Andrzej Wajda Awarded in Venice

Photo courtesy of Venice International Film Festival

On September 5, before the world premiere screening of the co-financed by the Polish Film Institute Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope), Andrzej Wajda was presented with the 2013 Persol Prize of the Venice International Film Festival – an award aimed at celebrating legends of international cinema.

2013 Persol Award for Andrzej Wajda

“Wajda is not just the most emblematic director in post-war Polish filmmaking. He is the director who has been capable […] of raising the most decisive and important questions about the history of his country, and consequently, of Europe in its entirety, inviting us to reflect on the critical relationship between personal experiences and those of an entire nation, between the anguish that often befalls individual destinies and the weight of the collective task they are called upon to accomplish,” said Venice film festival director, Alberto Barbera.

Out of Competition Screenings

Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) was screened at the 70th Venice IFF as one of a number of films screening out of competition, including the latest projects by such directors as Kim Ki-Duk, Patrice Leconte, and Ettore Scola.

A Film Co-Financed by the Polish Film Institute

Wałęsa. Man of Hope was written by Janusz Głowacki and lensed by Paweł Edelman. The film features an all-star cast; the lead roles are played by Robert Więckiewicz and Agnieszka Grochowska, with supporting performances from Maria Rosaria Omaggio, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Maciej Stuhr, Mirosław Baka, and Cezary Kosiński. The film was produced by Akson Sudio, co-produced by Orange – Telekomunikacja Polska S.A, NCK – the National Center for Culture, TVP – Telewizja Polska S.A., and Canal+ Cyfrowy S.A. Wałęsa was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, with Grupa ENERGA acting as Main Sponsor and SAUR Neptun Gdańsk as sponsor. The film was made in partnership with Gdańsk – the City of Freedom, and is to be released under the Honorary Patronage of Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

Polish Release on October 4

Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) will have its theatrical release in Poland on October 4. The film’s Polish distributor is ITI Cinema, while world sales are handled by Films Boutique.

Paulina Bez