the project herself: from research to filming to production. She traveled to Argentina for two and a half weeks with a backpack full of film equipment and a lot of determination. “It wasn’t easy,” she says. “I didn’t have a car, it rained all the time, and I was carrying heavy gear on my own.”
Luckily, she connected with two Argentinian film students who helped her with sound and production. “Having locals on my team made a big difference,” she says. “They helped me get in touch with people and made everything feel more natural.”
Even though she speaks Spanish, Kasia was careful about how she approached people. “You have to earn people’s trust. I didn’t want to take advantage of anyone’s story. I wanted them to feel comfortable sharing it.”
Learning by Doing
Kasia says the freedom at WdKA helped shape her as a maker. “I took a documentary minor called CampusDoc, and that changed everything. It taught me how to make a documentary from start to finish, and I realized this is what I want to do.”
She also made her own opportunities. When she wanted to study in Chile, even though it wasn’t a partner school, she arranged a special exchange. “WdKA is flexible like that. If you know what you want and you’re willing to go for it, they’ll support you.”
Now, after four years, she says she feels ready. “I’m proud of where I am. I’ve found my way of working and the kind of stories I want to tell.”
Next Steps
Kasia is currently applying to master’s programmes in places like the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, and Poland, focusing on documentary filmmaking and visual anthropology. “I want to keep working on projects that help me understand other cultures and share important stories,” she says. “Documentary is the perfect medium for that.”
She also wants to keep her future projects international. “I’d love to work with editors, composers, and other creatives from the same places I’m filming. It’s important to me that the process reflects the story.”
Advice for Students
“Trust your curiosity,” Kasia says. “If something sticks with you - a question, a moment, an idea - follow it. That’s where the best stories come from.”And when it comes to your graduation year, she encourages students to be bold. “Make the film or project you’ve always wanted to make. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just make it honest, and make it yours.”
