As many as 4 Golden Hobby-Horses in the National Competition<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the needs of filmmakers, the National Competition will be divided into two separate segments for the first time in history: documentary and short film. Four Golden Hobby-Horse awards will be granted, all equal in their importance. This way, creators of various film formats will have a chance for the highest honours. The Golden Hobby-Horse will be awarded to the best mid or feature-length documentary film, and among short films: to the best animated film, the best fiction film, and the best documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the Krakow Film Festival is the oldest festival in the country and one of the oldest in the world, we aren’t afraid of changes and dynamically respond to feedback from viewers and filmmakers. Personally, I am glad that we will be able to honour Polish filmmakers to an even greater extent at the upcoming edition!<\/em> explains Barbara Orlicz-Szczypuła, Head of Programme Department.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Polish films in international competitions<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A total of 9 Polish films are also going to be presented in international competitions. Two feature-length documentary films: Unpaved<\/strong><\/em> by Mikael Lypinski about a small community of nomads, anti-system activists, escapees, and exiles living among the mountains and forests of Oregon, and Aniela Gabryel’s Radical Move<\/strong><\/em> about the extremely controversial creative method and work at the Workcenter founded by the legendary Jerzy Grotowski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two Polish films will also compete with the best music documentaries. Ula<\/strong><\/em> by Agnieszka Iwańska is a story about the extraordinary life of the world-renowned jazz vocalist icon – Urszula Dudziak. The protagonist herself tells the story of her path to happiness and fame with the help of extensive family archives. The second film is a story of delving into Polish funeral traditions and searching for the distinctive sounds of mourning songs. Goodbye My Wonderful World<\/strong><\/em> (dir. Joo Joostberens) is also a magnificent testimony to the creative process, which resulted in the creation of the album Ostatnie rzeczy<\/em> (“Last Things”) by the band Polskie znaki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re going to see 5 Polish productions in the International Short Film Competition. Among them, the short documentary Old Summer<\/strong><\/em> by Maria Wider and the feature My Old Gals<\/strong><\/em> by Natasza Parzymies, with outstanding performances by Dorota Pomykała and Dorota Stalińska, about how it’s never too late for love. The second Polish fiction film in the international competition, Michał Toczek’s Be Somebody<\/strong><\/em>, argues that fame and money do not bring happiness. Animated films in the international competition will be represented by the shocking situation on the Polish-Belarusian border in There Are People in the Forest<\/strong><\/em> by Szymon Ruczyński and Zima<\/strong><\/em> by Tomek Popakul and Kasumi Ozeki – a psychedelic journey to a small fishing village that condenses the behaviours, customs, and vices of the Polish countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine in Polish film<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unsurprisingly, Ukrainian themes will be strong in this year’s festival program. This is also the case in the National Competition, which is going to feature 3 productions telling stories about the situation beyond our eastern border. Ballad of Kychiev<\/strong><\/em> by Piotr Kamiński is a gripping, naturalistic narrative film about a mother’s attempt to escape with her daughter from the areas occupied by Russians. The documentary Iriy<\/strong><\/em> by Jakub Stoszka and Magdalena Mistygacz shows the life of the liberated village of Szestowice and how difficult it is to function when danger lurks around every corner. In his film Grandpa’s Orchard<\/strong><\/em>, Karol Starnawski touches on a taboo subject for subsequent generations of Poles and Ukrainians. Karolina’s family only talked about the Volhynian massacre, in which her relatives were killed, behind closed doors. To learn the truth about her ancestors, she sets out for Volhynia herself<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The female body<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Polish competition is also going to feature important voices on women’s rights, the female body, and sisterhood. It’s Only\/Not Only A Body… Or A Short Film About Freedom<\/strong><\/em> by Michał Hytros is the story of Zosia Lenczewska-Samotyj, a photographer, traveler, and free spirit who uses photography to familiarise other women with nudity and teaches them to love their own bodies. The documentary Faces of Agata<\/strong><\/em> by Małgorzata Kozera also discusses the issue of self-acceptance. For 20 years, the title character has been struggling with a deadly disease which makes her face progressively more deformed with every passing year. Creativity becomes the most important therapy for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short film Thursday<\/strong><\/em> by Bren Cukier, featuring an excellent performance by Marianna Zydek, tells the story of abortion through the individual experience of a young, determined woman. Her boyfriend, family, and friends all show support and shower her with good advice about motherhood, ignoring Maria herself and the signals she tries to give them. So, the girl decides not to inform them about her decision and plans for Thursday. Meanwhile, the animated film Lack<\/strong><\/em> by Paweł Prewencki offers an intimate look at the feelings associated with the anticipation of a child and the grief after its loss. The accompanying pain is depicted through visual symbols and metaphors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The animation Medusas<\/strong><\/em> by Ola Szmidt tells a surprising story that begins like Thelma and Louise on steroids but heads towards a completely different, unexpected ending, which can serve as a starting point for discussions on consumerism and the objectification of women. On the other hand, Mateusz Pietrak’s Basia: Three Short Stories<\/strong><\/em> is an extremely intimate and personal film about aging and passing, in which the title character prepares for the performance of her life. Łukasz Iwanicz, in his documentary Cataract<\/strong><\/em>, shows three women from three different backgrounds who share their experiences of sadness, loss, and unfulfillment. It’s a poignant story about the search for meaning when it seems that there’s nothing more to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mid- and feature length documentary films:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.krakowfilmfestival.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/bezdroza-rez--mikael-lypinski.jpg\")
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