„Sweat” won the Chicago International Film Festival
Co-financed by the Polish Film Institute „Sweat” won the main award in the International Feature Film Competition (Gold Hugo) at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival. The picture directed by Magnus von Horn also received Silver Hugo for the Best Art Direction (for Jagna Dobesz). The Best Screenplay Award went to Polish-Greek coproduction „Apples” directed by Christos Nikou. The picture by Katarzyna Warzecha „We Have One Heart” won the Documentary Short Film Competition.
„Sweat” appears in the official selection of the 73rd Cannes festival and received a special TIFF Industry Selects label in Toronto. Film, written and directed by Magnus von Horn, has opened 20th International Film Festival New Horizons in Wroclaw and goes to the Main Competition of the 45th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
„Sweat” is about three days out of life of fitness motivator Sylwia Zając, whose presence on social media has made her a celebrity. Although she has hundreds of thousands of followers, is surrounded by loyal employees and admired by acquaintances, her life lacks true intimacy.
Cast and crew
Magdalena Koleśnik is the leading role, whose partners are: Julian Świeżewski, Aleksandra Konieczna and Zbigniew Zamachowski. The cinematographer is Michał Dymek, PSC editor – Agnieszka Glińska, PSC sound – Michał Robaczewski, original music – Piotr Kurek, artistic managemant – Jagna Dobesz, costumes – Małgorzata Fudala, make-up – Agnieszka Sasim and production manager is Anna Pachnicka. The producer of the film is Mariusz Włodarski from Lava Filmsin in co-production with Zentropa Sweden and Film i Väst, Canal+, EC1 Lodz The City of Culture, Opus Film DI Factory. Associate producers are Sophie Erbs and Tom Dercourt from Cinema Defacto.
„Apples”
The film directed by Christos Nikou and this is his debut. The film is a Polish-Greek coproduction that was presented in the Orizzonti section at the 77. Venice International Film Festival. In Toronto, the picture has received a special TIFF Industry Selects label. It also appears in the programme of the 20th International Film Festival New Horizons in Wroclaw.
How selective is our memory? Do we remember what we have experienced or chosen to remember? Can we forget the things that hurt us? In the end, are we simply just the sum of all those things we don’t forget? „Apples”, an allegorical and somehow funny story, is in its core an effort to explore the way our memory functions and how this affects our being.
Cast and crew
Aris Servetalis is the leading role, whose partners are: Sofia Georgobasili, Anna Kalaitzidou and Argiris Bakirtzis. The cinematographer is Bartosz Świniarski, editing: George Zafiris, music – The Boy, sound – Leandros Ntounis and Kostas Koutelidakis, artistic direction – Efi Birba, costumes – Dimitra Likaoura and make-up – Kiriaki Melidou. The producers of the movie are Iraklis Mavroidis, Angelo Venetis, Aris Dayios and Nikos Smpiliris from Boo Productions and Mariusz Włodarski from Lava Films. The Polish coproducter is DI Factory.
„We Have One Heart”
The picture, directed by Katarzyna Warzecha, who is also a screenwriter, next to winning the Chicago event, received the Audience Award at the 13th Central and Eastern European Film Festival CinEast in Luxembourg.
After the death of his mother, Adam finds some letters exchanged years ago between his Polish mother and his Kurdish father, living in Iraq. This is an opportunity for him to learn more about his father, whom he never knew. The juxtaposition of animated drawings and archiv material takes us back forty years into the past and allows us not only to feel the emotions that connect lovers living in different parts of the world, but also to discover an unusual family secret.
Director and the crew
Katarzyna Warzecha is a graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice and the Wajda School and Studio in Warsaw. Her graduation film, „It’s Really Awesome”, has been screened at many international festivals and has won numerous awards. She has collaborated with such directors as Filip Bajon and Marcin Wrona.
The cinematographer for „We Have One Heart” is Grzegorz Hartfiel, editing: Piotr Kremky, music – Adam Witkowski, sound – Jakub Jerszyński, production of Silver Frame and Studio Munka in co-production with Pomerania Film.