Katarina Poljak (they/them) is an award-winning filmmaker and interdisciplinary performance artist, recognized for their impactful contributions to both the film and performance art realms. Their works have been showcased at prominent venues such as The Kimmel Center, Vox Populi Gallery, and the Icebox Project Space, alongside screenings at international film festivals including ARFF Paris, Croatian Fashion Film, Indie Short, and Rethink Dance.

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Rooted in a fusion of social critique and technological exploration, Poljak's performance-based films transport audiences to fantastical realms, blending retro futurism, sculptural set-design, and intricate hand-made costumery. Influenced by collaborations with experimental film and performance artist Kathy Rose, Poljak is committed to creating work that navigates the intersection of past and future mass culture, challenging the unspoken boundaries shaping our social lives.

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A recipient of a BFA from the University of the Arts, where they studied both Dance and Film, Poljak earned the prestigious Shannon D. Moore major film award for their thesis film in 2019. Intrigued by humanity's trajectory into "posthumanism" and its framing by the idealized human body, their work evokes a sense of surrealist suspense, explores society's fascination with the spectacle of gore, and taps into the visceral nervous system of the grotesque. ​

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Poljak's latest film, "Incredible Machine Glass Body," garnered acclaim with selections and wins at various international film festivals in 2020. Currently collaborating as a co-director and producer with documentary filmmaker Mike Attie and scholar-activist Dr. Nathan R. Stenberg, Poljak is working on an untitled feature documentary about Pennhurst State School and Hospital.

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In addition to their artistic pursuits, Poljak is an Adjunct Professor at The University of the Arts, School of Film, and an Artist in Residence at Mascher Space Cooperative. In these  positions, they persist in curating interdisciplinary performative work, integrating projection and the body. They also work as a Freelance Production Sound Mixer, Documentary Editor, and Choreographer.  Currently, Poljak is working to bring their newest film, "Source Architecture", to life, contributing further to the evolving landscape of contemporary film and performance.