Polonica at the 44th FPFF

Polonica at the 44th FPFF
Eight new international film co-productions created with significant Polish participation will be presented by this year’s Polonica section at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Together with the Main Competition, Polonica is the oldest festival section.

Polonica is always a special event during the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Projects gathered in this section are the effect of international cooperation and become a link between Polish and foreign cinema. Once again, it’s almost completely filled with films that have received funding from the Polish Film Institute, as part of a program supporting international minority co-productions. A total of over five and a half million zlotys was allocated to their co-financing. This year the audience in Gdynia will be able to see pictures that have already gained international recognition. “Ayka” awarded in Cannes, “Dovlatov” in Berlin, “Captain” with the European Film Award, or star-cast “High Life” by Claire Denis appreciated in San Sebastian. The popularity of these films, as well as the entry into force of the Act on financial support for audiovisual production, further affect the importance of the Polish film market and build the brand of Polish cinema in the world – says Małgorzata Szczepkowska-Kalemba, Head of Film Production and Film Project Development at the Polish Film Institute.

During the 44th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, the following films will be shown:


“When the trees fall” (Ukraine, Poland, Macedonia 2018)
Directed by: Marysia Nikitiuk; producers: Dariusz Jabłoński, Izabela Wójcik, Violetta Kamińska; photos: Michał Englert, Mateusz Wichłacz; editing: Milenia Fiedler. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES:
2018 International Film Festival in Odessa: Award for the best female role for Anastasia Pustovit
Krzysztof Kieślowski ScripTeast Award for the best screenplay of Eastern Europe during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival

“The Captain” (Germany, Poland, Portugal, France 2017)
Directed by: Robert Schwentke; editing: Michał Czarnecki; co-producers: Piotr Dzięcioł, Ewa Puszczyńska; costumes: Magdalena Rutkiewicz-Luterek. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES

European Film Awards 2018: award for the best sound
San Sebastian International Film Festival: Jury award for the best cinematography
Vilnius International Film Festival: best film, FIPRESCI award

“Pity” (Greece, Poland 2018)
Directed by: Babis Makridis; producers: Klaudia Śmieja, Beata Rzeźniczek; music: Mikołaj Trzaska. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES:
2018 International Film Festival in Odessa: Best Film and Best Directing

“Dovlatov” (Russia, Poland, Serbia 2018)
Directed by: Alexei German jr; producers: Dariusz Jabłoński, Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik; photograpy: Łukasz Żal; cast: Piotr Gąsowski, Helena Sujecka, Hanna Śleszyńska. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES:
Berlin IFF 2018: Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution for Elena Okopnaja (for costumes and set design)

“The River” (Kazakhstan, Poland, Norway 2018)
Directed by: Emir Baigazin; music: Justyna Banaszczyk. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES:
Venice Film Festival – award for best director in the Orizzonti section

“Ayka” (China, Poland, Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan 2018)
Director: Sergei Dvortsevoy; director of photography: Jolanta Dylewska; make-up artist: Tomasz Matraszek; producer: Anna Wydra. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

SELECTED PRIZES
Cannes IFF 2018: The Golden Palm for the best actress for Samalam Samal
Young East European Cinema Festival in Cottbus: Main Prize; Ecumenical Jury Award
All About Freedom Festival in Gdansk 2018: Award of the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk

“High life” (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, USA 2018)

Director: Claire Denis; set design: Mela Melak, Jagna Dobesz; cinematography: Tomasz Naumiuk, makeup: Marcin Rodak, costumes: Justyna Stolarz, production manager: Bogna Szewczyk, cast: Agata Buzek. The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

“Penelope” (Spain, Poland 2017)
Directed by: Eva Vila Purti; producer: Monika Derenda; sound design: Radosław Ochnio

The screenings from the Polonica section will be held at the Gdynia Film Centre and Helios Cinema (Riviera Shopping Centre). A detailed schedule will be announced on September 5. Ticket sales for single screenings will also start that day.

The 44th Polish Film Festival will be held on September 16-21, 2019 in Gdynia.