"The Island" Now Eligible for Oscars

Wyspa (Spanish title: La Isla, English title: The Island), a film directed by Katarzyna Klimkiewicz and Dominga Sotomayor and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received the grand prize at the Huesca festival in Spain. This award makes the film eligible for the 2015 Academy Awards.

About the Movie

Inspired by a poem by Wisława Szymborska entitled “Wypadek drogowy,” The Island is a film about one family; a reunion at the family home on Chiloe island creates an opportunity to reminisce about the time spent together and discuss time lost. The film has already received multiple awards, including the Tiger Award grand prize at the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival.

A Project Developed at DOX:LAB

The Island was developed within the framework of CPH:DOX festival’s DOX:LAB project that brings together filmmakers from different countries and continents. In 2013, 22 directors from around the world participated in the project. The only participant selected from Poland was Katarzyna Klimkiewicz. The film was produced by an international Polish-Chilean crew, and lensed by Inti Briones (The Loneliest Planet). On the Polish side, the film was produced by Jan Naszewski (New Europe Film Sales) and co-produced by Maciej Kubicki and Anna Kępińska.

Klimkiewicz and Sotomayor Discuss Their Work

“I wanted to portray the complexity of family relations. I have always been interested in everyday situations as seen from the sidelines, from a distance that creates a sort of unease. I am curious about how something ordinary can at the same time feel strange,” says Dominga Sotomayor.

“For me, this film is an experiment: we are showing the world not from the perspective of a human being, but from the perspective of an island that has a life of its own. I wanted to capture a certain feeling of restlessness, a sense of danger, and helplessness against something intangible,” says Katarzyna Klimkiewicz about the film.

Further details about the winners are available at: www.huesca-filmfestival.com/en/awards/.

Based on the press release

Translated by Karolina Kołtun