Polish Films at IDFA
Over 3600 films were submitted for this year’s edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Of these, 319 titles were selected for screening. The world of Polish documentary filmmaking will be represented by a total of eight titles. Polish films screening in the Best of Fests and Mid-Length Documentary Competition were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Key Festival for Documentary Filmmaking
IDFA is one of the largest events in the world of documentary filmmaking, attracting hundreds of film professionals from around the world each year. The Docs for Sale film market is an integral part of IDFA, featuring at least 450 films each year, as is The Forum – a common title or various industry events, including pitching sessions, seminars, and panel discussion.
Polish Films in Amsterdam
Polish documentary films have screened in Amsterdam every year since the festival’s launch in 1988. This year’s edition will also mark a strong Polish presence. The Mid-Length Documentary Competition lineup will include Cudze listy by Maciej Drygas, the recent winner of the grand prize at the Batumi Film Festival. Two other Polish documentaries will compete for the title of Best Student Film: Paparazzi by Piotr Bernaś and Wycieczka by Bartosz Kruhlik.
The Best of Fests programme, featuring films that gained audience acclaim at various international film events in the past year, will include Kołysanka z Phnom Penh, the documentary debut from Paweł Kloc. Meanwhile the Reflecting Images: Panorama section that focuses on films about current social issues will feature Vakha i Magomed by Marta Prus. Polish Films in the Best of Fests and Mid-Length competition sections were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
New Polish Talent
IDFA is also the Doc Next programme that focuses on brand new film talent. Poland will also be visible in this section. Doc Next will screen three documentaries produced by Towarzystwo Inicjatyw Twórczych “ę”: Bracia by Emi Mazurkiewicz, Poszukuję pewnej osoby by Janusz Kojro, and View from My Window, 1968 – 1979 Chronicles by Katarzyna Nalewajka, Ula Klimek, Miłosz Hermanowicz, Kamil Radziszewski, and Jakub Piątek.
Film Markets and Anniversaries
As usual, the Docs for Sale film market will feature a wide selection of Polish documentaries within the Polish Docs project, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary during this year’s IDFA. Amsterdam will also be the time to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Wajda School.
The 24th edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will run from November 16 through November 27.
Further details about the festival available at www.idfa.nl.
Source: www.polishdocs.pl.
Translated by Karolina Kołtun