23/02/2015 - Pawel Pawlikowski’s film is the first Polish feature to win the Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film

“We made a film in black and white about the need for silence and withdrawal from the world and contemplation, and here we are at this epicentre of noise and world attention – fantastic! Life is full of surprises!” exclaimed Pawel Pawlikowski as he picked up the Oscar statuette for Best Foreign-language Film for Ida [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pawel Pawlikowski
interview: Pawel Pawlikowski
film profile], representing the first time that this prize has ever been won by a Polish feature. 

The trophy can now be added to the myriad other prizes amassed by Ida, including five European Film Awards (including the one for Best Film), a BAFTA for Best Foreign-language Film, a Goya for Best European Film, the European Parliament’s LUX Prize, the ASC Spotlight Award, a FIPRESCI Prize at the Toronto Film Festival, as well as other distinctions at London, Wiesbaden, Gijón, Minsk and so on.

With Ida, Polish cinema has at last taken home the Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film, following nine unsuccessful attempts with In Darkness [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Agnieszka Holland (2011); Katyn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrzej Wajda
interview: Michal Kwiecinski
film profile] (2007), Man of Iron (1981), The Maids of Wilko (1979) and The Promised Land (1975) by Andrzej Wajda; Nights and Days by Jerzy Antczak (1976); The Deluge by Jerzy Hoffman (1974); Pharaoh by Jerzy Kawalerowicz (1966); and Knife in the Water by Roman Polanski (1963).

Ida was co-produced by Poland and Denmark via Opus Film and Phoenix Film, with backing from the Polish Film Institute, Eurimages, the Danish Film Institute and the Lodz Film Fund, among others. The feature was distributed in Poland by Solopan and was sold internationally by Fandango Portobello. 

(Translated from French)