Film still from "Paweł Łoziński's "Chemo", 2009, Source: www.polishdocs.pl
With some 300 screenings of Polish documentaries throughout the past year - including 160 competition screenings, Polish documentaries were present at 140 international festivals. From Hot Docs in Toronto to the DOK Leipzig, the nation's documentary filmmakers received some 50 awards in total
Paweł Łoziński's Chemo brought in the most prizes, with 7 awards last year, including Grand Prix at the FID ADOC in Morocco, Best Director at the Anasy Documentary Awards in the United Arab Emirates, Feature Documentary Award the DOXA Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver and the Gold World Medal at the New York Documentary Festivals International Television & Film Awards. The director starts 2011 off with his new film Inventory at the main competition of the New York Jewish Film Festival (January 12-27, 2011).
Not far behind Łoziński's success with his heartfelt depiction of everyday life for chemotherapy patients at a Warsaw clinic was
Bartek Konopka's Oscar-nominated Rabbit à la Berlin, which took home the Special Jury Prize in the main competition at the Batumi International Art House Film Festival in Georgia and the second prize in the Short Film category at Dokumenta in Spain. Marta Minorowicz's Piece of Summer won the Golden Dove in the Short Documentary competition at DOK Leipzig in Germany and is currently in the running at the 2011 festival in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Paweł Ferdek's Glass Trap and Marcin Janos Krawczyk's Six Weeks also received considerable attention around the world in the past year.
Selected Highlights - Awards for Polish Documentaries in 2010
52 percent, dir. Rafał Skalski - DOXA Short Documentary Award at DOXA, Canada
Actors, dir. Tomasz Wolski - Best Documentary Film at FIKE - International Short Film Festival, Portugal
An American in the Communist Poland, dir. Piotr Morawski and Ryszard Kaczyński - Gold World Medal at the New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, USA and Hugo Television Award - Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International FF, USA
At the Edge of Russia, dir. Michał Marczak - Special Jury Mention at Flahertiana International Documentary FF, Russia and Silver Eye Award for the Best Feature-length Film at East Silver, Czech Republic
Kites, dir. Beata Dzianowicz - Silver Award at the Anasy Documentary Awards, United Arab Emirates
Mother, dir. Jakub Piątek - Grand Prize for the International Short Film Competition at Cinema Vérité Tehran International Documentary Film Festival, Iran; Best European Short Film at the FIKE International Short Film Festival, Portugal and Grand Prix at the Young Filmmakers Competition Section at the Batumi International Art House Film Festival in Georgia
North from Calabria, dir. Marcin Sauter - Trade Union ver.di award and Ecumenical Jury Award at DOK Leipzig, Germany
Out of reach, dir. Jakub Stożek- Złoty Smok at the Kraków Film Festival, Polandand Best Short Documentary at DOCSDF, Mexico
The Work of the Machines, dir. Michał Mądracki, Maciej Mądracki, Gilles Lepore - Grand Prix at FIDMarseille, France and Silver Eye Special Mention at East Silver, Czech Republic
Little Bride, dir. Lesław Dobrucki - Honourable Mention at Expresión En Corto International Film Festival - Speak Out Against Domestic Violence, Mexico and Second Prize at Vilnius Film Shorts, Lithuania
Charcoal Burners, dir. Piotr Złotorowicz - Grand Prix at the Short Film Festival of Dijon - Fenêtres sur courts, France; Best Documentary Film at IX Open St.Petersburg Student Film Festival Beginning, Russia and Best Short Film at the 24th Pärnu International Film Festival, Estonia
The Lucky Ones, dir. Tomasz Wolski - Grand Prix at Aye Aye Film Festival, France; Jury Special Mention at Palm Springs International ShortFest, USA; Honourary Mention at Kasseler Dok Fest, Germany and Best Documentary Short Film at Los Angeles FF, USA
Where the Sun Doesn't Rush, dir. Matej Bobrik - Best Documentary Film at Cortopotere Short Film Festival, Italy
For more information, see: www.polishdocs.pl
Source: www.polishdocs.pl