News
„The Balcony film” with the Grand Prix FIPADOC
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, „The Balcony Film” received the Grand Prix of the FIPADOC International Documentary Film Festival in Biarritz, France. Earlier, Paweł Łoziński’s documentary won the festival in Locarno and received a special distinction in the Main Competition of the Millennium Docs Against Gravity.
In the description of the film we read: I decided to stop and wait for the world to come to me. I stood on the balcony with the camera for 2 years and caught anyone who passed under it. These meetings resulted in a film about people and what they wanted to say about themselves. And about the director who was curious about them. I was amazed at how little I know about people. Almost nobody is what they seem. People carry riddles and secrets. They are not easily pigeonholed. Life is unimaginable.
02.02.2022
Polish productions in the Berlinale 2022
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the film „We Haven’t Lost Our Way”, directed by Anka and Wilhelm Sasnal, will be presented in the Forum section of the International Film Festival in Berlin. It will be its world premiere. The Forum Expanded section includes two short co-productions: „If Revolution Is a Sickness” (dir. Diane Severin Nguyen) and „Majmouan” (dir. Mohammadrez Farzad). This edition of Berlinale will be held on February 10-20, 2022.
Ewa, the main character of the film „We Haven’t Lost Our Way”, is a translator. She gives private English lessons. One day she gets a package from his ex-partner Erik. The man sends her a notebook – a notebook from a journey aimed at the unusual Burning Lake.
02.02.2022
Two awards for „A Woman at Night” in India
The film „A Woman at Night” by Rafał Kapeliński, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, won the main prize – the Golden Sparrow – in the international competition at the Diorama International Film Festival in New Delhi. It received also a special jury award for cinematography by Marcin Koszałka. The picture was previously presented in the Polonica section at the 46th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
In the description of the plot of the film we read: a young Chinese woman new to London and strapped for cash, starts a shady side business consisting of nightly visits to a serial killer’s old apartment. Connecting her to an underworld of misfits she realizes the people who wish to visit such a place might be as dangerous as its former owner…
02.02.2022
The world premiere of the film „Faithbreaker” at the festival in Bangladesh
The „Faithbreaker” by Piotr Złotorowicz, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, will be presented in the Cinema of the World section of the Dhaka International Film Festival, where it will compete for the Audience Award. It will be the world premiere of an image produced in the Munk Studio of the SFP.
The International Film Festival – organized in the 17 million metropolis of Dhaka – is one of the most prestigious film events in this part of Asia. Every year, about 200 films from all over the world are shown here. The organizer of the festival is the Rainbow Film Society, which aims to popularize an ambitious film culture in opposition to the commercial mainstream.
12.01.2022
Polish productions at the festival in Clermont-Ferrand
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the animation „Five minutes older” by Sara Szymańska and the animated documentary „Once There Was a Sea …” by Joanna Kożuch were included in the international competition of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. On the other hand, in the Lab Competition section, Julia Siuda’s „Fury” will be presented, and in the Euro Connection program during the film market – the project „I’m not here anymore” by Nawojka Wierzbowska.
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival is the largest and most important short film festival in the world. In terms of audience and the presence of film industry professionals, it is the second largest film festival in France after Cannes.
11.01.2022
The short film „First...” with successes at festivals abroad
The diploma film by the graduates of the Warsaw Film School – Adam Hartwiński (director) and Michał Konopka (cinematographer) – „First…” – received the main prize at the Golden Leaf International Film Festival. It also won awards at festivals in London and Paris. In addition, the film is the finals of the Swedish International Film Festival and in the selection of events in New York, Rome or Florence. The image is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The film premiered at this year’s Kameralne Lato festival in Radom. It was also presented to the audience of the Lubuskie Film Summer in Łagów and during two festivals in the United States: the 33rd Polish Film Festival in America and the 16th Austin Polish Film Festival.
11.01.2022
„Leave No Traces” in cinemas in the US
In February 2022, the film „Leave no traces”, directed by Jan P. Matuszyński and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, will be released in American cinemas. It will be distributed by Buffalo 8.
Jan P. Matuszyński’s film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Premio Bisato d’Oro (best picture) critics’ award. It was presented in the Main Competition of the 46th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, where it won the Silver Lions and the award for set design.
11.01.2022
„Quo vadis, Aida?” is the Best European Film of the year
A co-production of nine countries, including Poland – „Quo vadis, Aida?” by Jasmila Žbanić turned out to be the best film of the year at the European Film Awards. The Bosnian director also won a statuette for directing, and Jasna Duričić, who plays the title character, was chosen the best actress. The film, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received also the Audience Award. In turn, the statuette for special effects went to the creators of the Icelandic-Polish co-production „Lamb” (Peter Hjorth and Fredrik Nord). The EFA awards gala took place on December 11 in the hybrid formula.
