POLISH FILMS WIN SEVEN AWARDS IN COTTBUS

Dzikie róże (Wild Roses), Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer) and Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits), three films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received a total of seven awards at the 27th Cottbus International Film Festival.

Dzikie róże (Wild Roses) Win Four Awards

Dzikie róże (Wild Roses). Photo courtesy of Alter Ego Pictures

The undisputed winner of the 27th Cottbus IFF is Dzikie róże (Wild Roses), a film directed by Anna Jadowska. This Polish production received the festival’s Grand Prize for Best Film in Main Competition. The film’s female lead Marta Nieradkiewicz received the Award for Outstanding Actress. Dzikie róże (Wild Roses) also received the FIPRESCI Jury Prize and the Ecumenical Jury Prize.

Ewa (30) returns home from hospital to her children, two-year-old Jaś and eight-year-old Marysia, left in the care of Ewa’s mother during her absence. Soon Ewa’s husband Andrzej is due to return home, having spent a few months working in Norway. Preparations for Marysia’s First Communion are under way. But Ewa has a secret that will soon disrupt the seemingly still waters of family life.

Produced by Alter Ego Pictures, Dzikie róże (Wild Roses) will be released theatrically in Poland on December 29, 2017.

Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer) Wins Two Awards

Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer). Photo courtesy of Re Studio

Screening in Main Competition, Maciej Pieprzyca’s latest feature Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer) received two awards: the Special Prize for Best Director and the Award for Outstanding Actor (Mirosław Haniszewski).

Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer) is a psychological thriller loosely based on real events that took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Silesia. The film’s main protagonist is a young police officer who, when the initial investigation yields no results, is put in charge of a task force to catch a serial killer of women.

The film was produced by RE studio and premiered at the 41st Gdynia Film Festival, winning the Silver Lions award and awards for Best Screenplay and Local Cinemas Network award.

Maciej Pieprzyca received the award for Best Director at the Shanghai IFF. For his performance in Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer), Arkadiusz Jakubik was awarded in the Polish Film Competition at the Off Camera festival and received the Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Agata Kulesza received the Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actress. Jestem mordercą (I’m a Killer) also received the Grand Prize at the Tarnów Film Awards. The film was released theatrically in Poland on November 4, 2016.

Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits) Wins in U18

Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits). Photo by Robert Pałka

Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits), a film directed by Łukasz Palkowski, won the U18 competition among nine films, four of which had Polish involvement. The films were judged by a youth jury of high school students from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

The film’s main protagonist is a sports figure who gained acclaim around the world while remaining virtually unknown in Poland to this day. This fascinating story, filled with physical exertion, spectacular falls and unbelievable strength, was inspired by the life of Jerzy Górski who set the world record of 24h:47min:46sec in triathlon and received the championship title of Double Ironman. His record would however never have been possible if it wasn’t for two women in his life. The first of these two – he lost. The second inspired him to fight for his life.

The film was produced by Iron Films and co-produced by Polsat, Lutetia Arabians, Murapol, Cavatina Studio, and Odra Film. 

The film had its Polish premiere at the 42nd Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, winning the award for Best Production Design (Marek Warszewski), Best Acting Debut (Kamila Kamińska), the Audience Award, the Golden Claquer Award, and the Award of Polish Film Festivals Abroad.

Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits) has also received two awards at the 15th Tofifest IFF, winning the Golden Angel award in the “From Poland” Polish Film Competition and the Audience Award.

Najlepszy (Breaking the Limits) will be released theatrically in Poland on November 17. Distribution is handled by Mówi Serwis. 

Further details about winners of the 27th Cottbus IFF are available at: www.filmfestivalcottbus.de.

Żeby nie było śladów (Leave No Traces) Awarded at Connecting Cottbus

Żeby nie było śladów (Leave No Traces), the new project by director Jan P. Matuszyński (produced by Aurum Film), based on a book by Cezary Łazarewicz, received the Midpoint Scholarship Award at Connecting Cottbus, a pitching session for new projects taking place annually during the Cottbus IFF.

The award enables the winner to participate in the Midpoint Feature Launch, a prestigious script development workshop aimed at creative development of the script, production, and promotion of the film.

Paulina Bez 

Translated by Karolina Kołtun

13.11.2017