Polish presence in Cannes
Co-production „Lamb” in the Un Certain Regard section, animation „Beasts among us” in the Cannes Cinéfondation, film „The Double Life of Veronique” at Cannes Classics, as well as Polish producers at Producers Network and Producers on the Move – this is how Polish presence in Cannes looks like. The Polish Film Institute also invites to its stand at the Marché du Film. The 74th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival takes place in July, 6-17.
The Polish Cinema Pavilion stand organized by the Polish Film Institute and SFP will be open throughout the festival. It is a common space dedicated to all Polish artists present in Cannes. The address of the stand is Village International Riviera # 117 – we invite you without booking a table.
The Polish Film Institute will host an industry breakfast as part of the Producers Network on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at Plage des Palmes. Participants nominated on behalf of the Polish Film Institute are:
• Agnieszka Wasiak – Lava Films
• Krzysztof Terej – Watchout Studio
• Dawid Szurmiej – Studio Agart
• Marta Lewandowska – Friends With Benefits Studio
• Stanisław Dziedzic – Film Production
Producers on the Move
Beata Rzeźniczek (Madants), nominated by the Polish Film Institute, is among twenty European producers who will present their projects in the Producers on the Move program organized by European Film Promotion. Event takes place in a hybrid form: online (May 17-21) and in Cannes (July 8-12).
New Horizons’ Polish Days Goes to Cannes
On July 9, from 12.00 to 14.00, the New Horizons’ Polish Days Goes to Cannes screening will take place. It will be available only for accredited representatives of the international film industry. Five Polish film projects at the production stage will be presented. The New Horizons’ Polish Days Goes to Cannes event is the result of cooperation between the Polish Film Institute and the New Horizons Association.
The following projects are among the Polish films selected for this year’s edition:
• „Fucking Bornholm”, dir. Anna Kazejak, prod. Friends With Benefits Studio
• „Imago”, dir. Olga Chajdas, prod. Apple Film Production
• „Fears”, dir. Łukasz Ronduda & Łukasz Gutt, prod. Serce
• „Inverted”, dir. Jacek Lusiński, prod. Aurum Film
• „Lipstick on the Glass”, dir. Kuba Czekaj, prod. Centrala FILM
„Lamb” in the Un Certain Regard
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the film „Lamb”, which is a feature debut by Icelandic director Valdimar Jóhannsson, will have its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section. Agnieszka Glińska was responsible for editing the film, which is an Icelandic-Swedish-Polish co-production. It was produced by Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and Sara Nassim from Go to Sheep, Piodor Gustafsson and Erik Rydell from Black Spark Production and Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska and Jan Naszewski from Madants / NEM Corp., in co-production with Film and Väst, Chimney Sweden and Chimney Poland and in cooperation with Rabbit Hole Productions and Helgi Jóhannsson.
In the description of the film we read: the Icelandic couple María (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason) live with a herd of sheep on a beautiful, but remote farm. When they find an unusual newborn, they decide to keep it and raise as their own child. The unexpected prospect of enlarging their family brings them much happiness, but ultimately leads to a tragedy.
„Beasts among us” at the Cannes Cinéfondation
The animation „Beasts among us” by Natalia Durszewicz, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, is included in the Cannes Cinéfondation competition section. It will be presented among 17 short films (13 live-action and 4 animated) from film schools all over the world. The picture was made at the Film School in Łódź. Natalia Durszewicz is responsible for the script, directing, cinematography, editing and animation of the film. She created the music together with Julia Owczarek and Rafał Nowak is responsible for the sound of the animation. The jury will hand over the prizes at a ceremony preceding the screening of the awarded films on Thursday, July 15th, in the Buñuel Theatre.
Set in a surreal scenery, the film tells about the role reversal of victims and predators. It shows the world we live in from the perspective of the most vulnerable. Every day, they are being killed, eaten, exploited for entertainment, doomed to be stuck in the lower social class, abused. A world full of inequality, division, brutality and a constant struggle for survival. In such a reality, it is difficult to remain innocent. Prey turns into predator, predator turns into prey.
Cannes Classics
Among more than 20 films in the program of the Cannes Classics section – presenting images from the classics of cinema after digital reconstruction, there is a picture „The Double Life of Weronika” by Krzysztof Kieślowski. The film was reconstructed in 4K under the supervision of cinematographer Sławomir Idziak. In 1991, the picture won the Ecumenical Jury Prize in Cannes and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize. The Main Competition jury appreciated Irene Jacob with the award for the best actress.
Cannes Docs
The project „Cent’anni”, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, is included in the Cannes Docs section at the special Docs in Progress workshops- Showcase Circle Women. This is a Slovenian-Italian-Polish production directed by Maja Prelog. In the film we can see Blaž Murn, Maja Prelog and Franco Roppo Valente. Lev Kowarski is responsible for photography, Olga Michalik for editing, and Sebastian Zawadzki for music. The Polish producers of the film are Marta Leone (Agressive Banda) and Michał Dziuda (Cavatina, Fiducia Foundation).
The film is a story about Blaž: a filmmaker and cycling enthusiast who once aspired to take part in the great Italian cycling race, which was prevented by illness. After a bone marrow transplant, he has a new plan: live at least a hundred years. The film is Blaž’s bicycle journey through the stages of Giro d’Italia, during which he reflects on his “bygone reality” – the fight against leukemia, which he won. The days go by, the roads get steeper and Blaž is increasingly exhausted. Will it meet your expectations of reaching the finish line – Mount Etna?
