Awards for "Papusza" in Valladolid

Papusza, a film directed by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received three awards at the 58th Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain.

Papusza Wins Three Awards

Papusza, the latest film by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze is the story of Romani poet Papusza; the film received the award for Best Director, the youth jury prize, and the Best Actor award for Zbigniew Waleryś for his performance as Dionizy Wajs. At the 2011 Valladolid festival, the award for Best Director went to Agnieszka Holland for her feature W ciemności (In Darkness), a film co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Another Addition to Awards Collection

The Valladolid awards mark another addition to a series of international awards for the Polish feature. Papusza previously received Special Mention of the Main Competition Jury at the 48th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Best Cinematography award for Wojciech Staroń and Krzysztof Ptak in Macedonia. The film has also received excellent reviews from international film critics.

Papusza

Based on real events, Papusza tells the dramatic story of the first Gypsy poet to ever write down her poems and the first to have her works translated into Polish and officially published. This was the result of the efforts of two men: Jerzy Ficowski, poet and historian focusing on the life of the Romani community in Poland, and Julian Tuwim. Papusza was written and directed by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze, authors of such acclaimed films as Plac Zbawiciela (Saviour’s Square) and Mój Nikifor (My Nikifor). The lead role of Papusza was played by Jowita Budnik, with Zbigniew Waleryś and Antoni Pawlicki as her two male counterparts.

A Film Supported by the Polish Film Institute

Papusza was produced by Argomedia and co-produced by Canal+, Telewizja Polska, Studio Filmowe Kadr, and the Krakow Festival Office. The film was lensed by Krzysztof Ptak and Wojciech Staroń, with an original score composed by Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz. Papusza was also co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) as Closing Film

This year’s 58th edition of the Valladolid International Film Festival ran from October 19 through October 26. The festival closed with a screening of Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope), a film directed by Andrzej Wajda and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Theatrical Release Scheduled for November 15

Papusza had its Polish premiere at the 38th Gdynia Film Festival, winning the awards for Best Supporting Actor (Zbigniew Waleryś), Best Make-Up (Anna Nobiel-Nobielska), and Best Original Score (Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz). Distribution in Poland is handled by NextFilm. Papusza will be released theatrically in Poland on November 15, 2013.

Further details about the Valladolid International Film Festival are available at www.seminci.es.

Paulina Bez

Translated by Karolina Kołtun