email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

FESTIVALS Poland

Gdynia becomes the Polish film capital as the 43rd Polish Film Festival kicks off

by 

- Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War and Małgorzata Szumowska’s Mug are among the films competing for the Golden Lions, the gathering’s top prize

Gdynia becomes the Polish film capital as the 43rd Polish Film Festival kicks off
A Hole in the Head by Piotr Subbotko

2018 is a very good year for Polish cinema, and the selection of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia definitely reflects that. For example, the main competition includes films crowned with the Berlinale’s Silver Bear for Best Director (Małgorzata Szumowska’s Mug [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Małgorzata Szumowska
film profile
]
) and Cannes’ Best Director Award (Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Pawel Pawlikowski
film profile
]
). The Polish Film Festival, which officially starts today, 17 September, with a gala screening of the Golden Lions contender The Butler [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Filip Bajon, will also showcase eight premieres in the main competition and will include works by helmers of all generations, ranging from debutants, such as Aleksander Pietrzak, to masters like Krzysztof Zanussi.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Among the most highly anticipated titles are Clergy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Wojciech Smarzowski
film profile
]
 by Wojciech SmarzowskiPlaying Hard [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Kinga DębskaThe Mute [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Bartosz Konopka, Ether [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Krzysztof Zanussi, Autsajder [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Adam SikoraA Hole in the Head [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Piotr SubbotkoPardon [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Jan Jakub Kolski, Werewolf [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Adrian Panek
film profile
]
by Adrian Panek and 7 Emotions [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by one of Poland’s most unique artistic voices, Marek Koterski.

Other films vying for the Golden Lions were previously screened in Polish cinemas or at national festivals: Julius [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Aleksander Pietrzak, A Cat with a Dog [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Janusz KondratiukOnce Upon a Time in November [+see also:
trailer
interview: Andrzej Jakimowski
film profile
]
by Andrzej JakimowskiAgnieszka Smoczyńska’s Fugue [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agnieszka Smoczyńska
film profile
]
, and the aforementioned Cold War and Mug.

The other competitive section, Vision Apart, established in 2004 to present more experimental works, sees eight contenders vying for the main award, including movies that were previously shown at Cannes (Another Day of Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Raul de la Fuente
film profile
]
by Damian Nenow and Raúl de la Fuente), Rotterdam (Nina [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Olga ChajdasMy Friend the Polish Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Ewa Banaszkiewicz and Mateusz Dymek) and Karlovy Vary (53 Wars [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ewa Bukowska
film profile
]
by Ewa Bukowska). This section is rounded off by Monument [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Jagoda Szelc (whose first film, Tower. A Bright Day [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jagoda Szelc
film profile
]
, was part of the 2018 Berlinale Forum), The Day of Chocolate [+see also:
trailer
interview: Dawid Ogrodnik
film profile
]
by Jacek BławutLeave Me Not [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Grzegorz Lewandowski and Windows, Windows by Wojciech Solarz. Gdynia’s programme also boasts a Polish short-film competition and a handful of sidebars, presenting digitally restored films, minority co-productions with Poland and other titles.

The winners will be announced on 22 September.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy