"Imagine" to Open 28th WFF
Photo courtesy of WFF/Bartek Trzeszkowski
The press conference of the 28th Warsaw Film Festival, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was held on September 26. The festival team announced this year’s WFF lineup, as well as the side events they have planned.
“We will present ten festival sections, five of which are competition sections,” said festival director Stefan Laudyn. “The festival’s opening film will be Imagine by Andrzej Jakimowski – a film about the world of the blind. Jakimowski’s previous film Sztuczki (Tricks) opened the 2007 edition of our festival.”
“After the first screenings of Imagine, I noticed how well the actors’ performances are being received. Many people are convinced that the lead actors really are who they play,” said Jakimowski. “Allow me to add that the film’s UK co-producer is a man whom I met at the Warsaw Film Festival. Mike Downey and I met two years ago, when I was a jury member at this festival. We exchanged ideas, and realized that we agree on many artistic matters. This resulted in Mike becoming involved in this production. He has helped us a great deal. He organized a fantastic casting session for blind children, which added tremendous value to the film itself.”
Polish Films in Competition Sections
In addition to Imagine, which was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the Warsaw Film Festival’s International Competition will feature Polish feature Miłość (Loving) by Sławomir Fabicki and the international co-production The Confidant by Juraj Nvota. Both films were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. “Three years ago I decided to make a very intimate film, focused around the actors. I am glad that this has now become a reality,” said director Sławomir Fabicki, who was also present the press conference as a guest of the festival.
The 1-2 Competition for films by first- and second-time filmmakers will also feature Dzień kobiet (Women’s Day) by Maria Sadowska, while the lineup of the Documentary Film Competition includes Bad boy – cela dla niebezpiecznych (Bad Boy) by Janusz Mrozowski, and Fuck for Forest by Michał Marczak. The latter film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The festival will also feature a special screening of Pokłosie (Aftermath) by Władysław Pasikowski, another film co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
New Project
“The Warsaw Film Foundation has a new venture: the China-Europe film promotion project. We have been working on this project with our Chinese partners since April 2012,” said Stefan Laudyn. “We have a very challenging plan. We intend to open China’s distribution channels to European artistic films, while also supporting bringing similar Chinese films into the European circuit. The official launch of the project will take place on October 20.”
Film Market
“This year’s festival will also mark the eighth edition of the CentEast film market, a unique presentation of works-in-progress,” said Laudyn. “In cooperation with our Russian partners, we selected ten films this year. I would like to direct your attention to Drogówka (Traffic Department) the latest film by Wojciech Smarzowski, currently in the editing stage. I eagerly await next year’s premiere of this film. The film market will also feature Warsaw Screenings, a showcase of the latest Polish films. The event will be attended by sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers from around the world.”
Drogówka (Traffic Department) is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Polish Shorts
This year’s festival audience will also have an opportunity to enjoy the second edition of the Shorts Warsaw presentation of Polish short films. Shorts Warsaw will feature 19 films made in the past year. The event will be complemented by panel discussions and meetings with industry representatives. The Short Film Competition also features a Polish film – Muruna, directed by Piotr Sułkowski.
The 28th Warsaw International Film Festival runs from October 12 through October 21, and is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Aleksandra Różdżyńska
Translated by Karolina Kołtun