Proud, a Polish HBO Original series created by Karol Klementewicz and Monika Pęcikiewicz, lands on HBO Max starting on Friday, June 12, 2026. Honored with the Grand Prix for the International Competition at Séries Mania 2026, the series will roll out one episode per week, with the finale set for July 31, 2026.
Proud
Series | 2026
Available on HBO Max from June 12, 2026
Drama | 1 season, 8 episodes
Created by Karol Klementewicz and Monika Pęcikiewicz
Directed by Karol Klementewicz
Starring Ignacy Liss, Kamil Studnicki, Maria Sobocińska, Paweł Tomaszewski
Country: Poland
Having its world premiere at Séries Mania in Lille, Proud took home the Grand Prize in the International Competition at the festival’s 2026 edition. Its lead actor, Ignacy Liss, also earned the Best Actor award in the International Competition.
The series follows Filip, a young gay model who leads a free, carefree life with no obligations. Beneath his confidence, his arrogance, and the admiring gaze his career earns him, the character conceals deeper fragilities.
His day-to-day life is turned upside down when a family tragedy confronts him with a responsibility he never expected: looking after a child. Filip must then navigate guilt, his own failures, social stigma, and the fear of losing the independence his life had revolved around.
Proud comes across as an intimate drama about family, self-discovery, and the many forms emotional responsibility can take. The series also tackles everyday homophobia and the struggle to find a place in a world that continually questions the main character’s identity.
Alongside Ignacy Liss, the cast features Maria Sobocińska, Kamil Studnicki, Maja Ostaszewska, Joanna Kulig, Paweł Tomaszewski, Dorota Kolak, Tamara Arciuch and Mateusz Więcławek. The series is produced for HBO Max by TVN Warner Bros. Discovery, in collaboration with Magnolia Films.
The official trailer offers the first glimpse of this Polish series that drew attention at the festival.
This release could draw the attention of viewers who follow European drama series, LGBTQ+ fiction, and the programs unveiled by major festival lineups. With its eight episodes, Proud fits a compact format, rolling out on HBO Max gradually over the summer.
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