News
„The Peasants” at Deadline Contenders Film L.A – watch the exclusive interview
Hugh Welchman attended the special event – Deadline Contenders Film on 18th of November in Los Angeles to talk about making of his hit movie “The Peasants”. The film, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, will represent Poland as a contender for the Best International Feature Film category. The film’s music has also been submitted to the Best Original Score category by the composer – Łukasz “L.U.C” Rostkowski. Learn what the co-director had to say about making the film during the times of COVID and war.
Hugh Welchman is the co-author and co-director of the hit film “The Peasants”, based on the Nobel-winning book by Wladyslaw Reymont, published back in the beginning of 20th Century. With his wife, DK Welchman (nee Dorota Kobiela), he already gave the viewers a visual masterpiece in Oscar-nominated “Loving Vincent”. With “The Peasants” the whole team took the job a step further, expanding on the choreography, filming locations and the amount of actors and extras. The end result is spellbinding and intriguing and critics are raving about the way the story taking place over a century ago has found its contemporary footing.
24.11.2023
„Pianoforte” with Best Music Documentary nomination from IDA
“Pianoforte” by Jakub Piątek received Best Music Documentary nomination from International Documentary Association. Film, co-financed by Polish Film Institute, had its World premiere during Sundance 2023 and opens in American cinemas on December 1st. Watch an intriguing interview with the director during IDA FallDocs.
Jakub Piątek was a guest of IDA FallDocs in October, where he answered questions by Matt Carey about his approach to filmmaking, the power of music and inspirations for his breakthrough documentary. Take a look at what he had to say:
23.11.2023
Jackpot for Polish productions at IDA
“Pianoforte” by Jakub Piątek nominated in the special selection: Best Music Documentary. “In the rearview” and “Apolonia, Apolonia” with a chance of becoming the Best Feature Documentary. Three films co-financed by Polish Film Institute have been nominated six times for IDA Documentary Awards.
“Pianoforte” by Jakub Piątek, „In the rearview” by Maciek Hamela and “Apolonia, Apolonia” by Lea Glob have been nominated by International Documentary Association (IDA). Three films co-financed by Polish Film Institute have garnered six nominations. Moving “Pianoforte” will compete in the Best Music Documentary, whilst “In the rearview” will compete for the Best Feature Documentary awards. “Apolonia, “Apolonia” was nominated in four categories: Best Director (Lea Glob), Best Editing (Andreas Bøggild Monies, Thor Ochsner), Best Writing (Lea Glob, Andreas Bøggild Monies).
22.11.2023
Polish Film Institute’s presence at 48th TIFF
Toronto International Film Festival has been a great home for Polish cinema in recent years. Many of the acclaimed productions had premieres or Special Screenings during the “Festival of festivals”, as TIFF is often being called. That includes well received films by Andrzej Wajda (“Afterimage”), Wojciech Smarzowski (“Rose”), Jerzy Skolimowski (“Essential Killing”, “11 Minutes”), Agnieszka Holland (“In Darkness”), Marcin Wrona “The Christening”, “Demon”) alongside others, including big titles as: “Imagine”, “Sponsoring”, “Afterimage”, “Blindness” and “Maria Skłodowska-Curie”.
Radosław Śmigulski on Polish films screened at Toronto International Film Festival
07.09.2023
Polish Film Institute’s co-financed productions at the 80th Venice Film Festival
We are pleased to announce that three films co-financed by Polish Film Institute will premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
It’s another stellar example of recent expansion of Polish cinema on the festival circuit. In recent years all major film festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin and Venice have been screening Polish films with great success to audiences and Jury members.
01.09.2023
Łukasz Żal will be awarded at Toronto International Film Festival
Polish cinematographer Łukasz Żal will be honoured during the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Żal will be awarded a special TIFF Variety Artisan Award for his Cinematography in „The Zone of Interest” by Jonathan Glazer. The film which was interely shot in Poland is a British-Polish co-production co-finansed by the Polish Film Institute.
“We are thrilled that two-time Academy Award – nominated Polish cinematographer Łukasz Żal is to receive TIFF Variety Artisan Award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023. We are not surprised that once again international film industry has chosen to honour the remarkable talents and contributions in film steaming from Poland” – said Radosław Śmigulski, General Director of the Polish Film Institute.
23.08.2023
Polish presence at the 76th Cannes Film Festival!
Today the 76th Cannes International Film Festival begins! The festival will take place from the 16th to 27th of May, and the accompanying Marché du Film fair from the 16th to 24th of May. This year, Polish films and co productions take part in the Main Competition, Short Films Competition, La Semaine de la Critique, ACID and will be shown as part of the Marché du Film fair.
Ruben Östlund became the chairman of the main jury this year. In this new edition, which follows its 75th anniversary, Festival de Cannes wishes to welcome a new generation of artists who direct, act, sing and write. In addition to the President, who received the Palme d’Or twice, the Jury includes Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, French actor Denis Ménochet, British-Zambian writer and director Rungano Nyoni, American actress and director Brie Larson, American actor Paul Dano, Afghan author Atiq Rahimi, Argentinian director and screenwriter Damián Szifron and French director Julia Ducournau, who won the 2021 grand prize. The Jury will be tasked with awarding the Palme d’Or to one of the 21 films announced in the Main Competition. The awards will be presented on May 27 at the closing ceremony, which will be broadcast live by France Télévisions in France and by Brut. internationally.
