A scene from Wojciech Staron's documentary film "Argentinean Lesson"
The 54th International Festival for Documentary and Animated Film DOK Leipizig 2010 ended on the 23rd of October. Once again from the Polish productions presented at the festival, two received major awards
The DOK Leipzig is one of the oldest and most important festivals of documentary and animation, this year the jury awarded two Polish documentary filmmakers; the festival’s Silver Dove award in the International Competition for Documentary Film went to Wojciech Staroń for his film "Argentyńska lekcja" / "Argentinean Lesson" and Pawel Kloc was honoured with a Honorary Mention for "Extraordinary Documentary Film Talent" for his film "Phnom Penh Lullaby".
"Argentinean Lesson" is a story about the filmmaker's seven-year-old son, Janek, who together with his parents journeys to Argentina. He becomes acclimated to his new homeand develops a friendship with a young girl that is both joyous and sorrowful. The film skillfully pushes the boundaries between fiction and documentary. Through hisArgentinean friend, Janek enters a fascinating world of fun and at the same time he discovers the unknown bitter taste of childhood.
In "Lullaby of Phnom Phen", Pawel Kloc forms an intimate story of a man looking for love and acceptance. Ilan Schickman left Israel, dreaming of a new life. Now living in Phnom Penh in Cambodia with a girl named Saran and her daughters, Marie and six-month-year Jasmine. Trying to make ends meet by working as a street fortune-teller. This intense film accompanies an unequal couple on the fringe of Cambodia's society in a striking and feverishly nervous way. It offers a few certainties only, but rather guides us in an area of a mysterious foreboding.
In addition to Wojciech Staroń and Pawel Kloc's documentaries, Marta Minorowicz's film "Decrescendo" premiered at the festival and competed in the International Competition of Short and Documentary Film category. More Polish docs were featured in the out-of-competition programme, such as "Last Day of Summer" (2010) by Piotr Stasik and "We Will Be Happy One Day" (2011) by Pawel Wysoczański.
For more information on the festival and films see: www.dok-leipzig.de.
Source: www.polishdocs.pl