„Quo vadis, Aida?” has already been nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Film category, as well as for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards – BAFTA in the categories: Foreign Language Film and Directing. The film received the Independent Spirit Awards for Best International Film. Previously, it was screened at the 77th Venice International Film Festival (main competition), 45th Toronto International Film Festival, and the World Cinema section of the Busan festival.
23.12.2021
A short film „The Dress” and a co-production „Lamb” with a chance for Oscars
„The Dress” directed by Tadeusz Łysiak, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, is among 15 titles on the shortlist of candidates for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in the Live Action Short Film category. In the Best International Feature Film category, the Icelandic-Polish co-production of Valdimar Jóhannsson’s „Lamb” has a chance to be nominated for an Oscar.
Tadeusz Łysiak’s image premiered at the 60th Krakow Film Festival and has since received a large number of awards and distinctions around the world. Among the most important are: Best Narrative Short Award at Atlanta Film Festival or Director’s Choice Award at Thomas Edison Film Festival. In addition, the film also won the statuette for the best student short film IN THE PALACE Short Film Festival, won the Let’s Include competition at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival in India, and was awarded at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in the Best Actress category for the leading role of Anna Dzieduszycka.
23.12.2021
Polish presence at the Slamdance festival
David Nickel’s film „Love Tasting”, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was included in feature-length films selection by the Slamdance Film Festival. The program also includes other films from Poland: a fictionalized documentary, four short films – including three animations and one fiction, as well as an animated documentary for children and teenagers. The festival will be held in a hybrid formula – from January 20 to 23 offline, and online on January 20-30, 2022.
Slamdance Film Festival was established in 1995 as an alternative to the Sundance Film Festival. Its first edition was organized by a group of filmmakers whose films did not make it to the Sundance festival program. Both events take place at the same location – Park City, Utah, USA. Slamdance promotes low-budget films by debuting artists.
23.12.2021
„The Hole In The Fence” wins the Cairo festival
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, „The Hole In The Fence” directed by Joaquin del Paso won the Golden Pyramid for the best film at the Cairo International Film Festival. This is a Mexican-Polish co-production in which Jacek Poniedziałek played one of the main roles. The 43rd edition of the festival was held from November 26 till December 5.
Previously, Joaquin del Paso’s film was presented in the Orizzonti section of the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Premio Bisato d’Oro (best cinematography) critics’ award, and in the Competition of the Warsaw Film Festival.
23.12.2021
Polish films awarded in the Just Film section of the Black Nights festival
Konrad Aksinowicz’s film „Back to Those Days” won the Youth Jury Best Film Award, and „Even mice belong to heaven”, directed by Denisa Grimmova and Jan Bubenick, was awarded the Children’s Jury Best Film Award in the Just Film competition section as part of the Black Nights Film Festival at Tallinn. Both productions are co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Organized since 1997, the festival, which is one of the largest in Northern Europe, took place from 12 to 28 November in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia. During it, about 250 feature films are screened, as well as over 300 short films and animations. Every year it is visited by 80,000 people. Along with such festivals as Berlinale, Cannes, Venice or Locarno, it belongs to the group of „international competition festivals” (formerly „category A”).
09.12.2021
„Other People” and „The Moths” with awards at the Tallinn Festival
The film „Other People” by Aleksandra Terpińska, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received the FIPRESCI award from the International Federation of Film Critics at the Tallinn Black Nights festival. „The Moths” by Piotr Stasik won the Rebels With A Cause competition. The 25th edition of the festival was held on November 12-28 in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.
Tallinn Black Nights Festival, organized since 1997, is one of the largest in Northern Europe. It has also become a popular industry platform for the region, hosting up to 1,000 guests and delegates as well as over 160 journalists. During its duration, about 250 feature films are screened, as well as over 300 short films and animations. Every year it is visited by 80,000 people. Along with such festivals as Berlinale, Cannes, Venice or Locarno, it belongs to the group of „international competition festivals” (formerly „ A category”).
09.12.2021
French-Polish documentary with an Emmy Award
„Kubrick by Kubrick” directed by Gregory Monro won an international Emmy. The French-Polish documentary was recognized in the Arts Programming category. This co-production is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Although Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, he rarely spoke out publicly himself. He gave only a dozen or so interviews; it was said about him that he did not like translating his films, he did not like the media… Twenty years after his death in 1999 – biographies, documentaries and exhibitions devoted to his career and film analysis were created. Family, friends and colleagues have spoken about him.
