Music on the screen

19 films
An enormous variety of styles ranging from an opera and biographical musical to unique portraits, poetic images and impressive jigsaw puzzles from salvaged archives. You will see charismatic representatives of ethnic musical genres.
  • Amy

    dir. Asif Kapadia
    dok2015
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  • Bard

    dir. Katarzyna Kościelak
    dok2013

    How well, if at all, did we know Jacek Kaczmarski, an outstanding Polish poet and singer? The documentary makes an attempt to draw a complex, multi-dimensional portrait of a singer-songwriter which reveals a tragic figure torn between the passion of creation, perfectionism and his own weaknesses. It also tries to confront the myth of the bard of the Solidarity movement, the moniker that tired the charismatic author of ‘Walls’, a protest song, and became a reason for later alienation.

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  • Cobain: Montage of Heck (Kurt Cobain: Życie bez cenzury)

    dir. Brett Morgen
    dok2015

    On 5 April 1994 the leader of Nirvana joined the ‘27 Club’, i.e. the group of rock artists who lived too fast and died too young. The film directors, who first reached mementoes left by Cobain, try to confront his dark legend. The executive producer is the musician’s daughter who was just 18 months old when her father committed suicide. The film was also approved by the widow after the artist, Courtney Love, who has been hostile to this kind of projects so far.

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    Awards:Golden Heynal
  • Ellis

    dir. Sascha Just
    dok2022

    The Marsalis clan is considered the ‘first jazz family’. It was headed by legendary Ellis, who died of Covid three years ago. Brace yourself for a musical and biographical journey that starts in New Orleans and runs through a large part of the history of jazz music as well as America.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • El Drogas

    dir. Natxo Leuza
    dok2022

    Natxo Leuza’s music documentary can be best described using the words transformation, counterculture and music. The director allows the eponymous protagonist to take the audience on a journey through the underground world of the political transformation era in Spain. One of its symbols was El Drogas, the icon of the 1980s music counterculture.

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  • Goodbye My Wonderful World (Żegnam cię, mój świecie wesoły)

    dir. Joo Joostberens
    dok2023

    The film title alludes to a traditional Polish mourning song, which was included on the album ‘Rzeczy ostatnie’ recorded by the band Polskie Znaki. The project aimed to dust off folk music, which for centuries had put people at ease with regard to death before it became a taboo in modern culture. The story of the album is at the same time an essay on passing away.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary

    dir. Robert Schwartzman
    dok2023

    The Zombies are a true legend that began 60 years ago in the British provinces. A group of teenagers soon proved it to the world that the Beatles were not everything. Today, these rock veterans have not lost any vigour, either.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Knowing the Score

    dir. Janine Hosking
    dok2022

    Not until recently was the world ready to accept a female orchestra conductor. Simone Young, an Australian with a baton, is one of the first women who paved the way. The document was produced by Cate Blanchett, the star of ‘Tár’, who takes the role of the renowned maestra this time.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • La Singla

    dir. Paloma Zapata
    dok2023

    As a teenager, she was a great discovery in the flamenco world, not only because this Roma girl from the outskirts of Barcelona was deaf. Due to her exceptionally passionate expression she became a star of Europe’s stages, and then she disappeared for fifty years. Today. a contemporary dancer walks in the footsteps of La Singla.

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    Awards:Special Mention
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Lee Fields: Faithful Man

    dir. Jessamyn Ansary, Joyce Mishaan
    dok2022

    His voice became an inspiration for today’s rappers, such as Travis Scott or A$ap Rocky, possibly because for over half a century on stage Lee Fields has remained himself, a vocalist devoted to soul music, regardless of the changing trends and technologies. And he has not spoken his last word yet.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

    dir. Lian Lunson
    dok2005

    he recording of the concert “Came So Far for Beauty” held in Sydney in 2005 becomes a pretext to tell the story of the artist’s life. Cohen’s portrayal is made of his remarks about his career, work or women as well as the moments when music speaks for him.

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  • Little Richard: I Am Everything

    dir. Lisa Cortés
    dok2023

    How did a black homosexual boy from the American South become the icon of rock and roll and a glam rock precursor? The director presents his biography, complicated and full of turns of action. On the screen, there are Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and John Waters, all fascinated with him.

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  • Machina Faust

    dir. Kaupo Kruusiauk
    dok2022

    Meet a saxophone virtuoso who breaks glass ceilings – her name is Maria Faust and she is an eminent Estonian jazz artist who improvises on stage and in her life with equal bravado. She lets the camera in as close as possible; therefore, an intimate portrayal of this expressive and independent women can be achieved.

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      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • My Name Is Happy

    dir. Nick Read, Ayse Toprak
    dok2022

    In 2015, Turkish-Kurdish singer Mutlu Kaya was shot in her own house. The film authors follow the life of the girl who decided to bring the culprit to justice and put up a fight for the recovery of her voice becoming the symbol of opposition against the impunity of perpetrators of honour killings.

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    Awards:Golden Horn
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Pianoforte

    dir. Jakub Piątek
    dok2023

    During the preliminary round, there are 160 of them. Then, about 80. Then 40. At last, only 10 lucky ones make it to the final. These are the contestants in the legendary International Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. "Pianoforte" follows an eclectic group of young musicians from around the world who have prepared since they were children for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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  • The Klezmer Project (Adentro mío estoy bailando)

    dir. Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann
    dok2023

    There are no real klezmers any more. A young Argentinian film maker who has Jewish roots wants to prove otherwise and sets off with his camera for Moldova. This musical and documentary road cinema combined with a love story sometimes may change into a self-deprecating joke or an essay on the dying Yiddish culture.

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  • Ula

    dir. Agnieszka Iwańska
    dok2023

    ‘This is the cradle of our beloved music. We need to verify our skills there’, said Michał Urbaniak to Polish jazz vocalist Urszula Dudziak to convince her to go and conquer the US with him. The film is a recording of the fascinating and tumultuous journey reported from off-screen by the artist herself.

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    Awards:Golden Heynal
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD
  • Vika!

    dir. Agnieszka Zwiefka
    dok2023

    Vika, who is 84, is one of the eldest DJs in the world. Because of her attitude, she is far from any stereotypes about senior citizens. Bittersweet documentary musical about consistence in following your own path and fighting for your dreams.

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  • Whitney

    dir. Kevin Macdonald
    dok2018

    Directed by the Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald ('The Last King of Scotland', 'Waiting for Joe'), this moving documentary is dedicated to the memory of pop and R&B legend Whitney Houston. "A gripping" (The Guardian), yet intimate and strikingly honest cinematic portrait, offering a unique insight into the life, dizzying career and slow decline, of a star gifted with unparalleled talent. Filled with the memories of the artist's loved ones, previously unreleased films and music that has already achieved the status of immortality.

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