Poster for the International Istanbul Film Festival
Marking the beginning of long-term cultural cooperation between Poland and Turkey, Polish films take part in the 32nd Istanbul International Film Festival, and film-industry representatives share projects and ideas at Turkey Meets Poland.
Presenting films making the rounds of the world's important festivals, the From the World of Festivals section screens Małgorzata Szumowska's "up-to-date commentary about the present situation in the church". The protagonist of In the Name of... is a lonely homosexual priest from a small parish who launches a help centre for troubled youth. The good priest is well liked by the community, yet he keeps the details of his complicated past a secret.
"He is a man struggling with loneliness. The subject of the film is faith, doubt and the longing for feelings," director Szumowska said in an interview. When presented at the 63rd Berlinale, In the Name of... was chosen Best Feature Film 2013 in the Teddy Award category. At the Istanbul International Film Festival, Małgorzata Szumowska is a jury member for the international competition, headed by Peter Weir.
Also featured in the section is Andrzej Jakimowski's Imagine, a poetic story about a young blind man teaching blind children to walk without a cane. His unusual techniques cause a stir in the prestigious Lisbon institute where he works. In the film, love is portrayed as more than affectation, or simple infatuation - it is shown to arise when two people look at the world in the same way. Bartosz Staszczyszyn writes in an article for Culture.pl, "The film is also an invitation to the cinematic universe of Andrzej Jakimowski, one of the most unusual creators of Polish contemporary cinema".
Another festival section, Am I Not a Citizen? – Barbarism, Civic Awakening and the City, screens Hair, a film by Polish video artist and photographer Agnieszka Polska. In portraying the trip of two young people to India, the film refers to the Polish hippie movement of the 1970s. It makes a statement on the idea of revolution and bringing about change in the socio-political system. The artist asks, "What impact does the process of evolution have on an idea and what is the catalyst of such changes?" The film uses photo-collage techniques to create a symbolic narrative of her subject.
An industry meeting, Meetings on the Bridge, presents film projects and bring together producers, scriptwriters, directors and representatives of organisations devoted to film from Europe and Turkey. Representatives from Poland, Georgia and Armenia take part in the event. With workshops, meetings and discussions, Meetings on the Bridge secures links between the different countries' film producers. The 2013 edition of the event marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between Poland and Turkey, which includes an extensive programme of events through 2014.
While the Turkey Meets Poland panel discussion brings together producers and representatives of Polish film schools, the "happy hours" meeting with representatives of the Polish cinema is an off-the-record occasion to ask questions, discuss, and get a preview of the newest Polish films. The event is organised by Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the International Istanbul Film Festival and the Polish Film Institute and takes place on the 8th of April.
For more information on the festival see: IKSV
Sources: article by BS for culture.pl
Translated and edited by: MJ, 05.04.2013