16.05.2023
Polish co-production in the Main Competition in Cannes
The film “The Zone of Interest” directed by Jonathan Glazer, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was included in the Main Competition of the Cannes International Film Festival (May 16-27). This is a British-Polish co-production that will compete for the Palme d’Or. The Polish producer of the film is Ewa Puszczyńska (Extreme Emotions).
“There are producers and projects that are destined for success from the very beginning. Great joy, but a little surprise. Ewa Puszczyńska is the best producer in Europe”, believes Radosław Śmigulski, director of the Polish Film Institute.
14.04.2023
Polish representation at the European Film Market in Berlin
A delegation of Polish producers and PFI representatives will take part in the European Film Market. It is one of the most important film market in the world, accompanying the Berlin International Film Festival. We invite you to the Polish Cinema Stand, which will serve as a meeting place for Polish filmmakers with foreign partners. The EFM fair will last from 16 to 22 February, 2023.
The Polish delegation to the European Film Market includes, among others: Radosław Śmigulski, Director of the Polish Film Institute, Kamila Morgisz, Head of the Film Production and Development Department, and Maria Gradowska-Tomow, Head of the International Relations Department. As part of the Co-Production Market, there will be two events: “Country Session” (February 18, 3.45-4.45 pm) and “Fund Meetings” (February 20, 18.00) where will be presented the possibilities for co-production with Poland.
16.02.2023
Polish presence at the festival in Berlin
The Romanian-Polish-German co-production “Mammalia” (dir. Sebastian Mihăilescu) qualified for the Berlin International Film Festival and will be presented in the Forum section. Among the documents is the Polish image “In Ukraine” by Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski. In the Generation section, the Polish-German-Israeli co-production “The Delegation” by Asaf Saban and the Ukrainian-French-Polish documentary “We Will Not Fade Away” (dir. Alisa Kovalenko) will be shown. All productions are co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The 73rd edition of the festival will take place on February 16-26, 2023.
“Mammalia”
27.01.2023
“EO” nominated for an Oscar Award
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Jerzy Skolimowski’s “EO” is among the five titles nominated for the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award in the Best International Feature Film category. The 95th Academy Awards will take place on March 12, 2023.
The film “EO” had its world premiere in the Main Competition in Cannes, where it received the Jury Prize. It was also presented at festivals in Toronto and Gdynia, and opened New Horizons in Wrocław. Jerzy Skolimowski was awarded the Ribera del Duero award for the best director at the festival in Spanish Valladolid, as well as the European University Film Award for his film. The picture won the Arab Critics’ Award for Best European Film. In turn, Paweł Mykietyn, the author of the music for this Polish-Italian co-production, received the European Film Award and the Cannes Soundtrack Award. The soundtrack to “EO” was also nominated for the 13th Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in the category of independent foreign language films.
27.01.2023
Poland's “EO” on the Oscar shortlist
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute (PISF), Jerzy Skolimowski’s “EO” has been included in the so-called shortlist, that is, among the 15 films for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award for Best International Feature Film. The nominations will be announced on 24 January and the 95th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on 12 March 2023.
The film “EO”(Polish: „IO”) had its world premiere in the Main Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Jury Prize. Later it was shown at festivals in Toronto and Gdynia. It also opened the New Horizons Film Festival in Wrocław. It received the Ribera del Duero Award for Best Director at the Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain and won the Arab Critic’s Award for Best European Film.
23.12.2022
The success of the film “EO” in Spain and France
The film “EO” by Jerzy Skolimowski, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was awarded the Ribera del Duero award for the best director at the Valladolid Film Festival in Spain. In turn, in France, this Polish-Italian co-production was ranked second in terms of audience attendance, after being screened in 140 cinemas. The film is a Polish candidate for the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
This is the story of a donkey, in an increasingly complex reality. Passed from hand to hand, the animal meets both good and bad people on its way. The story is a film allegory, and the title of the film refers to the sound that donkeys make. The film had its world premiere in Cannes, where it received the Jury Prize. It was also presented in competitions at major festivals in Toronto, Gdynia and Chicago, as well as the opening film of New Horizons in Wrocław.
14.12.2022
“The Pianoforte” documentary premiere at the Sundance Film Festival
Co-funded by the Polish Film Institute, the documentary “Pianoforte” will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The film by Jakub Piątek will be presented in the World Cinema Documentary Competition section. The Sundance event is the largest independent cinema festival in the world, which will take place on 19-29 January 2023.
It is a gripping story about the coming-of-age participants of the legendary Chopin Competition. Eighty-seven remarkable musicians advanced to the first stage of the last edition in 2021, and after over a dozen days, only the best twelve were qualified for the finale. The main characters are young people from all over the world. They have one thing in common – since childhood, they have devoted themselves completely to playing the piano.
