TWO AWARDS FOR ALEKSANDRA TERPIŃSKA'S SHORT AT 70TH CANNES IFF

Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever), a film by Aleksandra Terpińska, received the Canal+ Award and the Rail d’Or Award at the 70th Cannes IFF. The film was produced by the Polish Filmmakers Association’s Munk Studio and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Two Awards for Aleksandra Terpińska’s Film in Cannes

At the 70th Cannes International Film Festival, Aleksandra Terpińska’s film Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever) received two awards: the Canal+ Award and Rail d’Or. The film screened within the framework of the 56th Semaine de la Critique, and the Cannes screening marked its world premiere.

“It’s important for a film to convey a message; to reach people with what we want to share with them. I believe this award proves that we have managed to do that. I am very happy,” said Aleksandra Terpińska after receiving the Canal+ award.

“The film was very well received by the Cannes audience and that’s what gives me the most joy, because I try to make films for people, and I am very interested in what they have to say about these films,” she added.

“Aleksandra Terpińska’s The Best Fireworks Ever was a soul-crushingly beautiful take on the apocalyptically neigh suicidally colliding forces of Poland’s imaginary political streetscape. There’s more heart and pain and beauty and conviction in her 30 minutes than all the features I’ve seen here” – writes Sam Kuhn in the review at filmmakermagazine.com.

Terpińska’s film also received the Rail d’Or, a special award presented annually for the past 20 years for the best short film in the festival’s Semaine de la Critique. Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever) is the first Polish film to receive it.

Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever)

Set in a contemporary European city, Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever) tells the story of a day in the lives of three young friends who are forced to change their plans for the future in the face of armed conflict in their country. The film features performances by Justyna Wasilewska, Malwina Buss and Piotr Polak, with cinematography by Michał Dymek and Beata Rzeźniczek as executive producer.

Jerzy Kapuściński, Artisitic Director of Munk Studio, said: “I am very happy to hear about the awards for Aleksandra Terpińska’s film. The film was noticed and recognised at one of the world’s top film festivals — that is excellent news!”

French Canal+ noticed the film’s exceptional visual artistry. “During the festival, I received many compliments about my work. I tried to have intelligent cinematography, and I am glad that audiences perceive it to be so. I am very happy that my work helped to convey this story,” said cinematographer Michał Dymek.

The film’s world sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales. “Canal + is a brand that has been supporting world cinema for years; it is France’s most prestigious station, with a very high benchmark for short films. We are very happy to have The Best Fireworks Ever broadcast on Canal+,” said Jan Naszewski of New Europe Film Sales.

Screenplay Awarded in ‘Blind Chance’ Competition

The film was made based on Aleksandra Terpińska’s wining entry to the ‘Blind Chance’ script competition, organised by Kino Polska, the Polish Audiovisual Producers’ Chamber of Commerce, Munk Studio, and SF Tor to celebrate the Year of Kieślowski. The above parties are the film’s co-producers, with MX35 and Dreamsound as co-producers. The film’s leading producer is Munk Studio.

The Best Fireworks Ever caught my interest already at the script stage. But with such a tight timeframe and modest budget, I wondered whether a team of young filmmakers would succeed in executing the planned concepts and scenes. Scenes that, believe me, were not easy. But this crew has proven that, even with tight time constraints and limited budget, it’s possible to make the film you want to make — without sacrificing the story or taking the easy way out,” said Ewa Jastrzębska, Production Director for Munk Studio.

“In the Year of Kieślowski, we wanted to see how young filmmakers interpret his work. What would a present-day Blind Chance look like?” says Bogusław Kisielewski, President of the Board of Kino Polska.
This initiative of TOR Film Studio and Kino Polska is a screenwriting competition aimed at film students and graduates of film schools. Members of the Jury, chaired by Krzysztof Zanussi, include Joanna Szymańska and Agnieszka Dziedzic of the Young Producers Section of the Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce, and Kuba Czekaj, one of the most promising directors of the young generation.

Najpiękniejsze fajerwerki ever (The Best Fireworks Ever) was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

based on the Munk Studio’s press release

Translated by Karolina Kołtun

26.05.2017