"Mug" in Main Competition at 68th Berlin IFF





The first titles in the lineup of the Main Competition at the upcoming 68th Berlin International Film Festival were announced on December 18. Among them is the world premiere of Twarz (Mug), the latest film by Małgorzata Szumowska. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Twarz (Mug) is the new film from director Małgorzata Szumowska, winner of multiple film awards, including the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 65th Berlin IFF for Body/Ciało (Body), the Teddy Award at the 63rd Berlin IFF for W imię… (In the Name Of…), and the Silver Leopard Award at the 61st Locarno IFF for 33 sceny z życia (33 Scenes from Life).

World Premiere at the 68th Berlinale 

Małgorzata Szumowska is a three-time nominee for the European Film Awards and winner of the People’s Choice Award for Best European Film (Body/Ciało). According to the producers, her latest feature Twarz (Mug) is “a modern-day fable about a man who lost his face in an accident. After a groundbreaking surgery, he returns to his home town but people there don’t know how to treat him; he becomes a stranger among his own.”

The film stars Mateusz Kościukiewicz, known for his performances in Wszystko co kocham (All That I Love), W imię (In the Name Of…), Matka Teresa od kotów (Mother Teresa of Cats), and Amok. The film also features Agnieszka Podsiadlik, nominated for the Zbyszek Cybulski Award in 2016 for her performance in Baby Bump, and Małgorzata Gorol, acclaimed stage actress making her screen debut.

The film was lensed by Szumowska’s long-time collaborator Michał Englert and edited by European Film Award winner Jacek Drosio. Other attached talent includes Marek Zawierucha as production designer, Katarzyna Lewińska and Julia Jarża as costume designers, and Waldemar Pokromski as make-up artist. The film features music by Metallica.

The 68th Berlin International Film Festival runs from February 15 through February 25, 2018. In addition to the films by Małgorzata Szumowska mentioned above, the Main Competition lineup at Berlinale in recent years has featured a number of Polish films, including Pokot (Spoor) by Agnieszka Holland, winner of the Alfred Bauer prize, Zjednoczone Stany Miłości (United States of Love) by Tomasz Wasilewski, winner of the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay, and Tatarak (Sweet Rush) by Andrzej Wajda.

Twarz (Mug) is scheduled for a theatrical release in Poland on April 6, 2018. Distribution in Poland is handled by Kino Świat.

press release

Translated by Karolina Kołtun

 


18.12.2017