Polish Films Recognized in Cottbus

The award for Best Actress at the Cottbus Eastern European Film Festival, which closed yesterday, went to Roma Gąsiorowska for her performance in Ki (My Name Is Ki) by Leszek Dawid. Dawid’s film received the FIPRESCI award, Glasgow by Piotr Subbotko received a special award, while Sala samobójców (Suicide Room) received an award in the Polish-German competition for Best Youth Film. Anca Damian’s animated film Crulic also received recognition in Cottbus. All films awarded at the Cottbus Film Festival were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Ki (My Name Is Ki)

This portrait of a woman, the expressive Kinga who runs from the tired stereotype of an exhausted single mother and tries to live a fast-paced and busy life, was directed by Leszek Dawid and awarded by the FIPRESCI International Federation of Film Critics. The leading actress Roma Gąsiorowska was voted the festival’s best actress. As she was absent in Cottbus, the Lubina award and cash prize of 5,000 euros was accepted in her name by director Leszek Dawid.

Glasgow

The student film Glasgow by Piotr Subbotko also received recognition in Cottbus, winning the special prize in the short film competition. Glasgow tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy, raised by a single mother. He believes his real father is a famous Glasgow Celtic football player. The film was produced within the framework of the “30 Minutes” programme organized jointly by the Munk Studio, the Polish Film Institute, the Wajda Studio, and Polish Television,  and aimed at young filmmakers.

The award in Cottbus marks another in a series of awards for Subbotko’s film. Glasgow previously received the Golden Apricot award at the Golden Apricot festival in Armenia, and the Best Debut award at the Message to Man festival in St. Petersburg.

Crulic and Sala samobójców (Suicide Room)

The Cottbus jury also recognized the Polish-Romanian animated film Crulic. Droga na drugą stronę (Crulic). Anca Damian’s film also received the ecumenical prize “for its innovative manner of giving a voice to the voiceless”.

Sala samobójców (Suicide Room) by Jan Komasa received the award of the Polish-German Best Youth Film competition.

Cottbus Film Festival

The Cottbus International Film Festival is considered to be the world’s key event for screening films from Eastern Europe.

The festival’s grand prize and cash prize of 20,000 euros went this year to the Russian film Portret v sumerkakh by Angelina Nikonova.

Further details about the festival available at: www.filmfestivalcottbus.de.

Translated by Karolina Kołtun