EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2020 MAIN COMPETITION LINE-UP!

Friday October 23rd, 2020

The Main Competition with the Golden Frog Award has been the most important part of the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Festival from its beginning. The Competition exists since 1993 i.e. since the first edition of the Festival. From the very beginning the idea behind the competition is to present the feature films where the image significantly contributes to the way a story is told. The visual value of these films results from the cooperation between a director and a cinematographer and the unusual sensitivity of the author of a film image. The Main Competition emphasizes the enormous contribution of the cinematographer to the film work.

The aim of the Main Competition is to present films with unique visual appeal which will then be evaluated by International Jury who will choose and award the authors of the best cinematography.

Also this year we will present the most interesting phenomena of world's cinematography, distinctive in terms of creative use of the image in film narration.

AMMONITE

FILM UNAVAILABLE ONLINE

Mary should have been a distinguished paleontologist, as her findings are being exhibited in such renown institutions as, for example, the British Museum in London, but being a woman-scientist is not socially accepted in Victorian England. Mary lives with her mother in a small coastal town and instead of doing what she loves and is wonderful at, she works as a shopkeeper and sells souvenirs. When Charlotte enters her world, it does not seem Mary’s frustrated life of an unfulfilled intellectual will changed. Quite the contrary, the young lady is deceitfully left in her care, as Charlotte’s husband, an elitist British scientist, pretends to be interested in Mary’s findings only to pay her to oversee his “melancholic” wife while he goes on a journey to brag about his knowledge and experiences. The two women who have nothing in common need to stay under one roof and pretend everything is fine and lovely. And they do, until one day something happens that makes them seek forbidden love that will make each of them revalue everything they thought and stood for.

Polish title: Amonit
Director: Francis Lee
Cinematographer: Stéphane Fontaine
Produced by: BBC Films, British Film Institute (BFI), Cross City Films, See-Saw Films Ltd, Stage 6 Films
Polish distributor: UIP Polska
Country and year: UK, Australia, USA, 2020

BANKER, THE

This is not a bank heist movie. Though, truth be told, there is quite a number of banks presented on screen, and one of them becomes an important part of a very complicated scheme. It all begins when two innovative Afro-American entrepreneurs, Garrett and Joe, decide to make a splash on the real-estate market of the City of Angels. The problem is, it’s 1950s and the systemic racism is big enough of an obstacle to suppress any black man’s dreams. That is why they find a cunning way to bypass it: his name is Matt, he is from a white working-class family, and he accepts the offer to learn how to walk, talk and think like a banker. With such a perfect cover, Garrett and Joe can infiltrate the world of promises that was previously opened only to white folks. Infiltrate literally, as our protagonists disguise themselves as chauffeurs or janitors, and gain invaluable knowledge about their enemies. For them, however, it is not only about making money, they feel a part of the civil rights movement that is changing the United States of America from within.

Director: George Nolfi
Cinematographer: Charlotte Bruus Christensen
Produced by: Apple
Country and year: USA, 2019

CAGED BIRDS

Switzerland avoided the trauma of the Second World War and nowadays is considered a country of civil liberties and rights with a sustainable economic government, but in the 1980s it was basically on the verge of social disrupt. People went to the streets to protest the systemic surveillance and fight for women’s voting rights, while lawyers struggled with an outdated penitentiary system. Barbara is one of the latter, she would like to use the prisoners’ increasing rights as a springboard to wider social reforms. When she meets the charismatic Walter, known as the “Jailbreak King,” she instantly sees a person who could serve as a symbol of the upcoming changes in the media. The problem is, the man perceives the world quite differently from her – he does not want anything to do with the privilege he was born into and when he escapes from prison he really is escaping from himself, his roots, his upbringing, and taking responsibility. For Walter, freedom is a state of mind, for Barbara – a socio-political dream.

Original title: Stürm: Bis wir tot sind oder frei
Director: Oliver Rihs
Cinematographer: Felix Von Muralt
Produced by: Contrast Film Zurich GmbH, Port au Prince Film & Kultur Produktion GmbH, Niama Film GmbH
Country and year: Switzerland,Germany, 2020

CHARLATAN

Czechoslovakian healer and herbalist Jan Mikolášek was a man of many secrets while his actions elicited a range of different reaction in 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. People from all social classes came to him looking for some remedies to their mental and physical problems. Almost everyone deeply believed that the cult healer would be able to make a diagnosis only by looking intensely at the colour and consistency of their urine samples. And, apparently, he was. Mikolášek was not fastidious, he treated both the poor and the rich, both Czechoslovakian citizens and Nazi or Communist high officials who occupied his beloved country. At some point, the healer became a celebrity-like figure, someone more recognisable than politicians or people from the entertainment industry, but he stepped on powerful people’s toes in the meantime. The film tells Mikolášek’s bittersweet story and depicts several decades of his life, presenting a man torn between using his skills to help people and succumbing to the desires he could not control.

