Polish films in Cannes Official Selection

The Polish representation at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival is exceptionally strong. Although journalists are mainly wondering whether Palme d’Or will go to Jerzy Skolimowski, the author of the film „EO”, three other Polish productions – all co-financed by the Polish Film Institute – have a chance for awards in Cannes. The 75th edition of the festival will be held on May 17-28, 2022.

Main competition – „EO”

Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski „EO” tells a story of a donkey in an increasingly complex reality. Passed from hand to hand, the animal meets both good and bad people on its path full of bends. Skolimowski’s film is a allegory created in a Polish-Italian co-production. The director is also responsible, along with Ewa Piaskowska, for the script. The cinematography for „EO” were done by Michał Dymek, Michał Englert and Paweł Edelman, and Agnieszka Glińska was responsible for the editing.

Screenings:

• May 19 at 22.00 (Palais des Festivals – Auditorium Lumiere) – world premiere
• May 19 at 22.15 (Palais des Festivals – Auditorium Lumiere) and 22.30 (Bazin Theater) – press screenings
• May 20 at 12.00 (Auditorium Lumiere)

Un Certain Regard section – „Silent Twins”

Un Certain Regard section includes the English-language film by Agnieszka Smoczyńska. It introduced the viewers to the history of the twin sisters (June and Jennifer Gibbons), described in the book „The Silent Twins” by Marjorie Wallace, who in their childhood „fell silent to the outside world”. For a long time, the real heroes of this story conducted a literary dialogue with each other, but over time their relationship became dangerous both for themselves and for their loved ones.

„Silent Twins” is a Polish-British co-production, for which Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Bogna Szewczyk and Ewa Puszczyńska are responsible on the Polish side. The editing, as in the case of „EO”, was made by Agnieszka Glińska, and the music was composed by Marcin Macuk and Zuzanna Wrońska. Jakub Kijowski is responsible for the cinematography. The film stars Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance. The film will be distributed worldwide by Focus Features, and in Poland by Gutek Film.

Screenings:

• May 24 at 7.15pm (Debussy) – official premiere
• May 24 at 3pm (Cineum Aurore)
• May 25 at 11.30am (Salle Varda)
• May 26 at 4.15pm (Cineum Screen)

Section Quinzaine des Réalisateurs – „Pamfir”

In this section, the Polish-Ukrainian-French-Chilean co-production directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk may be appreciated. This story takes place in the west of Ukraine on the eve of the traditional carnival. This is about a loving father whose child sets fire to the house of prayer. In order to rectify his son’s guilt, the title Pamfir must stop „earning honestly for bread” and return to places he never wanted to return to. On the Polish side, Bogna Szewczyk Madants and Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska are responsible for the production. The film was edited by Nikodem Chabior. The main roles were played by: Oleksandr Yatsentyuk, Stanislav Potiak and Solomiya Kyrylova.

Screenings:

• May 21 at 6.00 p.m. (Theater Croisette) – premiere
• May 21 at 11:45 (Theater Croisette)
• May 22 at 10:00 (Cinema La Raimu)
• May 22 at 2:00 PM (Cinema La Licorne)
• May 23 at 10:45 PM (Cinema Les Arcades / Salle 1)

Section of La Cinef Festival du Cannes – „Tomorrow we are not there”

In the student section, the animated short film „Tomorrow we are not there” by Olga Kłyszewicz may triumph. It is an eight-minute story about a situation many of us have probably experienced: an unexpected encounter with a person who views life in a completely different way and changes our point of view unexpectedly. Kłyszewicz’s animation was selected from among 1,528 student productions from around the world submitted to the competition and is one of only three animations out of sixteen qualified films. The Film School in Łódź is responsible for the production of the picture, and Joanna Jasińska-Koronkiewicz was its artistic supervisor.

Screenings:

• May 24 at 14.30 (Bunuel Theater) – premiere

Poles in the jury

This year’s Cannes festival will also feature Polish names in the jury. Actress Joanna Kulig joined the jury of the Un Certain Regard section, journalist Mariola Wiktor will sit on the jury chair in the FIPRESCI section, and director Agnieszka Holland will chair the jury of documentary films L’Œil d’or – Le Prix.

In addition, the Producers on the Move 2021 program, organized by European Film Promotion, will be attended by a Polish producer – Kuba Kosma.