POLISH FILMS COMPETITION 2015 LINE-UP!

Thursday October 15th, 2015

We announce the line-up of the Polish Films Competition of the 23^rd edition of the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE.

Chemo

The 30-year-old Benek is experiencing a serious life crisis and having suicidal thoughts. He believes that he is unable to love and become emotionally attached to another person. He realizes that he is mistaken when he meets Lena, with whom he falls madly in love. Surprisingly, the girl accepts his self-destructive tendencies, and even suggests that they live several crazy weeks together to the fullest, and then leave this world forever. However, it turns out that there is another deadly danger they will have to face.

Polish title: Chemia
Director: Bartosz Prokopowicz
Cinematographer: Jeremiasz Prokopowicz

Produced by: Filmokracja
Polish distributor: Vue Movie Distribution

Demon

Piotr comes from England to Poland to marry the beautiful Żaneta. He wants to move in with her to the house offered to them by his future father-in-law. However, on the day before the wedding he makes a gruesome discovery. When the reception begins, the guests—including Piotr’s brother—notice something disturbing about the groom. In his last film, director Marcin Wrona, who died tragically this September, combines the wedding theme, which is traditional in Polish culture, with metaphysics and mysticism.

Polish title: Demon
Director: Marcin Wrona
Cinematographer: Paweł Flis

Produced by: Magnet Man Film
Polish distributor: Kino Świat Sp. z o. o.

Here After, The

When John returns home to his father after serving time in prison, he is looking forward to starting his life afresh. However, in the local community, his crime is neither forgotten nor forgiven. John’s presence brings out the worst in everyone around him and a lynch-mob atmosphere slowly takes shape. Feeling abandoned by his former friends and the people he loves, John loses hope and the same aggressions that previously sent him to prison start building up again. Unable to leave the past behind, he decides to confront it.

Polish title: Intruz
Director: Magnus von Horn
Cinematographer: Łukasz Żal

Produced by: Lava Films, Zentropa International Sweden, Cinema Defacto
Polish distributor: Gutek Film

Influenz

The First World War is coming to an end. In Poznań, where the only successful revolt in the history of Poland breaks out—the Greater Poland Uprising—a group of telepaths is fighting to help Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The great Polish pianist and patriot is being attacked by a dangerous psychic working for the Prussian army—doctor Abuse. This costume film does not provide an accurate reconstruction of historical events, but it combines facts with fiction, and spiritualistic themes with melodrama and a baroque vision of the bohemian lifestyle.

Polish title: Hiszpanka
Director: Łukasz Barczyk
Cinematographer: Karina Kleszczewska

Produced by: Studio Filmowe Kadr
Polish distributor: Vue Movie Distribution

Karbala

In April 2004 during the Iraq War, Shias supported by jihadists attacked the City Hall in the Iraqi city of Karbala—the seat of the local authorities that were loyal to the stabilization force. Following American commands, Polish and Bulgarian troops joined the fight to defend the building. It was the largest battle that Polish soldiers had participated in since the Second World War. This intense, gritty film brings back those four days of hell and heroism, but is not limited to military art: it also gives us some psychological portraits, especially of the Polish captain who was the leader of the defending forces.

Polish title: Karbala
Director: Krzysztof Łukaszewicz
Cinematographer: Arkadiusz Tomiak

Produced by: Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych
Polish distributor: Next Film

Summer Solstice

Romek and Guido, both 17, have their whole lives ahead of them. Their dreams are no different than what most teenagers dream of: they want to dance, listen to the music, and date girls. If not for their respective circumstances, they could have been best friends. Unfortunately, they met in the middle of German-occupied Poland in 1943. Romek tries to help his single mother by working as an assistant rail engine operator. Guido serves in a German unit that oversees the Polish village in which Romek lives. One day, the cruel reality of what seemed so far away from their peaceful countryside, bursts brutally into their lives - a situation that will force each of them to make a difficult and life-altering choice.

Polish title: Letnie przesilenie
Director: Michał Rogalski
Cinematographer: Jerzy Zieliński

Produced by: Prasa i Film, Sunday Filmproduktion
Polish distributor: Kino Świat Sp. z o. o.

Walpurgis Night

Switzerland, 1969. It is no coincidence that the action takes place on the night of 30 April—Walpurgis Night, the night of the dead and evil spirits in Germanic folklore. At the opera, Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot is coming to an end. An aging, exalted opera diva, Nora Sedler, is giving an interview to a young journalist, Robert. Their conversation turns into a game which borders on perversion and reaches deeper and deeper into the past—to the times of Nazism and the Holocaust. An adaptation of a monodrama written for two characters.

Polish title: Noc Walpurgi
Director: Marcin Bortkiewicz
Cinematographer: Andrzej Wojciechowski

Produced by: PS Film
Polish distributor: Aurora Films