A short film „The Dress” and a co-production „Lamb” with a chance for Oscars

„The Dress” directed by Tadeusz Łysiak, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, is among 15 titles on the shortlist of candidates for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in the Live Action Short Film category. In the Best International Feature Film category, the Icelandic-Polish co-production of Valdimar Jóhannsson’s „Lamb” has a chance to be nominated for an Oscar.

Tadeusz Łysiak’s image premiered at the 60th Krakow Film Festival and has since received a large number of awards and distinctions around the world. Among the most important are: Best Narrative Short Award at Atlanta Film Festival or Director’s Choice Award at Thomas Edison Film Festival. In addition, the film also won the statuette for the best student short film IN THE PALACE Short Film Festival, won the Let’s Include competition at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival in India, and was awarded at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in the Best Actress category for the leading role of Anna Dzieduszycka.

It was also in the official selection of international festivals in Karlovy Vary, Odense, Clermont-Ferrand or Moscow, as well as Polish ones: Kameralne Lato in Radom and Młodzi i Film in Koszalin.

The plot of the film and the creators

„The Dress” tells the story of Julia, working in a roadside motel, whose life changes when she meets a handsome truck driver. Desires long hidden by a woman appear. But it’s not just the story of a woman meeting a man. Julia is physically different from the surrounding society, she is short, which is why she has experienced many unpleasantries in her life. Contrary to appearances, it is a universal story about longing, regardless of the barriers and differences that separate us.

The main roles played by: Anna Dzieduszycka, Dorota Pomykała, Szymon Piotr Warszawski, as well as Andrzej Glazer and Lea Oleksiak. Tadeusz Łysiak is not only the director of the film, but also the author of the script. Mariusz Gos is responsible for editing, Jan Ignacy Królikowski for music, and Konrad Bloch is the cinematographer.

„Lamb”

The feature debut of Icelandic director Valdimar Jóhannsson – „Lamb” was shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category among 15 titles, incl. these from Denmark, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan and Spain. At the International Film Festival in Cannes, the Icelandic-Polish co-production received the award for originality as part of the Un Certain Regard section.

The film was produced by Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and Sara Nassim from Go to Sheep, Piodor Gustafsson and Erik Rydell from Black Spark Production and Klaudia Śmieja and Jan Naszewski from Madants / NEM Corp., in co-production with Film i Väst, Chimney Sweden and Chimney Poland and in collaboration with Rabbit Hole Productions and Helgi Jóhannsson. Agnieszka Glińska is responsible for editing the film. The co-author of the script is Sjón, one of the most interesting figures on the Icelandic art scene: a poet, writer and musician. Noomi Rapace played the main role.

Film plot

This thrilling film tells a thoroughly modern story of the dark side of motherhood, of mourning and the wildness that lies dormant even in the most peaceful of hearts. The action of „Lamb” takes place on a lonely sheep farm run by a silent couple, María and Ingvar. Their quiet, work-filled lives will change when an extraordinary creature is born in the farm.

Under the influence of amazing events, sheep will cease to be silent, and an animal instinct will be awakened in people. In the twilight of the white nights, among the harsh, fog-soaked hills, the border between the civilized and the wild will blur. With the mysterious creature, the question arises, whose mother is nature really?