"Communion" in the running for European Film Award
Komunia (Communion), a documentary film directed by Anna Zamecka and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, has been selected as one of the best documentaries of the year and is in the running for nominations for the European Film Awards.
Other films shortlisted for the EFA awards include:
- Austerlitz, directed by Sergey Lozhnitsa;
- Dead Donkeys Fear no Hyenas, directed by Joakim Demmer;
- How to Meet a Mermaid, directed by Coco Schrijber;
- La Chana, directed by Lucija Stojevic;
- Libera Nos, directed by Federica Di Giacomo;
- Nothingwood, directed by Sonia Kronlund;
- School Life, directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin & David Rane;
- Stranger in Paradise, directed by Guido Hendrikx;
- Taste of Cement, directed by Ziad Kalthoum;
- The Good Postman, directed by Tonislav Hristov;
- The Venerable W, directed by Barbet Schroeder;
- The War Show, directed by Andreas Dalsgaard & Obaidah Zytoon;
- Ultra, directed by Balazs Simonyi;
- West of the Jordan River, directed by Amos Gitai
Award Winner at Film Festivals Around the World
Komunia (Communion) is the feature documentary debut by director Anna Zamecka, produced by Otter Films, Wajda Studio and HBO Europe, with MX35 on board. The documentary was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. Komunia (Communion) was lensed by Małgorzata Szyłak and editad by Agnieszka Glińska, Anna Zamecka and Wojciech Janas.
The film premiered at the 69th Locarno International Film Festival, winning the award for Best Film in the festival’s Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la Critique). Anna Zamecka’s documentary went on to receive awards at film festivals in Warsaw, Jihlava, Minsk, Leipzig, and Bratislava. The film was released theatrically in Poland in November 2016, with distribution handled by Aurora Films. World sales are handled by CAT&Docs.
“Coming of Age Too Soon”
When adults are playing house, sometimes children need to grow up quickly. 14-year-old Ola takes care of her father and her handicapped brother, and tries to maintain a relationship with her absentee mother. She tries to piece the family back together. She hopes to be able to bring her mother back home. The upcoming holy communion ceremony for Nikodem is a good excuse to meet with their mother; Ola takes the responsibility of organising the perfect family celebration upon herself.
Komunia (Communion) finds beauty in the rejected, strength in the weak, and a need for change where nothing seems to point to it. It is an accelerated lesson in growing up that teaches her that no setbacks are final. Especially when it comes to love.
Further details about Komunia (Communion) are available at www.facebook.com/communionthemovie.