"The Photograph" Awarded in Montreal
Zdjęcie (The Photograph), directed by Maciej Adamek
Zdjęcie (The Photograph), directed by Maciej Adamek, received the Silver Zenith Award at the 36th World Film Festival in Montreal, which closed on September 3. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The Photograph Wins Silver Zenith
Maciej Adamek’s Zdjęcie (The Photograph) screened at the World Film Festival in Montreal in the First Films World Competition, winning the Silver Zenith award. The best film in the First Films World Competition was Casadentro by first-time director Joanna Lombardi from Peru. The Bronze Zenith award went to the Norwegian production Into the Dark, directed by Thomas Wangsmo.
Three Films Supported by Polish Film Institute
This year’s edition of the World Film Festival in Montreal featured over 430 films from 80 countries. In addition to Maciej Adamek’s The Photograph, the festival lineup included two other Polish films: Obława (Manhunt) by Marcin Krzyształowicz (World Competition) and the student film Jestem OK (I Am OK) by Tushar Prakash (Focus on World Cinema section). All three Polish films screening at the World Film Festival in Montreal were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Zdjęcie (The Photograph)
Zdjęcie (The Photograph) focuses on17-year-old Adam. After finding a photograph of his mother with a strange man, Adam tries to find out the truth about his real father. The film is also a story about first love, betrayal, and dealing with death. The film was written and directed by Maciej Adamek. His script for The Photograph won the 2006 Polish edition of the Hartley-Merrill competition (currently Script Pro) and placed third in the world finale of the competition.
International Debut by Maciej Adamek
Maciej Adamek’s debut feature The Photograph was made as a co-production between Poland, Germany, and Hungary; the film was produced by Koncept Media and co-produced by Mastershot and the Wajda School. Lensed by Tomasz Michałowski, the film features performances by Maciej Łagodziński, Karolina Gorczyca, Andrzej Chyra, Stanisława Celińska, and Władysław Kowalski. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The Photograph‘s presentation at the World Film Festival in Montreal marked the film’s international premiere.
World Film Festival in Montreal
The World Film Festival in Montreal is the only international competitive feature film festival in North America accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The aim of the World Film Festival is to support world cinema by encouraging cultural diversity and by promoting young filmmakers and innovative works.
Awards for Films Supported by Polish Film Institute
Several previous editions of the World Film Festival in Montreal featured awards presented to films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute by the festival’s international jury. In 2011, Borys Szyc received the Best Actor award for his performance in Kret (The Mole) by Rafael Lewandowski, while Czarny czwartek. Janek Wiśniewski padł (Black Thursday) by Antoni Krauze received the FIPRESCI award of the International Federation of Film Critics. Both films screened in the festival’s World Competition. In 2010, Wenecja (Venice) by Jan Jakub Kolski received the Special Jury Prize for Best Artistic Contribution.
The 36th World Film Festival in Montreal ran from August 23 through September 3, 2012.
Further details about the World Film Festival available at: www.ffm-montreal.org.
Paulina Bez
Translated by Karolina Kołtun