13.12.2022
“EO” with the European Film Award for original score
Paweł Mykietyn won the European Film Award for the original score to the film “EO” by Jerzy Skolimowski, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The picture is this year’s Polish candidate for the Oscar. On November 23, the European Film Academy announced the winners of the awards in eight categories, including for cinematography, editing, sound and costumes. The statuettes were presented during a gala held on December 10 in Reykjavik.
This is the second award for the Polish composer for the original score to the film “EO”. He received his first – Cannes Soundtrack Award – in May this year during the 75th Cannes International Film Festival. It was also recently nominated for the 13th Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in the category of independent foreign language films.
11.12.2022
„Focus” film location and services trade event in London
Representatives of the Polish Film Institute, film commissions and representatives of Polish producers took part in the „Focus – The Meeting Place for International Production” film location and services trade event. The event took place in London on 6–7 December 2022.
Film commissions (from Poland: Wroclaw Film Commission and Podkarpacie Film Commission), producers, and service providers from over 100 countries from all over the world participated in the London fair. The event programme included numerous panel discussions and presentations featuring professionals from the film, television and advertising industries. “Focus” offers film solutions for all sorts of projects and budget levels – starting from pre-production and ending with post-production. The event was organised by The Location Guide, an online platform providing information on current film sets, using film locations around the world and available financial incentives.
09.12.2022
Documentary and Animated film in the Slamdance program
The full-length film program of the Slamdance festival includes Marek Kozakiewicz’s documentary “Silent Love”, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. It is a subtle and tender story about the strength of the family, about taking on new roles and redefining old ones; that having the courage to love, we must face our fears. In turn, among the short animations is “Hierophania” (dir. Maria Nitek). The films will be presented to guests of the American festival of independent cinema between January 20 and 26, 2023.
Slamdance is one of the world’s largest independent film festivals, which has been organized since 1995 in Park City, Utah. The first edition was created thanks to a group of filmmakers whose productions did not make it to the Sundance festival program. The unrealized need to present their films to a wider audience gave them the drive to organize their own event, whose motto is “from filmmakers for filmmakers” to this day. This year’s festival will take place on site on January 20-26, 2023. in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, and from January 23 to 29 also online.
08.12.2022
"The Silent Twins" with an acting award at the BIFA
The main actress in Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s film “The Silent Twins” – Tamara Lawrance and Letitia Wright – received an award at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). They were awarded the Best Joint Lead Performance – for acting work in a team. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
“The Silent Twins” premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival – in the Un Certain Regard section and at New Horizons in Wrocław. At the 47th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, the picture won the main prize – Golden Lions. Its protagonists are twins from Wales: June and Jennifer Gibbons. Even in childhood, they stop communicating with the outside world.
07.12.2022
“Bread and Salt” and “Pamfir” awarded in Cairo
The director of the film “Bread and Salt” Damian Kocur received the Bronze Pyramid for the best debut in the Main Competition of the International Film Festival in Cairo. In turn, the International Critics’ Week Shadi Abdel Salam Award was won by the Ukrainian-Polish-French-Chilean co-production “Pamphir” (dir. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk). Both films are co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The 44th edition of the Egyptian festival took place on November 13-22, 2022.
The Cairo International Film Festival is one of only 15 events in the world awarded with the “A” class by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations FIAPF. This year, the International Jury in the Main Competition was led by the winner of the festivals in Cannes and Locarno, Japanese director Naomi Kawase.
24.11.2022
The animated film “Airborne” awarded around the world
The animated film “Airborne” by Andrzej Jobczyk, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, wins more awards at international festivals. It was awarded in Japan, Brazil, France, Spain and Canada. It was also included in the competition sections of the Brussels Short Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival and ANIMA Brussels International Animation Film Festival. Recently, the animation director received the Jan Machulski’s award for the Best Animated Film.
“Airborne” is a story about passion, its roots and what we have to lose to be born again. This surreal animation combines the world of flying machines with the kingdom of flora and fauna. A combat-absorbed fighter pilot loses his target and suffers a great fall. The plane crashes into the crown of the tree. A tragedy that seems to be the end opens a new chapter in history. In the place of the catastrophe, a new life awakens, destined to unravel the mystery of its origin.
22.11.2022
„The Hamlet Syndrome” premiered at DOC NYC
The documentary “The Hamlet Syndrome”, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and directed by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, was qualified – among 11 other productions from around the world – to the competition of The International Documentary Film Festival DOC NYC. The screening at the largest US event of its kind will be its North American premiere. The festival in New York will run 9-27 November, 2022.
This one of the most famous titles about the war in Ukraine tells the story of five young Ukrainians who try to face their most difficult memories on stage. The authors of the documentary show the shocking fate of a generation for whom war has become an everyday reality, confront attitudes and experiences, and ask difficult questions about the limits of sacrifice. Observing with the camera the process of creating the performance, “The Hamlet Syndrome” from a close, intimate perspective portrays the first Ukrainian generation born after the collapse of the USSR, which tries to change the conflict-torn country and put their lives in order.
15.11.2022