Warsaw Film Festival sets out to spotlight a slew of new local releases, from “Anxiety” by Sławomir Fabicki – Oscar-nominated for his short “A Man Thing” – to this year’s opener “Song of Goats” by Andrzej Jakimowski.
The latter, featuring “Eo” star Mateusz Kościukiewicz and set in Greece, will show characters living close to an active volcano, exploring the question of how “each of us is responsible for maintaining our fragile heritage,” says the director.
“We are witnessing a war in a neighboring country [Ukraine], threats from a barbarian empire and rapidly growing populism that is devastating politics. It’s a dreadfully worrying mixture.”
As Poland braces for parliamentary elections on Oct. 15 and the controversy over Agnieszka Holland’s “Green Border” refuses to die down, emotions run high.
“What happened went beyond the accepted framework. There was no shortage of absurdity, like the attempt to force cinema managers to screen propaganda material before the film,...
The latter, featuring “Eo” star Mateusz Kościukiewicz and set in Greece, will show characters living close to an active volcano, exploring the question of how “each of us is responsible for maintaining our fragile heritage,” says the director.
“We are witnessing a war in a neighboring country [Ukraine], threats from a barbarian empire and rapidly growing populism that is devastating politics. It’s a dreadfully worrying mixture.”
As Poland braces for parliamentary elections on Oct. 15 and the controversy over Agnieszka Holland’s “Green Border” refuses to die down, emotions run high.
“What happened went beyond the accepted framework. There was no shortage of absurdity, like the attempt to force cinema managers to screen propaganda material before the film,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of its 39th edition, Poland’s Warsaw Film Festival is betting on timely topics.
“The role of filmmakers, and artists in general, is to react,” says festival director Stefan Laudyn.
“For years, we have been showing films that criticize the situation in various countries, not just in Poland. We try to avoid puff pieces.”
While there is space for “lighter topics” as well, supporting Ukraine – and Ukrainian filmmakers – remains one of the priorities.
“We initiated the first solidarity action with Ukraine back in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, we also supported Oleg Sentsov. Last year, we featured the entire Ukrainian competition from Odesa International Film Festival, which couldn’t take place due to the war.”
This year, eight Ukrainian productions and co-productions will be shown at the fest. Including “Diagnosis: Dissent” by Denys Tarasov, about punitive psychiatry used by the Kgb, and Taras Dron’s “The Glass House,” where...
“The role of filmmakers, and artists in general, is to react,” says festival director Stefan Laudyn.
“For years, we have been showing films that criticize the situation in various countries, not just in Poland. We try to avoid puff pieces.”
While there is space for “lighter topics” as well, supporting Ukraine – and Ukrainian filmmakers – remains one of the priorities.
“We initiated the first solidarity action with Ukraine back in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, we also supported Oleg Sentsov. Last year, we featured the entire Ukrainian competition from Odesa International Film Festival, which couldn’t take place due to the war.”
This year, eight Ukrainian productions and co-productions will be shown at the fest. Including “Diagnosis: Dissent” by Denys Tarasov, about punitive psychiatry used by the Kgb, and Taras Dron’s “The Glass House,” where...
- 10/5/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Polish film industry is embracing variety and high-profile international collaborations, with a slew of new co-productions already generating buzz among buyers and festival programmers. “More and more established filmmakers, who used to look for collaborators in Romania or Hungary, are now coming to Poland — mostly because we are backed by concrete institutions and because there is money,” says producer Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska of Madants, heading to Berlinale’s European Film Market with “Ultima Thule” and Goran Stolevski’s “Housekeeping for Beginners.”
“Our crews speak English and work abroad. We are visible internationally,” she adds.
Madants is also behind James Napier Robertson’s upcoming Polish-Kiwi title “Joika,” one of six international co-productions backed by the Polish Film Institute in 2022. The shingle’s slate includes Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert’s “Let Me Out” and Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s follow-up to “The Silent Twins,” “Hot Spot.”
“Foreign producers and buyers are actively looking...
“Our crews speak English and work abroad. We are visible internationally,” she adds.
