Jezry Skolimowski with his 2011 Orły Lifetime Achievement Award, photo by Piotr Wygoda/East News
"Essential Killing", directed by Jerzy Skolimowski and starring Vincent Gallo, took home four statuettes, including Best Film, at the 2011 Orły Awards last night
Actors Urszula Grabowska (Joanna) and Robert Więckiewicz (Różyczka" / "Little Rose) were singled out in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories. Director and producer Tadeusz Chmielewski was awarded the Orzeł Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski. Minister Zdrojewski made jocular references to some of Chmielewski's past films, wondering "whether one can give such an important award to Tadeusz Chmielewski on a Monday as he 'Doesn't Like Mondays'".
Jerzy Skolimowski's Essential Killing was the star of the night, taking home the prize in four categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Music (
Paweł Mykietyn) and Editing (Rek Lemheny and Maciej Pawliński). The film enjoyed its first taste of distinction at last year's festival in Venice.
Jan Jakub Kolski's Wenecja" / "Venice also won prizes in four categories: Cinematography, Scenography, Costumes and Sound. Wszystko co kocham" / "All that I Love won for Screenplay, along with a Discovery of the Year award for its director
Mateusz Kościukiewicz and the audience prize.
Urszula Grabowska took home the prize for Best actress for her role in
Joanna, while her co-star
Stanisława Celińska won Best Supporting Actress. Robert Więckiewicz won for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Różyczka" / "Little Rose and Adam Woronowicz won Best Supporting Actor for Chrzest" / "The Christening.
The Academy named
Roman Polański's Ghost Writer as Best European Film.
Poland's annual Orły (Eagle) Film Awards are hosted by the Polish Film Academy, chaired by director
Agnieszka Holland. This prestigious event is comparable to Hollywood's Oscars and the U.K.'s BAFTAs. 32 of the best films of 2010 competed in the 13th edition of the competition.
For a full list of this year's winners, see:
www.pnf.plFor all of this year's nominees, see:
2011 Orły NomineesSource: Gazeta.pl, Polish Film Academy