The United States of Love also received an award for best costume design, which was handed to Monika Kaletka. The best editing prize was given to Beata Walentowska, who was responsible for the film's great rhythm.
Hatred – best cinematography, make up, and acting debut
Piotr Sobociński Jr., received the award for best cinematography for his work on Hatred, which wasn’t unexpected, due to how well his excellent visuals introduced audiences to the monumental yet intimate story of the Volhynian hell.
But the list of awards which Wojtek Smarzowski's film received continues with the award for best make-up, which was deservedly conferred to Ewa Drobiec for the realistic look of the gory drama.
Michalina Łabacz, a student of the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw, won the debut acting award for his first professional role, as a protagonist fleeing the Volhynian massacre.
The Happiness of the World with best music and set design
The Motion Trio – Janusz Wojtarowicz, Paweł Baranek, and Marcin Gałażyn – won the award for best music for their work on The Happiness of the World directed by Michał Rosa, which tells the story of residents of a Silesian town-house who are witnesses to history.
Michał Rosa’s film also received the award for best set design, given to Andrzej Kowalczyk, thanks to whom the story of pre-war Silesia came alive.
Playground, the best debut
Bartosz M. Kowalski received the directorial debut award for Playground, the story of three 12-year-olds and their last days of primary school. This brutal picture divided Gdynia’s audience, part of which considered this movie to be cynical and meaninglessly violent. Kowalski’s film also received the Don Kichot award from by the Polish Federation of Film Societies.
The High Frontier & The Red Spider
The award for best sound went to Marcin Kasiński and Kacper Habisiak, who were responsible for the audio of The High Frontier, a dark story about two boys who travel with their father to the Bieszczady Mountains to experience a tough adventure, directed by Wojciech Kasperski.
The jury appreciated The Red Spider, a tale about a serial murderer threatening Kraków in the 1960s, with a special award for bravery in crossing film genres. The award was handed to Marcin Koszałek, its director.
Karolina Breguła & Piotr Dumała win The Vision Apart Competition
The Visions Apart Competition took place for the third time during the Gdynia Film Festival. The jury of this year's edition consisted of Monika Strzępka (as president), Elżbieta Benkowska, and Marcin Bortkiewicz. Karolina Breguła won the Golden Claw award for Office For Monument Construction, the story of an eccentric sixty-year-old woman obsessed with collecting teeth, and Piotr Dumała, for Ederly, a fantastically acted black comedy whose story takes place in a Polish province somewhere out of time. Marta Minorowicz’s Zud also received an honourable mentioned.
This year, Janusz Majewski, director, scriptwriter, dramatist, lecturer, and author of many films such as Zaklęte Rewiry (Enchanted Districts) and Eccentrics, or The Sunny Side of The Street, received the Platinum Lions award for lifetime achievement.
Full list of award-winners:
Grand Prix Golden Lions – The Last Family directed by Jan P. Matuszyński, produced by Leszek Bodzak and Aneta Hickinbotham.
Silver Lions – I Am a Killer directed by Maciej Pieprzyca produced by Renata Czarnkowska-Listoś and Maria Golos.
Special Jury Award – Red Spider, directed by Marcin Koszałka.
Best Director – Tomasz Wasilewski for United States of Love.
Best Script – Maciej Pieprzyca for I Am a Killer.
Best Directorial Debut – Bartosz M. Kowalski for Playground.
Best Cinematography – Peter Sobociński Jr. for Hatred / Volyhnia.
Best Music – Motion Trio (Janusz Wojtarowicz, Paweł Baranek, Marcin Gałażyn) for The Happiness of the World.
Best Production Design – Tomasz Bartczak, Andrzej Kowalczyk for The Happiness of the World.
Best Sound – Marcin Kasiński, Kacper Habisiak for The High Frontier.
Best Editing – Beata Walentowska for United States of Love.
Best Makeup – Ewa Drobiec for Hatred / Volyhnia.
Best Costumes – Monika Kaleta for United States of Love.
Best Acting Debut – Michalina Łabacz for in Hatred / Volyhnia.
Best Supporting Actress – Dorota Kolak for United States of Love.
Best Supporting Actor – Lukasz Simlat for United States of Love.
Best Actress – Aleksandra Konieczna for The Last Family.
Best Actor – Andrzej Seweryn for The Last Family.
The non-competition Special Jury Prize: Andrzej Wajda for Afterimages.
Visions Apart Competition:
Special Distinction – Zud directed by Marta Minorowicz.
Golden Claw Award – Office for Monument Construction, directed by Karolina Breguła and Ederly, directed by Peter Dumała.
Audience Award – The Last Family directed by Jan P. Matuszyński.
Platinum Lion for Lifetime Achievement – Janusz Majewski.