Polish title: Szarlatan
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Cinematographer: Martin Štrba
Produced by: Furia Film, Madants, Marlene Film Production
Polish distributor: Gutek Film
Country and year: Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, Poland, 2020

FALLING

FILM UNAVAILABLE ONLINE

John’s childhood was dominated by him trying to earn the love of his tough-as-nails father, thus when he decided to escape from this life of constant emotional hardship, he became a different man. Now, he lives with his husband, Eric, and daughter, Monica, in a beautiful house, having built with their help exactly the world he had always wanted to grow up in. As fate has it, John’s father, Willis, an ardent homophobe, racist, and psychic vampire, develops dementia that makes him lose control over his mind and body. As a result, Willis leaves the family farm and moves to John’s house. The situation is awkward, to say the least, but Willis develops a strong bond with his granddaughter. And while Monica learns to see many sides of her vulgar grandpa, John realizes that he has never really stopped being a timid child desperately wanting his unresponsive father to love him. What changed is that with time he learned to love himself for who he was and who he became, as well as to derive strength from what he considered his flaws.

Polish title: Jeszcze jest czas
Director: Viggo Mortensen
Cinematographer: Marcel Zyskind
Produced by: Achille Productions, Beral Waley Productions, Ingenious Media, Perceval Pictures, Scynthia Films, Zephyr Films
Polish distributor: M2 Films
Country and year: Canada, UK 2020

GLORIAS, THE

Still from "The Glorias,"
photo by Dan McFadden
Courtesy of LD Entertainmet and Roadside Attractions

FILM UNAVAILABLE ONLINE

At the turn of the 19th and the 20th century, the first-wave feminism swept the world with women fighting desperately for their rights and against the centuries-long patriarchal terror. This was only the first step on a long and bumpy road to changes. Decades later, in 1960s, another wave of feminism spilled over America and Europe, led by women who were disappointed with the lack of change despite over fifty years that had passed since the initial revolution. Inspired by the successes of the civil rights movement, they were able to make the world listen, finally. One of the leaders, as well as a spokeswoman, of this second wave was Gloria Steinem, a traveller, journalist, and writer. The film tells the story of the most important periods of her life – from her formative years and her trips to Europe and India to fighting to be heard in the male-centric world of the 1960s journalism – and presents a fascinating portrait of a fearless woman who became a recognized symbol of social and political change.

Director: Julie Taymor
Cinematographer: Rodrigo Prieto
Produced by: Artemis Rising Foundation, Page Fifty-Four Pictures, The Glorias
Polish distributor: UIP Polska
Country and year: USA, 2020

HELENE

Finland, 1915. While almost all Europe burns bright as a result of the Great War, once-promising painter Helene Schjerfbeck lives somewhere in the countryside, forgotten by basically everyone who had ever heard of her. She lives with her mother, but feels increasingly lonely in her narrow world. Many years have passed since the last exhibition of her works, therefore she lost any hope that her skills will ever be appreciated again. But she still paints, as if bringing new works of art to life is the only way to keep her passion alive. Suddenly, fate smiles upon her – Helene is “rediscovered” by an art dealer who would like to organize a grand exhibition of her paintings. Thus, the artist who lived mostly through her imagination will have to dust off her social skills and bring her A game before the people who may save her from oblivion. One day, she finds a kindred soul in one of the admirers of her style. Will the man be able to bring Helene the happiness she had always dreamt of?

Director: Antti J. Jokinen
Cinematographer: Rauno Ronkainen
Produced by: Finland Cinematic
Country and year: Finland, Estonia, 2020

NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN

During the three decades that had passed since the fall of Communism in Poland, the country went through a series of transformations that made it more European but also revealed a number of deep social and class conflicts and traumas. Nowadays, all the people need to show their fear and resentment is a suitable catalyst. Such as Zhenia, an illegal Ukrainian immigrant and outstanding masseur who gains a cult following with the Polish elite. The man travels from one beautiful and emotionally detached person to another, becoming a quiet confidant to the people who spend their days making more money and alienating themselves from the outside world. They tell him everything, things they do not like in their husbands, wives and children, and how illegal immigrants should be stopped and sent back to where they belong. But not him, obviously, because Zhenia, a fascinating figure from the exotic East, can heal their bodies and minds with his skilled hands. They become addicted to him, but it does not seem to bother them that the man could use what he hears to his advantage.

