23/08/2005

Polish productions, which have been scarce in the past few years, are blooming again, confirmed by the programme for the Gdynia Polish Film Festival (12-17 September), covered by Cineuropa. Indeed, this year, the number of films presented reaches new heights, with 21 Polish productions being screened.

If 2001 and 2002 were very fruitful years with, respectively, 28 and 27 productions (an improvement on the 23 films produced in 1999 and the 21 films produced in 2000), 2003 was a disappointing year (19 productions) and 2004 confirmed the downward trend (only 17 films). However, this year's results allow the Polish film industry to be more optimistic. Indeed, the number of films in competition was much higher than the organisers expected so they had to lower the number of candidates to 21 films. Among the directors hoping to win the Golden Lion, some are already well-known —Jacek Bromski, Feliks Falk, Andrzej Kondratiuk and Krzysztof Zanussi— and others represent the younger generation —Piotr Trzaskalski and Przemys³aw Wojcieszek. A number of them are making their debut; Rados³aw Markiewicz, Maciej Migas and Patryk Vega will present their first films.

Andrzej Wajda will head the jury for the main competition, while Malgorzata Szumowska (Ono [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) will preside over the jury of the independent cinema section, which includes 11 titles plus three films out of competition.

In this the thirtieth anniversary of the Polish event, the organisers also invited the winners of all the previous editions. The films which won them awards will be screened in a section called Golden Lions 1974 – 2004. This retrospective will be complemented by the release of a book on the history of the festival. Another section, 'Polonica', will allow the public to discover the work of Polish directors abroad. Finally, the programme will dedicate a series of screenings to Solidarnosc (Solidarity), created 25 years ago.

Films in competition:

Barbórka by Maciej Pieprzyca
Bar pod młynkiem ('the bar down the mill') by Andrzej Kondratiuk
v ('the perfect afternoon') by Przemysław Wojcieszek
Jestem (I am) by Dorota Kêdzierzawska
Kochankowie Roku Tygrysa ('the lovers of the year of the tiger') by Jacek Bromski
Kochankowie z Marony ('the lovers of Marona') by Izabella Cywiñska
Komornik ('the sergent') by Feliks Falk
Lekarz drzew ('doctor for trees')) by Janusz Zaorski
Masz na imiê Justine ('your name is Justine') by Pena Franco
Metanowa by Radosław Markiewicz
Mistrz ('the master') by Piotr Trzaskalski
Oda do radoœci ('an ode to joy') by Kazejak A., Maciej Migas, Komasa J.
Parę osób, mały czas ('several people, one moment') by Andrzej Barañski
Persona non grata by Krzysztof Zanussi
Piekło, niebo ('hell and heaven') by Natalia Koryncka-Gruz
Pitbull by Patryk Vega
Rozdroże Cafe ('Café – crossroads') by Jacek Wosiewicz
Skazany na bluesa ('born for the blues') by Jan Kidawa Błoński
Teraz ja ('now me') by Anna Jadowska
Wróżby kumaka ('the call of the toad', adapted from Günter Grass' novel) by Robert Gliñski
Zakochany anioł ('an angel in love') by Artur Wiêcek

(Translated from French)