Polish Oscar Candidate

The Polish candidate for the Awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, or Oscars, has been selected. Poland will be represented by Wszystko co kocham (All That I Love) by Jacek Borcuch. The film was selected by the Oscars Committee, appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski. Committee members included: Agnieszka Holland (chairwoman), Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Allan Starski, Borys Lankosz, Agata Dominik, Dariusz Jabłoński, Waldemar Kalinowski, Bartek Konopka, Andrzej Jakimowski, and Michał Chaciński.

Below is the translated text of the news release, signed by Committee chairwoman Agnieszka Holland:

“The Committee for selecting the Polish candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award 2011, and its members: Agnieszka Holland (chairwoman), Michał Chaciński, Agata Dominik, Dariusz Jabłoński, Andrzej Jakimowski, Waldemar Kalinowski, Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Bartek Konopka, Borys Lankosz, and Allan Starski, in considering films that meet the criteria set in the Awards’ rules and regulations, after a series of comprehensive discussions, decided that the Polish film industry will be represented in this year’s competition by the feature Wszystko co kocham (All That I Love) by Jacek Borcuch.

The winning film’s main rival, with a comparable number of supporters, was Jutro będzie lepiej (Tomorrow Will Be Better) by Dorota Kędzierzawska. Both films are the highly personal and honest voices of talented filmmakers. Both films are about vital issues of universal significance: about the need for freedom, solidarity, and love.

All That I Love seemed to be the most comprehensive form of expression compared to its opponents; the film is filled with energy and warmth, and is an interesting attempt at tackling our complicated (and not easily translatable into film) recent history. All That I Love passed the test with Polish audiences, and has already been screened in the United States, where it was received warmly. This ensures that even if the Polish candidate does not win an Oscar nomination this year, it will stir up some interest and liking; as such, it will be a worthy representative of Polish cinema. We wish Jacek Borcuch success, while hoping that Dorota Kędzierzawska’s beautiful film wins a following of enthusiasts in Poland and abroad.”

All That I Love by Jacek Borcuch is set in the early 1980s. As a wave of strikes sweeps across Poland, four eighteen-year-old kids in a seaside town form a punk rock band. The band’s front man is Janek (Mateusz Kościukiewicz), whose father is a navy officer. Then comes December 13, 1981, and big politics enter the boys’ previously carefree life.

Since its premiere in January 2010, Jacek Borcuch’s feature was screened and awarded at multiple international film festivals, including Sundance, Rotterdam, Brussels, Setúbal, Los Angeles, and New York.

Countries that have already announced their candidates for the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category include Iran, Romania, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, and Venezuela.

The short list of nine films competing for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award will be announced at the end of January 2011. About a week later, the final five Oscar nominations will be made public.

The awards ceremony of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards will be held on February 27, 2011.

The official website of the Academy Awards:www.oscars.org.

Translated by Karolina Kołtun