Madants is also behind James Napier Robertson’s upcoming Polish-Kiwi title “Joika,” one of six international co-productions backed by the Polish Film Institute in 2022. The shingle’s slate includes Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert’s “Let Me Out” and Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s follow-up to “The Silent Twins,” “Hot Spot.”
“Foreign producers and buyers are actively looking...
- 2/19/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Ganzorig Vanchig is a first time producer and the founder and chairperson of the Mongolian Down Syndrome Association. “Trio” is his first job as a producer.
On the occasion of “Trio” screening at Warsaw Film Festival, we speak with him about producing for the first time, the combination of themes on Down Syndrome and the disappearing ancient Mongolian rituals, Mongolian cinema and many other topics.
Trio screened at Warsaw Film Festival
Since this is your first time producing a film, could you tell me how you got involved?
I am the founder and chairperson of the Mongolian Down Syndrome Association, because I have such a son, who is now 20 years old. So you can imagine that 20 years ago, nobody knew anything about the syndrome, there was no professional health service, no specialists etc. Then I realized that I should not rely on the government or someone else, but I had...
On the occasion of “Trio” screening at Warsaw Film Festival, we speak with him about producing for the first time, the combination of themes on Down Syndrome and the disappearing ancient Mongolian rituals, Mongolian cinema and many other topics.
Trio screened at Warsaw Film Festival
Since this is your first time producing a film, could you tell me how you got involved?
I am the founder and chairperson of the Mongolian Down Syndrome Association, because I have such a son, who is now 20 years old. So you can imagine that 20 years ago, nobody knew anything about the syndrome, there was no professional health service, no specialists etc. Then I realized that I should not rely on the government or someone else, but I had...
- 11/7/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Festival organisers paid tribute to Ukrainian filmmakers at the awards ceremony.
Bartosz Blaschke’s Sonata has been named best film at Sofia International Film Festival, which is staging its first full in-person edition since the start of the pandemic.
The Polish filmmaker’s debut feature picked up the Sofia City of Film Grand Prix as well as the audience award at a ceremony in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday (March 19). The drama is based on the true story of musician Grzegorz Plonka, who was initially diagnosed as autistic before it is discovered he had acute hearing loss.
The feature received...
Bartosz Blaschke’s Sonata has been named best film at Sofia International Film Festival, which is staging its first full in-person edition since the start of the pandemic.
The Polish filmmaker’s debut feature picked up the Sofia City of Film Grand Prix as well as the audience award at a ceremony in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday (March 19). The drama is based on the true story of musician Grzegorz Plonka, who was initially diagnosed as autistic before it is discovered he had acute hearing loss.
The feature received...
- 3/21/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
As writer Jakub Żulczyk faces charges for calling Poland president Andrzej Duda a “moron” on Facebook, and online event “Herstories for Women’s Day” is suddenly pulled, Polish leadership is raising eyebrows, with their actions perceived by some as a sign of the country’s further shift towards authoritarianism.
“The loop is tightening, especially since their ass is on fire,” notes director Agnieszka Holland, an outspoken critic of Poland’s right-wing government.
“This [situation] will not result in liberalization — quite the opposite,” warns the helmer, whose “Charlatan” was recently shortlisted for the best international feature film Oscar.
Poland’s controversial stance on women’s reproductive rights saw nationwide protests last October in the wake of a constitutional court ruling that deemed a law allowing the abortion of deformed fetuses, even with life-threatening defects, to be “unconstitutional.” Now, some fear the country’s politics may be directly impacting its arts landscape, with a celebratory virtual event canceled,...
“The loop is tightening, especially since their ass is on fire,” notes director Agnieszka Holland, an outspoken critic of Poland’s right-wing government.
“This [situation] will not result in liberalization — quite the opposite,” warns the helmer, whose “Charlatan” was recently shortlisted for the best international feature film Oscar.
Poland’s controversial stance on women’s reproductive rights saw nationwide protests last October in the wake of a constitutional court ruling that deemed a law allowing the abortion of deformed fetuses, even with life-threatening defects, to be “unconstitutional.” Now, some fear the country’s politics may be directly impacting its arts landscape, with a celebratory virtual event canceled,...
