"Papusza" Wins in India

Papusza, a film directed by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received two top awards at the 12th Pune International Film Festival in India.

Two Awards for the Creators of Papusza

At the 12th Pune International Film Festival, which closed on January 16, Papusza by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze received two of the festival’s top prizes: Best International Film and Best International Film Director. The festival lineup featured a selection of other Polish films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute: Dziewczyna z szafy (The Girl from the Wardrobe) by Bodo Kox, Żywie Biełaruś! (Viva Bel@rus!) by Krzysztof Łukaszewicz, W ukryciu (In Hiding) by Jan Kidawa-Błoński, and Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) by Andrzej Wajda.

Papusza

Papusza is based on the true 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 effort 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 Krazue, authors of such acclaimed films as Plac Zbawiciela (Saviour’s Square) and Mój Nikifor (My Nikifor). The lead role 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 co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. Distribution in Poland is handled by NextFilm. Papusza was released in Polish cinemas on November 15, 2013.

Awards

Papusza had its Polish premiere at the 38th Gdynia Film Festival, winning the awards for Best Supporting Actor (Zbigniew Waleryś), Best Make-Up (Anna Nobel-Nobielska), and Best Original Score (Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz). Papusza also received Special Mention of the Main Competition at the 48th Karlovy Vary IFF, three awards (Best Director, Award of the Youth Jury, and Best Actor) at the 58th Valladolid IFF, the award for Best Photography for Wojciech Staroń and Krzysztof Ptak in Macedonia, and the Audience Award at the 54th Thessaloniki IFF. Papusza has also enjoyed very favourable reviews from international film critics.

The website of the Pune International Film Festival is available at www.piffindia.com.

Paulina Bez

Translated by Karolina Kołtun