Polish Films in India

Several films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute will screen at the 44th International Film Festival of India in Goa, which runs from November 20 through November 30, 2013.

W ukryciu (In Hiding) in Main Competition

W ukryciu (In Hiding), a film directed by Jan Kidawa-Błoński, is one of 15 films from around the world that will screen in this year’s Main Competition. In Hiding will compete for festival awards against such films as Joy by Eliasa Giannakakis, Like Father, Like Son by Hirokazu Koreeda, and My Sweet Pepperland by Hiner Saleem. The competition will be judged by an international jury; this year’s jury members include Victor Banejree, Claire Denis, Prasanna Vithanage, and Atiq Rahimi.

W ukryciu (In Hiding)

Radom under Nazi occupation. A photographer and his cellist daughter Janina do what they can to get by, given the difficult circumstances. To Janina’s surprise, her father decides to give shelter in their home to a young Jewish woman named Ester. Over time, a special bonds between the two women, which helps them in coping with the difficult situation. When the father is taken away by the Nazis and the two women are left to fend for themselves, their relationship becomes increasingly obsessive.

A Film Supported by the Polish Film Institute

W ukryciu (In Hiding) is the latest film by director Jan Kidawa-Błoński [author of Różyczka (Little Rose)]. The film was written by Maciej Karpiński and stars Magdalena Boczarska and Julia Pogrebińska, with supporting roles from Tomasz Kot, Krzysztof Stroiński, Agata Kulesza, and Jacek Braciak. In Hiding was lensed by Łukasz Gutt, while the original score was composed by Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz. Produced by WFDiF and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, In Hiding is scheduled for theatrical release in Poland on December 26, 2013. Distribution in Poland is handled by Monolith Films.

Polish Films in Festival Lineup

The festival lineup also features several other Polish films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The Masterstrokes section of the festival will screen Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) by Andrzej Wajda. Four films: Żywie Biełaruś (Viva Bel@rus) by Krzysztof Łukaszewicz, Ostatnie piętro (The Last Floor) by Tadeusz Król, Chce się żyć (Life Feels Good) by Maciej Pieprzyca, and Pokłosie (Aftermath) by Władysław Pasikowski, will be shown in the Cinema of the World section of the festival, while Małgorzata Szumowska’s W imię… (In the Name Of…) is featured in the Festival Kaleidoscope section.

Agnieszka Holland Retrospective

Festival audiences will also have an opportunity to see a retrospective of works by Agnieszka Holland. This section will feature screenings of Kobieta samotna (A Woman Alone), Burning Bush, Europa, Europa (Europe, Europe), Gorączka (Fever), Aktorzy prowincjonalni (Provincial Actors), and Total Eclipse. On November 23, Agnieszka Holland will host a master class, together with Jacek Petrycki.

Awards for Polish Actors

The past editions of the International Film Festival of India have brought several awards for Polish films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. Last year, Marcin Dorociński received the award for Best Actor for his performance in Wojciech Smarzowski’s Róża (Rosa), while the 2010 award for Best Actress went to Magdalena Boczarska for her performance in Jan Kidawa-Błoński’s feature Różyczka (Little Rose).

Further details about the festival are available at www.iffi.nic.in.

Paulina Bez

Translated by Karolina Kołtun