Films from Gdynia and “Talks about the City” – Polish Film Festival

When the spotlights go out, the jazz goes on. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of The Producers. The camera follows the cast offstage, revealing the emotions and passion hidden from the audience. It offers a glimpse into the actors’ private lives: their day-to-day work, relationships, joys, and the stress of preparing for the premiere. The film was commissioned by the Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre in Gdynia.

To celebrate Gdynia’s 90th birthday in 2016, Gdynia Film School launched a unique documentary initiative and announced an open call for amateur recordings of city life. Edited treasures from family archives, accompanied by commentary, show the everyday life of Gdynia’s citizens to the music of Antonio Vivaldi. Silent, black-and-white and colour footage spans from the 1950s through to 1989.

Film and performance project rooted in the city of Gdynia history and its political heritage. The main character is the statue of “Natasza” – a centerpiece of former Monument to Brotherhood in Arms of Polish and Soviet Soldiers, for decades standing in the city centre, until it was removed. We’re interested not in the statue itself, but its life after life, what happens to a symbol after it disappears from the public space, but not from memory, language or imagination of citizens. The film...

Hundred years of City of Gdynia history as told by its citizens. Personal recollections and memories paint a picture of the city we know today.

There’s a serial killer in Tricity who murders taxi drivers. Kowalski, also a taxi driver, seems to be the main suspect. All the clues lead to Krystyna, a seductive nightclub singer.

Contrary to his family’s expectations, Karol Śliwka left his village and began studying art in Warsaw. He decided to specialise in graphic design. His works became ubiquitous in communist Poland and defined the country’s visual landscape. His designs were not displayed in galleries. Instead, they were present in Polish homes, on Polish streets, in institutions, and workplaces. At the same time, Śliwka led an ordinary family life, which he documented passionately over the years. This...