Polish title: Śniegu już nigdy nie będzie
Director: Małgorzata Szumowska
Cinematographer: Michał Englert
Produced by: Arte Germany, Lava Films, Match Factory Productions
Polish distributor: Kino Świat
Country and year: Poland, Germany, 2020

NOMADLAND

Still from "Nomadland,"
Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

FILM UNAVAILABLE ONLINE

Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, Nomadland features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern's mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.

Director: Chloé Zhao
Cinematographer: Joshua James Richards
Produced by: Highwayman Films (Chloé Zhao), Hear/Say Productions (Frances McDormand), Cor Cordium Production (Peter Spears), Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey
Polish distributor: The Walt Disney Company Polska
Country and year: USA, 2020

PINOCCHIO

Still from "Pinocchio,"
photo by Alain Parroni

We all know this story perfectly well. One day, a good-natured yet impoverished woodcarver Gepetto makes a wooden boy who – as if touched by magic – is brought to life. The childless artist could not be happier but quite soon it turns out that Pinocchio, as is the boy’s name, is quite a troublemaker. He does not listen to his “father,” lies all the time (which makes his nose grow), and learns the many difficult lessons of the world. His dream is to become a real boy, thus he wonders and wanders through many landscapes, meeting different fairy-tale-like characters. Yet, this is not the same Disney-version of the story millions of children fell in love with, but an ambitious attempt at reviving the magic and mystery of the original Carlo Collodi’s novel. Pinocchio is therefore brutally exploited and treated as a freak, he gets hanged by his legs, and the world he travels through is filled with melancholy, misery, and grotesque. We all know the ending of this story perfectly well, but the twists and turns of the road leading to it can be quite surprising.

Polish title: Pinokio
Director: Matteo Garrone
Cinematographer: Nicolaj Brüel
Produced by: Archimede srl
Polish distributor: Kino Świat
Country and year: Italy, 2019

RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL

FILM UNAVAILABLE ONLINE

Mort Rifkin is a retired film studies professor who cannot bear the mainstream American cinema, having strong preference for the works of true auteurs like Ingmar Bergman, Luis Buñuel, or Jean-Luc Godard. He adores them with all of his heart and mind, thus when he accompanies his wife on a PR assignment to a renown San Sebastián International Film Festival, Rifkin prefers imagining different versions of his beloved masterpieces to mingling with the folks who try to celebrate modern cinema. This attitude may be one of the very reasons why Mort still has not written the brilliant novel he had set to write many years ago, with each subsequent failure bringing another kind of neurosis. When the unfulfilled writer and cinephile discovers in disgust that his wife leans toward younger men “who achieved something,” his heart needs help. Luckily, he meets a Spanish cardiologist who, as it turns out, lives in an unhappy marriage as well. Will these two be able to help each other? And what is more important – will Rifkin learn to appreciate modern films?

Director: Woody Allen
Cinematographer: Vittorio Storaro
Produced by: The Mediapro Studio, Gravier Productions & Wildside
Country and year: USA, Spain, Italy, 2020

WHILE AT WAR

Not only does history like to repeat itself, but it also derives perverse satisfaction out of it, using our inability to learn from its many memorable turning points. One of them was the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s that sealed the country for decades for any political or ideological changes but was also a sort of a training ground for the most aggressive European powers before the Second World War. The film tells this story from the point of view of Miguel de Unamuno, a distinguished Spanish intellectual, writer, and former university rector who witnesses in terror how his country turns to general Franco’s fascist regime but does not want to believe the situation is as bad as it seems to be. The professor has never trusted politics, he clashed many times with the people who tried to bend Spain to their ways, but this time he cannot find enough strength to voice his concerns and protest against the growing violence. Will he be able to stand for his and many of his friends’ beliefs before it is too late?

Original title: Mientras dure la guerra
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Cinematographer: Álex Catalán
Produced by: Himenoptero, K&S Films, MDLG-A.I.E, Mientras Dure la Guerra, MOD Producciones, Movistar+, Telefonica Audiovisual Digital
Country and year: Spain, 2019