NY Polish Film Festival Outcome
Lesław Żurek, Magdalena Cielecka, Andrzej Chyra, Janusz Morgernstern, Dominik Matwiejczyk, Hanna Kosińska Hartowicz, Jacek Borcuch. Photo by Zosia Zeleska-Bobrowski
The winner of the Krzysztof Kieślowski “Beyond Borders” award, the festival’s grand prize for Best Film, was Jacek Borcuch’s feature Wszystko co kocham (All That I Love). “Borcuch tells a story that is set in Poland in the 1980s; it is a record of a certain period, the reality of life in that period, and the attitudes that it created. At the same time, Borcuch is far from following stereotypes; the story he tells about budding emotions is charming in its subtlety. Excellent performances, impeccable narrative, and an interesting soundtrack are,” according to the Jury, “without a doubt the film’s greatest assets; moreover, All That I Love manages to speak to global audiences, crossing the boundaries of language and culture.”
The Best Documentary award went to Tam, gdzie słońce się nie spieszy (Where the Sun Doesn’t Rush) by director Matej Bobrik, a student at the Łódź Film School. “This poetic, visually captivating film presents a slightly cynical, albeit exceptionally warm, look at life in a small town. The visual aspects and the human factor of this community are presented without turning to dialogue,” which was particularly appreciated by the president of the jury, cinematographer Adam Holender.
The “50 Years in Cinema” Honorary Award went to Janusz Morgenstern. His feature Mniejsze zło (The Lesser of Two Evils) also won the Audience Award.
The festival jury was presided by cinematographer Adam Holender, and also included Anna Bogusz, Roza Brzozowski, Clara Markowicz, Joanna Ney, and Izabela Blackwood. Special Jury Recognition went to two projects: the feature Czarny (Black) by Dominik Matwiejczyk, and the documentary Życie czasami bywa znośne by Katarzyna Kolenda Zaleska. According to the jury, “Matwiejczyk’s low-budget film is an uncompromising criticism of traditional customs; it is a bold look at the functioning of various institutions and at elements of the Catholic Church doctrine.”
Translated by Karolina Kołtun