"Wałęsa" Oscar Campaign

The Oscar campaign of Andrzej Wajda’s feature Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) in the United States has been launched. The campaign is co-financed and co-ordinated by the Polish Film Institute.

Chicago

Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) by director Andrzej Wajda is Poland’s candidate for this year’s Best Foreign Language Academy Award. The film’s Oscar campaign, co-ordinated by the Polish Film Institute and Akson Studio, was launched in October at the 49th Chicago International Film Festival, where Robert Więckiewicz received the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actor.

Los Angeles

After a series of screenings in November at various cinemas, including the Sunset Screening Room, the Caheunga Theater and the Wilshire Screening Room, December 2 marked a special screening for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organized in co-operation with the LA Times. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with Robert Więckiewicz. The screenings are accompanied by an advertising campaign in top industry magazines: Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. The New York Times Magazine also printed a feature article about the film.

A Special Screening at the US Congress

December 4, 2013 brought a special screening of Andrzej Wajda’s latest feature at the United States Congress. This special event was attended by a very special guest: President Lech Wałęsa himself. The screening on Capitol Hill, organized 24 years after Wałęsa’s landmark Congress speech, brought together representatives of the US Senate and Congress, the US administration, as well as Polish and American journalists. Another special guest at the screening was actor Robert Więckiewicz, who played the lead role in the film. The screening was organized with support from the Polish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. and New York City

On December 5, Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) opened the EU Film Showcase in Washington, D.C., a showcase of films produced in the countries of the European Union, organized by the American Film Institute. December 8 will mark a gala screening of the film at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), followed by a public screening on December 9 at the Tribeca Center.

Palm Springs and Universities

Next January, Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) will screen at the Palm Springs IFF. The film will also be shown to students at several US universities, including Columbia College and Northwestern University.

Short List in Early January

In the first days of January, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will publish its selection of nine foreign language films short-listed for awards consideration. The final five nominated titles will be announced on January 16, 2014.

A Film Produced by Akson Studio

Andrzej Wajda’s Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) was produced by Akson Studio, co-produced by Telekomunikacja Polska S.A, Narodowe Centrum Kultury, Telewizja Polska S.A., and Canal+ Cyfrowy S.A., and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The film’s Main Sponsor is Grupa Energa, with SAUR Neptun Gdańsk as sponsor. The film was also made in partnership with the city of Gdańsk. Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) has the honorary patronage of Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski.

World Premiere in Venice

Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) had its world premiere on September 5, 2013 at the 70th Venice International Film Festival, where Andrzej Wajda received the 2013 Persol award, a prize created to celebrates legends of international cinema. Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (Wałęsa. Man of Hope) was released theatrically in Poland on October 4, 2013.