Reverse wins in Gdynia
There were no surprises – the favourite film of both journalists and the audience won.
The Golden Lions Award and PLN 100,000 went to Borys Lankosz during a gala in the Music Theatre on Saturday. An Award was also given to Jerzy Kapuściński, the producer of the film.
“I am very happy today,” said the director. “This is my first film and I hope that I will make more. I thank my mentor, Andrzej Bart, the author of the script.”
The black-and-white film, reminiscent of the films of the 1950s, is a brilliant and surprising story of three women, a murder, and a golden coin. It is also a showpiece for great actors: Agata Buzek, Krystyna Janda, Anna Polony and Marcin Dorociński.
Reverse has been named the Polish candidate for the Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film. The decision was made by a commission of experts that gathered during the last day of the festival.
Awards made at the 34th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia:
The Grand Award of the Festival – The Golden Lions: Reverse (Rewers) directed by Borys Lankosz and produced by Jerzy Kapuściński.
The Silver Lions Award (PLN 50,000): Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) directed by Xawery Żuławski and produced by Jacek Samojłowicz.
Individual Awards:
- Wojtek Smarzowski for directing the film The Dark House (Dom zły) – PLN 20 000
- Borys Szyc for best leading performance by an actor in the film Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) – PLN 15 000
- Agata Buzek for best leading performance by an actress in the film Reverse (Rewers) – PLN 15 000
- Marcin Koszałka for cinematography in the film Reverse (Rewers) – 15 000 zł
- Włodzimierz Pawlik for music in the film Reverse (Rewers) – PLN 15 000
- Łukasz Kośmicki and Wojciech Smarzowski for screenplay of the film The Dark House (Dom zły) – PLN 20 000 (shared)
- Elwira Pluta for art direction in the films The Magic Tree (Magiczne drzewo) and All That I Love (Wszystko, co kocham) – PLN 15 000
- Anna Englert for costume design in the films Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) and Miracle Seller (Handlarz cudów) – PLN 12 000
- Dorota Kolak for best supporting performance by an actress in the film I Am Yours (Jestem Twój) – PLN 12 000
- Marcin Dorociński for best supporting performance by an actor in the film Reverse (Rewers) – PLN 12 000
- Katarzyna Rosłaniec for directing debut for the film Mall Girls (Galerianki) – PLN 15 000
- Paweł Laskowski for editing the film The Dark House (Dom zły) – PLN 12 000
- Mateusz Adamczyk for sound in the film Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) – PLN 12 000
- Filip Garbacz for acting debut in the film Piggies (Świnki) – PLN 15 000
- Mirosława Wojtczak, Ludmiła Krawczyk and Waldemar Pokromski for make-up in the film Reverse (Rewers)- 12 000 zł (shared)
The Special Award of the Jury for outstanding artistic values was given to Piotr Dumała for the film The Forest (Las).
The awards were granted by a jury composed of: Krzysztof Krauze (chairman), Ewa Braun, Bogdan Dziworski, Zbigniew Hołdys, Andrzej Jakimowski, Dominika Ostałowska, and Anda Rottenberg.
Special Awards – the Platinum Lions were given to two masters of Polish cinema: Kazimierz Kutz i Jerzy Hoffman.
The final gala was directed by Krzysztof Materna and led by Piotr Adamczyk. Famous songs from films were sung by actors standing on a huge rotating staircase in the Musical Theatre. There was also a film show recounting the most important events in Polish cinema, which is celebrating its first 100 years.
This year the most important awards for acting went to actors playing in the two most-awarded films at the festival.
Agata Buzek (Reverse): “It is a very nice present; tomorrow is my birthday.”
Borys Szyc (Snow White and Russian Red): “I thank my mother that I can be here today and that I received an award from the most important Polish actors.” (The award was granted by Daniel Olbrychski, Wojciech Pszoniak and Andrzej Seweryn).
“The films were wonderful. It was a great festival,” said Agnieszka Odorowicz, General Director of the Polish Film Institute, who handed out the awards together with Krzysztof Krauze.
She reminded that all films that took part in the competition were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and added, “I hope that viewers will like them.”
Translated by Monika Miziniak | Edited by Patricia Koza