Stanislaw Lem (1921-2006) wrote across genres: horror, detective procedurals, semi-autobiographical realism, essays. But in the West, he is best known for his science fiction, a realm inhabited by robots, cyborgs and intelligent machines of all varieties. Much of his work is concerned with the encounter of human and artificial intelligence; through these close encounters, he asks questions about the nature of intelligence, humanity, and the self.

Lem’s novels and stories have inspired – and continue to inspire – numerous filmmakers, most famously Andrei Tarkovsky with his 1972 adaptation of Solaris. Curated by Barbican Cinema in partnership with Kinoteka Polish Film Festival, this season presents a selection of the lesser-known adaptations.

Barbican – Smart Robots, Mortal Engines: Stanislaw Lem On Film