Łukasz Ostalski
Born in 1980 in Gdańsk, Ostalski is a director, screenwriter, awarded photographer (among others, he worked for the photo agency Reporter in Trójmiasto), graduate in political science from University of Gdańsk, and a former student of Film School in Gdynia. His previous work, the short film Matka was awarded at numerous festivals, including Kiev, Valencia, and Madrid. Ostalski is also the laureate of the Janusz ‘Kuba’ Morgenstern Perspektywa Award.
Elżbieta Benkowska
Graduate from Faculty of Directing at Gdynia Film School and Institute of Slavic Studies at University of Gdańsk. Her graduation work, Olena, has been the first Polish film in history to be qualified to short film competition at the 66th edition of Cannes festival.
Michał Wawrzecki
Wawrzecki is a film and theatre director, screenwriter, author of short fiction and documentary film, graduate of the Faculty of Radio and Television (directing and film and television production) at University of Silesia in Katowice and from Kraków Screenplay School.
Wiera was played by the transsexual Ukrainian actress Karina Minaeva. The novella she stars in was filmed in Warsaw. Minaeva emphasises that she’s been treated kindly in Poland. As she says:
I wasn’t expecting such a fine reception. … I’ve met fantastic people in Poland. Everybody was trying to help me and solve all my problems for me. They were constantly asking how I was, whether I’m not hungry, if I'd had dinner. I would like to thank all these people very much!
The New World has already been appreciated at Luxor Arabian & European Film Festival in Egypt, and will now take part in the competition at Montreal World Film Festival, one of the most important yearly cinema events. The 40th edition of the festival will last from August 25th till September 5th, 2016. The film was produced by Akson Studio.
Sources: PAP, written by AZ 08.08.2016, translated by NS August 2016.