Let the celebration of the 50th PFF begin! The “50 for 50 project” has started
The 50th edition of the Polish Film Festival is a perfect moment to look back. After all, the history of the PFF is the history of Polish cinema! As part of the yearlong all-Poland “50 for 50” project we will recall milestone events, important films and outstanding filmmakers – which proves there are endless ways to talk about the festival.
– I already invite everyone to celebrate the Polish Film Festival’s 50th birthday. We decided the celebrations will last all year long and will be held not only in Gdynia, after all it is a special anniversary for all of us. I am very proud of the “50 for 50” programme, which is so diversified and multidimensional. I would like to thank our key partners: cultural centres, film society cinemas (DKF), cinemas, festivals and film schools. They will make it possible for us to appear in so many places in Poland, from Sejny to Sucha Beskidzka – comments Joanna Łapińska, the Artistic Director of the PFF.
As part of the “50 for 50” project, in 34 cities as many as 57 institutions will organise film reviews focusing on a selected fragment of the history of PFF. Screenings will be accompanied by meetings with guests who will talk about the screened films and share festival memories. Thanks to this, we will know the history of the PFF through outstanding filmmakers, such as Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Paweł Pawlikowski, Jerzy Stuhr, Agnieszka Holland, Janusz Zaorski, Marek Koterski, Małgorzata Szumowska and Daniel Olbrychski. There will also be representatives of the younger generation, such as: Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Jan P. Matuszyński, Korek Bojanowski, Piotr Domalewski and Maria Zbąska. Some of the events focus on genre cinema and films for young audiences, other concern milestone events, such as the first festivals organised in Gdańsk, awarding Man of Marble with a symbolic brick or the pandemic 45th edition of the Festival, held entirely online. The topics will cover issues such as rebellion, power of women, diversity, otherness and dialogue. The programme includes also classics and canon titles, as well as winners of the Golden Lions and Don Quixote awards.
– It’s difficult to imagine Polish cinema without the Polish Film Festival. For 50 years, Gdynia and each edition of the festival have gathered the most talented filmmakers and film professionals. The Golden Lions award has become an indicator of what is most important in Polish cinema. A half century of history makes up an incredible story, which is an even greater achievement for a cultural event taking place regularly. The jubilee creates an opportunity to open up even more to audiences and reach cities and towns in other parts of Poland. Therefore, until the end of this year, as part of the “50 for 50” project, 57 institutions will bring Polish cinema closer to audiences. Given that culture is a common good, I’m doubly pleased that film and a festival, which is an integral part of culture, will resonate in the entire country. I encourage you to visit arthouse and open-air cinemas – says Hanna Wróblewska, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Events organised as part of the “50 for 50” project will be held from March to December 2025. The project will be run in arthouse cinemas, open-air cinemas, and also in film society cinemas (DKF). Cultural centres, libraries and media collections will organise their reviews too. The offer is addressed also to university and film school students. The 50th anniversary of the PFF will be celebrated also by other festival, such as: Tofifest International Film Festival in Toruń, Kino Na Granicy Film Festival, Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec and Bana Film Festival in Pleszew
The project will be lunched with the “Festival Biographies. The Restored Stories” review, organised by the Gdynia Film Centre. On 8th March, screening of The Master by Maciej Barczewski will be held, accompanied by a meeting with the director Maciej Barczewsk and the starring actor Piotr Głowacki. Already in March, there will be reviews in Goplana Cinema in Połczyn-Zdrój (The Power of Women), Janosik Cinema in Żywiec (The Generational Cascades) and in the Gdański Archipelag Kultury (GAK) (The Power of Propaganda and Censorship).
The list of all reviews held as part of the “50 for 50” project and the map of their location is available at: https://festiwalgdynia.pl/50-na-50/. Detailed information on particular events will be provided on websites of partner institutions.
The organiser of the “50 for 50” project is the Pomeranian Film Foundation in Gdynia – the producer of the Polish Film Festival.
The Honorary Patron of the project is the Mayor of Gdynia.
The project was co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and the Polish Film Institute.
The main partner of the “50 for 50” project is the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute.
The project is organised in partnership with the Documentary and Feature Film Production Company and Telewizja Polska.
The media patrons of the project are: Telewizja Polska, Polska Press Grupa, naszemiasto.pl, Program 1 Polskiego Radia, Program 3 Polskiego Radia, Magazyn Filmowy SFP, Filmweb, Interia, Miesięcznik KINO.
The graphic identification of the “50 for 50” project by Ola Jasionowska.
Should you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact the project coordinator, Marta Chwastniewska-Jaworska – m.chwastniewska@festiwalgdynia.pl.
