"Cold War", "Communion" and "Ajka" on the shortlist to Oscar
Three films co-financed by PISF are present on the Oscar shortlist and will compete for an Oscar nomination! The nominations will be announced on January 22, 2019.
The Academy awarding the Oscars announced short lists in nine categories: a non-English film, a full-length documentary, a short documentary, a make-up and hairstyling, a short film, a short animation, special effects and a song and soundtrack (for the first time).
Titles with a chance for nominations
“Cold War” directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, triumphing at the gala of this year’s European Film Awards in Seville, has a chance to be among productions nominated in the category of non-English language film. In the same category may be “Ajka” directed by Sergey Dvorcewoja – a co-production of Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan, China and Poland.
In the category of a full-length documentary, the nomination will be won by “Communion” directed by Anna Zamecka. The film, especially in recent times, has enjoyed many successes at Polish and foreign festivals. A year ago, “Communion” won the European Film Award for a documentary.
About movies
“Communion” is a full-length documentary debut of Anna Zamecka, produced by Otter Films, Wajda Studio and HBO Europe, with a supporting producer of MX35. The document was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The author of the pictures for the film is Małgorzata Szyłak. The film had its world premiere at the 69th International Film Festival in Locarno, where it was selected the best film of the Film Critics Week section (La Semaine de la Critique). Anna Zamecka’s film was also awarded at festivals in Warsaw, Jihlava, Minsk, Leipzig and Bratislava. The image’s distributor in Polish cinemas is the Aurora Films.
When adults are playing house, then children must grow up quickly. 14-year-old Ola not only takes care of an inefficient father, a disabled brother Nicodemus and a mother who lives separately, present mainly by phone; but above all, she tries to put together a family that does not work – like a piece of broken furniture. She hopes that she will be able to bring her mother back home. The pretext for meeting her is the Nikodem’s Holy Communion and Ola takes all responsibility for preparing the perfect family celebration. Anna Zamecka’s “Communion” discovers beauty in the rejected, strength in the weakest, the need for a change where nothing promises it.
It’s an accelerated maturation lesson which teaches that no failures are final. Especially where love is involved.
The film entered Polish cinemas on November 25 this year.
“Cold War” is a Polish-British-French co-production. The Polish producer of the film is Ewa Puszczyńska from the Opus Film studio, the British producer is Apocalypso Pictures, and the French producer is MK Productions. The film is co-financed, among others by Polish Film Institute, Film4, British Film Institute, CNC, ARTE France, Canal + Poland and the Eurimages fund. The co-producers of the image are, among others Mazovia and Warsaw Film Fund, Łódź Film Fund, Silesian Film Fund and Podkarpacki Film Fund. MK2 Films and Protagonist Pictures are responsible for international sales. Kino Świat is the Polish distributor.
Cold War tells the story of the great and difficult love of two people who cannot be together but also cannot be apart. The lead roles are played by Tomasz Kot and Joanna Kulig, with supporting performances from Agata Kulesza and Borys Szyc. The events shown in Cold War take place in Poland and the slowly re-awakening Europe of the 1950s and 1960s, and they are set against a unique soundtrack which combines Polish folk music with jazz and songs from the Parisian bars of the last century.
The film entered Polish cinemas on June 8 this year.
“Ajka” is a co-production of five countries: Russia, Germany, Poland, Kazakhstan and China. The Polish producer is Anna Wydra from Otter Films, and the author of the photographs is the Polish cameraman Jolanta Dylewska.
Ajka (Samal Jesljamowa) has just given birth to a child. There are no conditions to raise him. She lives in Moscow, she does not have a job or her own room. She has debts to repay. However, natural instincts can not be suppressed.
The film entered Polish cinemas on November 30 this year.