"The Red Spider" and "I, Olga Hepnarova" in Czech Cinemas
Ja, Olga Hepnarova (I, Olga Hepnarova) and Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider) co-financed by the Polish Film Instutute was released theatrically in the Czech Republic on March 24, 2016.
Ja, Olga Hepnarova (I, Olga Hepnarova)
Michalina Olszańska in Ja, Olga Hepnarova (I, Olga Hepnarova), photo courtesy of Media Brigade.
Ja, Olga Hepnarova (I, Olga Hepnarova) was released theatrically in Czech cinemas on March 24, 2016. Distribution is hanlded by Bontonfilm.
Ja, Olga Hepnarová (I, Olga Hepnarová) is a co-production between the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, made with financial support from the Polish Film Institute and the Lower Silesian Film Fund. The film marks the directing and producing debut by directors-screenwriters Tomáš Weinreb and Petr Kazda. The lead role was played by Michalina Olszańska. The film was lensed by Polish DP Adam Sikora, and produced on the Polish side by Wrocław-based Media Brigade.
Based on actual events the film follows the story of a young woman who drove a truck into a tram stop filled with people in Prague’s Holešovice region on July 10, 1973. At trial, she confirmed that it had been her intention to kill as many people as possible. Just before the tragic event, she had sent a letter to the local papers, explaining her motivations.
The world premiere of the film took place at the 66th Berlinale, where Ja, Olga Hepnarova (I, Olga Hepnarova) screened in the Panorama section. Recently the film received the award for the Best Director at the 20th Sofia International Film Festival.
Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider)
Adam Woronowicz in Czerwony Pająk (The Red Spider), press materials
Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider) was released theatrically in Czech cinemas on March 24, 2016. The film’s Czech title is Červený Pavouk, while distribution in the Czech Republic is handled by A-Company. The film was released theatrically in Poland on November 27, 2015. Distribution in Poland is handled by Kino Świat.
Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider), made as a Polish-Czech-Slovak co-production, is a fictional story based on real events that took place in communist Poland, in 1960s Krakow. Karol is a talented young man from a good family; he is successful in sports, he is well-liked by his peers, and his parents are always proud of his accomplishments. Everything changes after Karol accidentally witnesses a murder. His attempt to uncover the truth about the murderer gradually transforms into a journey into the darkest recesses of human nature. The film is a story of the mechanisms that come into play as a serial killer is born.
Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider) was co-written, directed and lensed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Marcin Koszałka and marks his feature debut. The film stars Filip Pławiak and Adam Woronowicz, with supporting performances by Julia Kijowska, Małgorzata Foremniak, Marek Kalita, Wojciech Zieliński, Przemysław Bluszcz, and Piotr Głowacki. Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider) was produced by MD4 Mental Disorder 4, co-produced by Fog’n’DesireFilms (Czech Republic), SokolKollar (Slovakia), Orange Polska, the Krakow Festival Office, the Krakow Film Commission, Zentropa Int Poland, and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the Regional Film Fund in Krakow, and film funds from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Czerwony pająk (The Red Spider) had its world premiere at the 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, screening in Main Competition. The film received the grand prize of the second edition of the Cairo International Film Critics Week and the prestigious Prix de la Critique award of the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics at the Arras International Film Festival.