- 3/28/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Polish gathering came to a successful close amidst intensifying Covid-19 restrictions, with Farkhat Sharipov's Kazakh film coming out on top. “I just realised that we had a red zone for dozens of years, between 1944 and 1989, and somehow we made it through,” said Stefan Laudyn, director of the Warsaw Film Festival, in a pre-awards video broadcast on Facebook. Laudyn was alluding to both the communist regime that held Poland in its grip and the current Covid-19 restrictions. The so-called red zone was introduced in Warsaw on the day the festival commenced, meaning that only 25% of the seats could be occupied. The gathering had chosen to hold a physical edition this year, with a rich programme and a limited number of foreign guests. The event welcomed nine international juries and organised five competitive sections. The...
- 10/19/2020
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
The debut of Russian rock ’n’ roll saga “Tsoi,” based on the life of the iconic rebel singer-songwriter Viktor Tsoi, who died in 1990, has triggered a rights dispute with the performer’s heirs over the use of his name and image.
The Warsaw Film Festival is scheduled to screen “Tsoi” in its international competition on Oct. 15, but Sophia Mikulinski, who represents the heirs and family of Viktor Tsoi, says a screening would be in “direct violation of the [copyright] law applicable on the territory of the European Union.”
An Oct. 1 letter seen by Variety, addressed to the Warsaw Film Festival from Alexander Tsoi, the rock star’s son and heir, demanded that the fest cancel its screening, stating the film was “created without obtaining legally binding consents to use the name and image of the famous musician.”
Warsaw plans to screen the film regardless of the dispute, says fest director Stefan Laudyn.
The Warsaw Film Festival is scheduled to screen “Tsoi” in its international competition on Oct. 15, but Sophia Mikulinski, who represents the heirs and family of Viktor Tsoi, says a screening would be in “direct violation of the [copyright] law applicable on the territory of the European Union.”
An Oct. 1 letter seen by Variety, addressed to the Warsaw Film Festival from Alexander Tsoi, the rock star’s son and heir, demanded that the fest cancel its screening, stating the film was “created without obtaining legally binding consents to use the name and image of the famous musician.”
Warsaw plans to screen the film regardless of the dispute, says fest director Stefan Laudyn.
- 10/9/2020
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Radoslaw Śmigulski(left), general director of the Polish Film Institute, hosted Friday’s Polish Party at Plage du Goéland in Cannes, where the guests included Marche du Film director Jérôme Paillard.
“It was a pleasure to host great filmmakers and film industry representatives at the Polish Party in Cannes, which was one of the many events promoting the talents, locations and the funding possibilities in Poland, including the 30% cash rebate,” said the Pfi’s Smigulski.
Among those in attendance were Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian, Locarno Film Festival programming head Mark Peranson, and Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival program coordinator Anna Purkrabkova, programmer Martin Horyna, and programmer Lenka Tyrpakova.
“There is a lot of interest in Polish cinema right now,” said producer Klaudia Smieja of Madants, gesturing around the packed terrace where guests huddled, danced and downed Polish vodka to stay warm on a cold, soggy night.
Smieja, who produced...
“It was a pleasure to host great filmmakers and film industry representatives at the Polish Party in Cannes, which was one of the many events promoting the talents, locations and the funding possibilities in Poland, including the 30% cash rebate,” said the Pfi’s Smigulski.
Among those in attendance were Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian, Locarno Film Festival programming head Mark Peranson, and Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival program coordinator Anna Purkrabkova, programmer Martin Horyna, and programmer Lenka Tyrpakova.
“There is a lot of interest in Polish cinema right now,” said producer Klaudia Smieja of Madants, gesturing around the packed terrace where guests huddled, danced and downed Polish vodka to stay warm on a cold, soggy night.
Smieja, who produced...
- 5/18/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
More than 30 film projects in development set to be presented at the Bogota Audiovisual Market (Bam).Scroll down for full list of projects
Peter Webber’s $2m docu-drama One River (El Rio) and Miguel Urrutia’s English-language thriller Madness are among 33 film projects in development being presented this week at Bam (July 13-17).
Colombia’s biggest film market also features 18 screenings of films in an advanced state of development, alongside the regular Bam Projects category.
Webber (The Girl With The Pearl Earring) attended Bam last year to promote his pickpocket drama Fresh and returns this year with One River.
