12/11/2007

The fifth edition of the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival (November 8-13) is paying homage to Andrzej Wajda. The giant of Polish cinema received the 2007 David Camera Award for his career and an approach to film that has become “an important point of reference for Polish and international cinematographies alike".

Audiences will have the opportunity to see the director’s lesser known works, films in which he acted as well as films dedicated to him, while his latest project, Katyn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrzej Wajda
interview: Michal Kwiecinski
film profile], opened the festival.

Festival screenings will include 38 films in competition and 33 out of competition. Israeli productions steal the show but the festival features titles from all four corners of the world: Germany, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, France, the US, Canada, Argentina and Australia. The list of competition titles includes several films lauded at other festivals, notably Jellyfish [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen (Golden Camera Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival), Joseph Cedar’s Beaufort, (Silver Bear for Best Director at the 2007 Berlinale) and the documentary 9 Star Hotel by Ido Haar.

Festival sponsors include public television network TVP, who are providing €2,500 for the festival’s Grand Prix, along with their thematic channel TVP Kultura and the Polish Film Institute (PISF).

Festival Director Daniel Strehlau said: "Over the last few years, our festival has been building bridges. For hundreds of years, Jewish culture has been an integral part of Polish culture, enriching it and contributing to the development of our national values. From a broader perspective, Polish culture has become a sort of window on the world – many eminent and powerful figures can trace their Jewish roots to Poland. That is why building these bridges is so meaningful and important for our country".

(Translated from French)