Polish productions at the festival in Clermont-Ferrand
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the animation „Five minutes older” by Sara Szymańska and the animated documentary „Once There Was a Sea …” by Joanna Kożuch were included in the international competition of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. On the other hand, in the Lab Competition section, Julia Siuda’s „Fury” will be presented, and in the Euro Connection program during the film market – the project „I’m not here anymore” by Nawojka Wierzbowska.
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival is the largest and most important short film festival in the world. In terms of audience and the presence of film industry professionals, it is the second largest film festival in France after Cannes.
This year, 6,200 films from 55 countries around the world were submitted, 77 of which were selected for the international competition, including 51 feature films, 10 documentaries and 16 animated films. The next edition of the festival will be held on January 28-February 5, 2022.
„Five minutes older”
Twin sisters Mela and Zenia are going to the lake to spend a lazy summer afternoon together. Their bond is so close that it is not known where the life of one ends and the other begins… Unfulfilled expectations result in the emergence of a world in which every attempt to define boundaries and disconnect tangled identities is doomed to failure.
Sara Szymańska is responsible for directing, screenplay, cinematography and film editing. The music was created by Marcel Baliński, and the sound was taken care of by Wiesław Nowak and Szymon Kucharski. The producer of the animation is the Film School in Łódź. The picture has already won the Golden Animusz in the Polish Animated Film Competition ANIMATOR.PL in Poznań.
„Once there was a sea …”
The animated documentary was inspired by the stories and fate of the last inhabitants of Mujnak, a city in western Uzbekistan. In the 1920s, Soviet planners in those areas wanted to create huge cotton plantations. A system of canals was implemented to irrigate these areas, making large rivers lose their power, which later led to the disappearance of the Aral Sea. It was actually only a salty desert. Thanks to the film, we get to know Svetlana, staring at the salty desert with her only eye, and Gulshat who runs an empty hotel. The captain records the traces of the disappearing sea, and Sergey guides the tourists along its bare, shiny seabed. They all remember the original shore of the Aral Sea, which is drying up today.
The animated documentary directed by Joanna Kożuch combines 2D and rotoscopic animation with the use of sand, and was co-produced by Anima-pol Sp. z o.o. (Majority producer), Slovak plackartnyj and BFilm, TVP, EC1 Łódź and Radio and Television Slovakia. The international sales agent of the film is Miyu Distribution, and the promotion on the Polish market is handled by MOMAKIN in Łódź.
„Fury”
The short animation directed by Julia Siuda (also responsible for the script and editing of the film) deals with the problem of growing anger, frustration and aggression that seeks an outlet. The protagonist of the film is a person who loses control of her anger. Losing herself in emotion, can’t stand the tension. The animation shows suppressed anger and imaginary physical violence. The film refers to commonly formulated thoughts or intentions: „it makes my blood boil …”, „I am on edge” , „I will jump out of my skin”, „I want to strangle someone …”, „I will kill someone soon … „etc.
An important element reflecting the character of the animation is the sparse but expressive plastic that uses organic and dense lines and appropriately expressive colors. To strengthen the naturalistic message of emotions, the sounds of breaking bones and injured parts of the body are used. The picture was created in the Animated Film Studio of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.
„I’m not here anymore”
The project „I am gone” by Nawojka Wierzbowska has been qualified for the Euro Connection program. This is a co-production forum – aimed at producers of short feature films, creative documentaries and animated films, which will take place during the international Short Film Fair in Clermont-Ferrand. As every year, the event will be preceded by a session preparing for the presentation, and after the pitching, meetings and individual consultations will take place. A total of 14 projects will be presented, selected by the jurors from among those submitted by individual partner countries.
In the description of the short animated film „I’m gone” , produced in the Krakow Film Cluster, we read: dead Grandpa is waiting for Death to come. When she does not come, he decides to go alone to the afterlife. Unfortunately, his family does not believe he is dead and they bring him back every time the old man runs away. Grandpa is trying to prove to the family that he is dead. Despite the solid evidence, the Family does not believe him and chains him to prevent further escapes. The atmosphere in the house is getting weirder, but still everyone is trying to function normally. When Grandpa is completely losing hope, the late Death shows up at home and helps his relatives understand that they have to let the old man go.