News
"Essential Killing" In Competition
The Polish Film Institute is happy to announce that Essential Killing, the latest feature from Jerzy Skolimowski, will screen in Main Competition at the Venice International Film Festival. Festival director Marco Müller writes in his letter of invitation that Skolimowski's film will be an important part of the success of the 67th edition of the Venice International Film Festival.
"Mundane History" Wins Top Prize
The winners of the 10th Era New Horizons International Film Festival have been announced. The Grand Prize of the International NEW HORIZONS Competition went to Mundane History (Thailand), directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong. The Wrocław Film Prize in the New Polish Film Competition went to Made in Poland by Przemysław Wojcieszek.
Transatlantyk in Poznań
The first edition of the Transatlantyk Festival will run from August 5 through 13. The festival lineup includes two competitions for film score composers.
Shooting Wraps on "Sponsoring"
July 19 was the last day of shooting Sponsoring, the latest feature project by Małgorzata Szumowska, director of 33 sceny z życia (33 Scenes from Life). The film was shot in Paris and Cologne. The director of photography was Michał Englert whose previous works include Wszystko co kocham (All That I Love) and 33 sceny z życia (33 Scenes from Life), while the script was co-written by Danish screenwriter Tina Byrckel.
Three Polish Films in Locarno
Three Polish films made this year's Locarno International Film Festival lineup. The Locarno International Film Festival is one of the world's most prestigious film events and is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
Odorowicz for Second Term
As a result of the two-stage competition for the position of General Director of the Polish Film Institute, Agnieszka Odorowicz has been appointed to continue her mission. The Competition Committee, appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, was presided by Krystyna Janda. The committee unanimously recommended Agnieszka Odorowicz. On July 16, Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski appointed Agnieszka Odorowicz for a second term as General Director of the Polish Film Institute. The newly-appointed General Director of the Polish Film Institute thanked the Competition Committee for their trust and approval of the Polish Film Institute's hitherto activities.
Kościukiewicz and Garbacz Awarded!
The 45th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival drew to a close. The Crystal Globe awards were presented at the closing ceremony.
The Polish feature Matka Teresa od kotów (Mother Teresa of Cats) was recognized for its male leads. The Best Actor Award went jointly to two young actors: Mateusz Kościukiewicz and Filip Garbacz. They were awarded for the roles of Artur and Marcin - two brothers who murder their own mother.
Polish Films at Karlovy Vary IFF
Today brings the launch of the 45th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Paweł Sala's Matka Teresa od kotów (Mother Teresa of Cats) will be screened in the festival's Main Competition, marking the film's international premiere.
Rewers (Reverse) by Borys Lankosz is one of ten European films screened in the Variety Critics' Choice section of the festival. Films in this section are selected by the staff critics of Variety magazine.
Przyrzeczona (Little Bride) by Lesław Dobrucki will screen in the Documentary Film Competition, while Beats of Freedom by Wojciech Słota and Leszek Gnoiński will be shown in the out-of-competition section "2010. A Musical Odyssey".
Polish Films in Latin America
July 1 marks the launch of a series of festivals promoting Polish films in Latin America. Premiere screenings of recent Polish films will be held in seven Latin American countries: Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela, and Brazil.
Szumowska's Press Conference
The press conference for Sponsoring, the latest project from Małgorzata Szumowska, director of 33 sceny z życia (33 Scenes from Life), will be held on July 8 in Cologne (Köln), Germany. The conference will be attended by director Małgorzata Szumowska and lead actress, Oscar- and César-winner Juliette Binoche (the Three Colours trilogy, The English Patient).
Award for Jan Kidawa-Błoński
The Silver George Award for Best Director at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival, which closed today, went to Jan Kidawa-Błoński for his feature Różyczka (Little Rose).
Rewers (Reverse) by Borys Lankosz topped Moscow's Perspectives Competition for film debuts and pictures that set new perspectives in world cinema.
Munich, Genova, Odense
In coming weeks, Polish films will screen at several key film festivals abroad.
"Hanoi-Warsaw" Nominated for EFA
The short feature film Hanoi-Warszawa (Hanoi-Warsaw) by Katarzyna Klimkiewicz received a nomination for the European Film Awards in the Short Feature Film category.
The European Film Awards are among Europe's most prestigious film awards. They are presented annually in early December at a ceremony in Berlin or another European city. This year's European Film Awards ceremony will be held on December 4 in Tallinn, Estonia.
"Dark House" Awarded in New York
Two Polish films - the documentary 10 lat do Nashville (10 Years to Nashville) by Katarzyna Trzaska and the feature Dom zły (The Dark House) by Wojciech Smarzowski - screened at the 13th Brooklyn Film Festival, which came to a close on Sunday, June 13. The producer of The Dark House was awarded a certificate of outstanding achievement.
Polish Films on Empire's Top 100 List
The British film magazine Empire published a list of 100 all-time greatest feature films not in the English language. As Empire states, the list features films "from Brazil to [...] France [...], from Neo-Realism to Dogme to J-horror." Among the top 100 films of world cinema are several Polish titles.
Winners of the 50th Krakow FF
Tonight marked the closing of the 50th edition of the Krakow Film Festival. Over 30 awards were presented at the closing gala, held at Krakow's Kijów cinema. The event was opened by a Tomasz Stańko recital. The guests of the ceremony and gala host Wojciech Mann were then invited on stage.
"I see a lot of young people receiving awards at this festival. Their films are proof of incredible professionalism and sensitivity, so eagerly awaited by audiences," said Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, in his speech.
"Little Rose" and "Reverse" in Moscow
Two Polish films, Różyczka (Little Rose) by Jan Kidawa-Błoński and Rewers (Reverse) by Borys Lankosz will screen in competition at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival. Both features are "Golden Lions" Grand Prix winners at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (Różyczka is this year's winner, while Rewers won the award in 2009).
New Film by Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman will begin filming the next major Polish production next month. The feature Bitwa Warszawska 1920 will be the realization of a dream he has carried with him for years. This period piece will feature historical figures, such as Józef Piłsudski, played by Daniel Olbrychski, colonel Wieniawski, played by Bogusław Linda, and general Rozwadowski, played by Marian Dziędziel. Natasza Urbańska and Borys Szyc will play the film's young protagonists.
Launch of the 50th Krakow FF
The 50th Krakow Film Festival opening ceremony was held on Monday night. That day at noon, the International Cultural Centre at Krakow's Main Square was the site of the festival press conference and release of a special album publication, dedicated to the history of the Festival.
Awards of the 35th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia
The "Golden Lions" Grand Prize of the 35th Polish Film Festival for best feature film went to the creators of Różyczka (Little Rose) - director Jan Kidawa-Błoński and producer Włodzimierz Niderhaus. The "Platinum Lions" Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Janusz Morgenstern, director of such films as: Trzeba zabić tę miłość; Jowita; Do widzenia, do jutra (Good Bye, Till Tomorrow) and Mniejsze zło (The Lesser of Two Evils) - fragments of which were screened at the Gala.
35th PFF: First Award Winners Announced
Friday night brought the "small gala" of the 35th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The festival's non-statutory awards were presented at this ceremony.