New Project by Jakimowski
The cast of the new international project by Andrzej Jakimowski, director of the acclaimed Sztuczki (Tricks) and Zmruż oczy (Squint Your Eyes), was announced at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in Lisbon in May.
The Jakimowski project, known under its working title Blind Watching, is a co-production between Poland, France, and Portugal. Mike Downey of UK-based Film and Music Entertainment will also act as co-producer.
The script, also written by Jakimowski, tells the story of Ian, a charismatic guardian of the sight-impaired who arrives at a renowned ophthalmic clinic in Lisbon, where he runs a course for blind patients. One of his students is a young woman named Ewa, who has trouble with social interaction. Ian makes an effort to help Ewa overcome her coyness. Being a blind person himself, he decides to risk taking his patient outside the clinic.
Jakimowski’s feature will star two former participants of the “Shooting Stars” international programme for promoting young European actors: Alexandra Maria Lara, known for her roles in Control, Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (The Baader Meinhof Complex), and Der Untergang (Downfall), and Edward Hogg, who played the lead in White Lightnin’ – a film that screened at one of the recent editions of the Warsaw Film Festival.
Blind Watching will be co-produced by ZAiR (Warsaw), KMBO (Paris), and Filmes do Tejo II Multimedia (Lisbon). The project is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, by Centre National de la Cinematographie (CNC), and by Institito Do Cinema E Do Audiovisual (ICA) The film will also receive co-financing from Canal+ Cyfrowy Polska and from Forum Film Distribution.
Further details available at: www.hollywoodreporter.com.
Translated by Karolina Kołtun