News
Polish Films at IDFA
Over 3600 films were submitted for this year's edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Of these, 319 titles were selected for screening. The world of Polish documentary filmmaking will be represented by a total of eight titles. Polish films screening in the Best of Fests and Mid-Length Documentary Competition were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
"Rosa" Wins in Warsaw
The winners of the 27th Warsaw Film Festival, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, were announced on October 15. Three out of the four Polish features screening in Main Competition were recognized by the Jury. The Warsaw Grand Prix, the main prize in the International Competition, founded by the City of Warsaw, went to Róża (Rosa) by Wojciech Smarzowski. Rosa also won the Audience Award of the Warsaw Film Festival. The Special Jury Prize for Best Actor went to Robert Więckiewicz for his performance in Wymyk (Courage) by Greg Zglinski. Courage also received the Ecumenical Jury Award. Two awards also went to Crulic. Droga na drugą stronę (Crulic), directed by Anca Damian. These were awards of the International Competition Jury and the Ecumenical Jury.
Polish Films in Busan
The 16th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, one of the key film events in Asia, launches on October 6. Several Polish films will screen at the festival.
Baltic Sea Region - Japan
Until 20th of October you can register for Baltic Sea Region-Japan, a three-day event for promising filmmakers aiming at broadening collaboration and joint film production between Japan and countries of the Baltic Sea Region.
Interview with Damian Nenow
We spoke with Damian Nenow, the creator of the animated film Paths of Hate that is curently taking international film festivals by a storm, winning a number of prestigious awards. Damian Nenow works at Platige Image, where he focuses on directing, animating, editing, and 3D graphics. Nenow told us about the early days of his adventure with animation, about his work on Miasto ruin (City of Ruins), and about the making of Paths of Hate.
"Imagine" to Open 28th WFF
The press conference of the 28th Warsaw Film Festival, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was held on September 26. The festival team announced this year's WFF lineup, as well as the side events they have planned.
Polish Films at the European Parliament
Today brings the end of the Polish Film Festival in Brussels, which launched on September 19. Screenings of Polish films at the European Parliament were organized to celebrate Poland's presidency in the Council of the European Union. The festival is aimed at bringing Polish culture closer to international audiences by presenting a selection of films made in recent years.
World Premieres in Warsaw
"Work on this year's programme wrapped merely a few days ago," said festival director Stefan Laudyn. "We will present ten sections, five of which are competition sections. A total of twenty films made it into the festival's main section - the International Competition. Over half of these mark the films' Polish or international premieres".
Great reviews of "In Darkness"
Poland's candidate for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award, In Darkness directed by Agnieszka Holland, has received great reviews in the foreign press after being screened at film festivals in the USA and Canada.
Polish Films at EFA
Two Polish features: Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski and Sala Samobójców (Suicide Room) by Jan Komasa, both co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, are in official selection for the European Film Awards.
"Ki" in Venice
September 9th brought a gala screening of Ki (My Name Is Ki), the feature debut from Leszek Dawid, at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. My Name Is Ki was one of twenty films screening in the eighth edition of Venice Days.
Polish Films in Toronto
Audiences will have a chance to see a total of six Polish films and co-productions at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival, which starts today.
Janusz Morgenstern Passed Away
Janusz Morgernstern, acclaimed Polish director and producer, passed away early this morning at 89.
Longtime head of "Perspektywa" film studio. Graduated in film directing from the National Film School in Łódź. Cooperated closely with Andrzej Wajda on Kanal (The Canal, 1956), later was Wajda's assistant director on Popiół i diament (Diamonds and Ashes, 1958) and Lotna (Speed, 1959). Directed films such as Do widzenia, do jutra (Good Bye, Till Tomorrow, 1960), Jowita (Jovita, 1967), Trzeba zabić tę miłość (To Kill This Love, 1972), Godzina W ('W' Hour, 1979); also created popular television series including Kolumbowie (1970) and Polskie drogi (1977). His last film was Mniejsze zło (The Lesser of Two Evils, 2009).
Polish Films in Venice
The 68th edition of the Venice International Film Festival launched on August 31. This year’s lineup features three films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. Screening in Main Competition and competing for the Golden Lion will be the latest film from Roman Polanski, Carnage. Ki (My Name Is Ki) by Leszek Dawid and Znieważona ziemia (The Land of Oblivion) by Michale Boganim will screen out of competition in Venice Days and the International Film Critics’ Week respectively.
Retrospective by Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski's films will be shown in the Museum of Modern Art in New York from 7 to 30 September 2011.
Fabicki starts shooting "Love"
Sławomir Fabicki, Polish director of the acclaimed Z odzysku (Retrieval) starts shooting his second feature, Love.
Polish Films Awarded in Romania
Polish films triumphed at the first edition of the "Golden Carpathian" European Film Festival in Ploiești, Romania.
Polish Films Awarded in Montreal
Borys Szyc received the Best Actor award for his role in Kret (The Mole) by Rafael Lewandowski, while Antoni Krauze's Czarny czwartek. Janek Wiśniewski padł (Black Thursday) received the FIPRESCI award at the 35th Montreal International Film Festival.
"The Flying Machine" World Premiere in Beijing
August 30 will mark the world premiere of Latająca maszyna (The Flying Machine) at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. The latest production from the makers of the Academy Award-winning Piotruś i wilk (Peter & the Wolf) is an animation dedicated to the works of Frederic Chopin. Following its Beijing premiere, The Flying Machine will also screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. General Director of the Polish Film Institute Agnieszka Odorowicz will attend the Beijing event.
Montreal, Venice, Toronto
Below are the details of the screenings of Polish films and co-productions at international festivals in Montreal, Venice and Toronto.