Oscar nominations for „Quo vadis, Aida?” and Dariusz Wolski
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute „Quo vadis, Aida?” by Jasmila Žbanić is nominated for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards in the International Feature Film category. Its Polish producer is Ewa Puszczyńska (Extreme Emotions). Among nominated for the best cinematography is also Dariusz Wolski for the film „News of the World”. The 93nd Academy Awards ceremony, will be on April 26, 2021.
„Quo vadis, Aida?” – a co-production of nine countries, including Poland – is the candidate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The drama, directed by Jasmila Žbanić, tells the story of the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. Apart from Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Turkey participated in the production of the image. Małgorzata Karpiuk was responsible for the costumes, Jarosław Kamiński for the editing and the author of the music is Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz.
The film has already nominated for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards – BAFTA in two categories: film not in the English language and director. It was also nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards, one of the most important awards in American independent cinema. 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 International Film Festival.
Film plot
Bosnia, July 1995. Aida is a UN translator in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the city, her family is among the thousands of citizens seeking refuge in a UN camp. As a person with insight into negotiations, Aida has access to key information that she needs to interpret. What’s on the horizon for her family and people – rescue or death? Which move should she make?
The director and author of the script is Jasmila Žbanić, whose feature debut – „Grbavic” won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Festival in 2006, and was nominated for the European Film Awards in the Best Film and Best Actress category. Žbanić was on the jury of this year’s Berlinale.
A Pole with a nomination for cinematography
Dariusz Wolski received an Oscar nomination for the best cinematography for the film „News of the World”. He was born in Warsaw in 1956 and studied at the Lodz Film School. At the age of 23, he left for the USA.
He is the cinematographer of „The Dark City” by Alex Proyas, the first three parts of the „Pirates of the Caribbean” saga, Tim Burton films and the latest Ridley Scott productions, including „Prometheus”, „The Martian” and the currently filming „House of Gucci”. Despite his significant achievements, he has never been nominated for an Oscar. Recently, he was nominated for the American Society of Cinematographers Awards, which brings together cinematographers, for his cinematography of the film „News from the World”.