The project is based on an international best-selling book by Canadian Wade Davis, charting Professor Richard Schultes’ journey through the Amazon in the 1940s and the author’s own travels into the same jungle 30 years later, living among the Indian tribes and searching for the origins of coca, the notorious source of cocaine.
Currently in development...
Peter Webber’s $2m docu-drama One River (El Rio) and Miguel Urrutia’s English-language thriller Madness are among 33 film projects in development being presented this week at Bam (July 13-17).
Colombia’s biggest film market also features 18 screenings of films in an advanced state of development, alongside the regular Bam Projects category.
Webber (The Girl With The Pearl Earring) attended Bam last year to promote his pickpocket drama Fresh and returns this year with One River.
The project is based on an international best-selling book by Canadian Wade Davis, charting Professor Richard Schultes’ journey through the Amazon in the 1940s and the author’s own travels into the same jungle 30 years later, living among the Indian tribes and searching for the origins of coca, the notorious source of cocaine.
Currently in development...
- 7/14/2015
- by chrisevans78@hotmail.co.uk (Chris Evans)
- ScreenDaily
The Girl With A Pearl Earring director’s $2m docu-drama One River (El Rio) and Miguel Urrutia’s English-language thriller Madness are among 32 projects in development being presented at the Bogota Audiovisual market (Bam).
Colombia’s biggest film market takes place all this week (July 13 -17), and also features 18 screenings of films in an advanced state of development, alongside the regular Bam Projects category.
Webber attended Bam last year to promote his pickpocket drama Fresh and returns this year with One River.
The project is based on an international best-selling book by Canadian Wade Davis, charting Professor Richard Schultes’ journey through the Amazon in the 1940s and the author’s own travels into the same jungle 30 years later, living among the Indian tribes and searching for the origins of coca, the notorious source of cocaine.
Currently in development, the project is being produced by Colombian outfit 4 Direcciones in partnership with Canada’s Pimiento Films. They have secured...
Colombia’s biggest film market takes place all this week (July 13 -17), and also features 18 screenings of films in an advanced state of development, alongside the regular Bam Projects category.
Webber attended Bam last year to promote his pickpocket drama Fresh and returns this year with One River.
The project is based on an international best-selling book by Canadian Wade Davis, charting Professor Richard Schultes’ journey through the Amazon in the 1940s and the author’s own travels into the same jungle 30 years later, living among the Indian tribes and searching for the origins of coca, the notorious source of cocaine.
Currently in development, the project is being produced by Colombian outfit 4 Direcciones in partnership with Canada’s Pimiento Films. They have secured...
- 7/13/2015
- by chrisevans78@hotmail.co.uk (Chris Evans)
- ScreenDaily
Moscow -- The 26th edition of the Warsaw International Film Festival, which kicks off on Oct. 8, is going to show how the organizers are dealing with the fest's increased international status.
"Last year, the Warsaw International Film Festival became part of the Fiapf list of "international competitive non-specialized festivals", which brought about serious consequences," Stefan Laudyn, the fest's director, told The Hollywood Reporter. "This year, we received a record number of submissions and a couple of dozen collaboration offers from various companies."
According to Laudyn, the festival's motto remains unchanged: "Films about the people for the people." More than 130 films, divided into several sections, such as international competition, Free Spirit competition, documentary and short competitions, are to be screened at this year's event.
Among the highlights of this year's program are movies of different genres, from historical dramas, like "The Edge" by Russian director Alexei Uchitel or the Czech movie...
"Last year, the Warsaw International Film Festival became part of the Fiapf list of "international competitive non-specialized festivals", which brought about serious consequences," Stefan Laudyn, the fest's director, told The Hollywood Reporter. "This year, we received a record number of submissions and a couple of dozen collaboration offers from various companies."
According to Laudyn, the festival's motto remains unchanged: "Films about the people for the people." More than 130 films, divided into several sections, such as international competition, Free Spirit competition, documentary and short competitions, are to be screened at this year's event.
Among the highlights of this year's program are movies of different genres, from historical dramas, like "The Edge" by Russian director Alexei Uchitel or the Czech movie...
- 10/7/2010
- by By Vladimir Kozlov
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.