30.11.2021
„The Champion” and „Lamb” among the candidates for the Golden Globe Awards
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the films „The Champion” directed by Maciej Barczewski and „Lamb” by Icelandic director Valdimar Jóhannsson are on the list of productions submitted to the Golden Globes in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The nomination will be announced on December 13, and the awards will be held on January 9, 2022.
The Golden Globes are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Unlike the Oscars, there is no limit to the number of films representing a given country, that is why this year there are two pictures representing Polish cinematography.
27.11.2021
„Even mice go to heaven” and „Aida” nominated for the European Film Award
Feature film „Quo vadis, Aida?” and full-length animated family film „Even Mice Go to Heaven” have a chance for a European Oscar. On December 11, we will find out whether both co-productions – realized with the support of the Polish Film Institute – will be awarded with the statuette.
The film, using the puppet animation technique, tells the story of a little mouse – Czmyszka, who, in order to prove her courage, confronts the fox Rudeusz. As a result of an unexpected turn of events, they both end up in animal heaven, where their adventures begin. The animal story of hope, courage and friendship was based on the novel by the Czech writer Iva Procházková.
16.11.2021
„Silent Land” with an award at the Thessaloniki festival
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Aga Woszczyńska’s film „Silent Land” won the FIPRESCI award at the International Film Festival in Thessaloniki. This Polish-Italian-Czech co-production was previously presented in a competition at the Toronto festival.
The heroes of the film are Anna and Adam, who rent a holiday home on a sunny Italian island. On the spot, it turns out that the dream villa does not meet their expectations, and the island is struggling with a lack of water. The presence of a workman hired to repair the pool will start an unexpected chain of disturbing events. In a seemingly harmonious marriage, dark instincts and deeply hidden emotions will come to the fore.
16.11.2021
„Leave no traces” with awards at three festivals
The film „Leave no traces” by Jan P. Matuszyński received the award in the Best Fiction Film category at the 3KinoFest Central European Cinema Festival in Prague. It also won the Polish Film Festival in Chicago. Earlier, the film was awarded for directing at the festival in Cottbus, Germany. The image, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, is a Polish candidate for an Oscar.
This Polish-French-Czech co-production had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Premio Bisato d’Oro (best picture) critics’ award, and was also included in the Main Competition of the 46th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The production was also presented in Great Britain at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival.
16.11.2021
Polish productions with awards at DOK Leipzig
The production of „Impossible Figures and Other Stories I” by Marta Pajek won the Golden Pigeon for the best animation in the International Short Film Competition DOK Leipzig. The Silver Pigeon went to Karol Pałka for the documentary „Bucolic” and the MDR Film Award went to Paweł Łoziński’s „The Balcony Movie”. The 64th edition of the Leipzig festival takes place on 25-31, October 2021.
There are a total of six Polish productions in the competition sections of the festival. In addition to the winners, also the documentary „Light Years” by Monika Proba and animations: „98 kg” by Izabela Plucińska and „Crumbs of Life” by Katarzyna Miechowicz. Most of the films were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
16.11.2021
„Never Gonna Snow Again” with an award at CinEast
The film „Never Gonna Snow Again” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert received the Special Award of the CinEast Jury in Luxembourg. It is a festival dedicated to productions from Central and Eastern Europe. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The picture had its world premiere at the Main Competition of the 77th Venice International Film Festival. The film by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert was also presented at market screenings at TIFF Industry in Toronto, in the 28th EnergaCAMERIMAGE competitions and during the 45th Polish Film Festival, and was also among the three finalists of the 2nd Arab Critics’ Award for the Best European Film 2021. The image was a Polish candidate for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category.
16.11.2021
The film „The In-Laws” awarded at the festival in Vancouver
Polish comedy „The In-Laws” won the „People’s Choice Award” at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Kuba Michalczuk’s feature debut was shown in the Contemporary World Cinema section. The film received financial support under the „Inncentive” system operated by the Polish Film Institute.
Is a wedding after a canceled wedding a recipe for a disaster? Definately! Two families differ in everything – origin, status, wealth, and taste. The parents of the groom (Maja Ostaszewska, Marcin Dorociński) and the bride (Izabela Kuna, Adam Woronowicz) are initially shocked. What happened? Who is at fault? What about the wedding? Do you greet visitors? Play music? Pour on vodka? Who will cut the cake?
15.11.2021