Europe tunes into a wave of short films from Poland this month at the 3rd edition of the Short Waves festival. Dedicated to the best small-format pictures across genres, the event presents a broad survey of feature films and documentaries, animations, video art, ads and music videos - all no more than 30 minutes long - in 44 cities in Poland and Europe
The Short Waves 3rd Polish Short Film Festival presents eleven productions screened in over thirty cities in Poland, along with screenings in Berlin, Munich, Dublin, Porto, Žilina and London. All sorts of topics are explored, such as the seemingly everyday activity of shopping as in Galeria" / "The Gallery, directed by Robert Proch, to newcomers discovering the big city as in Poszukuję pewnej osoby" / "I'm looking for a certain person, directed by Janusz Kojro and a surreptitious peek into family affairs in Zmartwychwstanie" / "Resurrection, directed by Klara Kochańska, or at a provincial funeral as in Przez szybę" / "Through Glass, directed by Igor Chojna.
Other directors submerge their viewers in water as in Penne God - SzaZa, directed by Maciej Puczyński, Karolina Karwan, Paweł Szamburski, Patryk Zakrocki and Piotr Szamburski) or invite them to meet a unique house-keeping specialist (Luiza Hert, dir. Aga Woszczyńska). Mateusz Zdziebko's Sampled Room bring on an intriguing experiment with sound or a vision of cosmic blackness set to music by Royskopp in The Drug, directed by Mateusz Witkowski).
The festival is organised by the Ad Arte Foundation from Poznań, which bcomes the Capital of Polish Short Film for three Festival weeks. The review is aimed at exhibiting the latest works of innovative artists to distributors in Poland and abroad. Viewers in all participating cities have an opportunity to vote for best film, the winner of the main prize will be awarded 2,500 Euro. This year the Professional Jury of the Festival presents an additional award of 2,500 Euro, the Short Waves Pro Award. Audiences in all participating cities will vote for the best film.
Programme:
The Gallery dir. Robert Proch, 5 min, ASP Poznań, 2010
A dynamic film, opposing commercialism and consumerism alike. Weekend shoppers lost in a gigantic shopping mall.
I'm looking for a certain person dir. Janusz Kojro, 4 min, Towarzystwo Inicjatyw Twórczych "Ę", 2010
How does one find love in a big city? Dating service may be helpful... Several people of various ages share their missed opportunities for "something special"...
Resurrection dir. Klara Kochańska, 20 min, PWSFTviT 2011
A drama which explores human psyche set during the Easter period. Tense, almost Chekhovian atmosphere.
Lifeshapes dir. Norman Leto, 15 min, 2010
A cinematic riddle. Amongst shapes resembling anything from Alien monster to hot wax poured in water - a story of complicated human fates.
Penne God – SzaZa reż. Maciej Puczyński, Karolina Karwan, Paweł Szamburski, Patryk Zakrocki, Piotr Szamburski, 5 min, 2009
True underwater, slow-motion magic. This music video is a beautiful, flooded vision presented along with gorgeous, somber music made by Sza/Za.
Luiza Hert dir. Aga Woszczynska / 9' / PWSFTviT / 2011
Talent can be found in the least expected places... A backstage look at a theatre, a portrait of the extraordinary Luiza Hert.
Sampled Room dir. Mateusz Zdziebko / 2' / 2011
A story of the discreet relationship between sound and instrument.
Dracula dir. Piotr Bosacki, 10 min, 2010
An attack on narration and form: a clash of history, reason and perception. A process of thought formation, a cognitive path through a human body and mind, aided with minimalist animation.
Weight dir. Anna Turowska, 1 min, 2011
An animation with a message. A windmill versus rapid developments.
Through glass dir. Igor Chojna, 14 min, PWSFTviT 2009
Sausages, alcohol and disco-polo music. A trip to the polish countryside. A youth attends his aunt's funeral, and not only gets involved in the last rites, but also in flirtation.
The Drug dir. Mateusz Witkowski, 5 min, 2011
Space pulsating with soothing rhythms. Deep black starry sky, illuminated with mysterious, fluorescent shapes. Prize-winner of the contest for Royksopp's video.
More information can be found at: www.shortwaves.pl
Source: press release