Wenders opens Warsaw Film Fest

by Dorota Hartwich

07/10/2005 - Wim Wenders will officially open today the 21st edition of the International Film Festival of Warsaw (from the 7th to the 16th of October). With about a hundred unreleased films in Poland, the director will present his new film (not entering competition) Don't Come Knocking, distributed in Poland by Monolith Films.

In the "New Films, New Directors" section, the jury headed by Paweł Pawlikowski (BAFTA price for My Summer of Love [trailer, film focus]), assisted by Yesim Ustaoglu (Waiting For The Clouds [trailer]), Anna Maliszewska, Cristi Puiu (The Death of Mr Lazarescu [trailer]) and Pjer Žalica (Fuse [trailer]), must view about 15 selected films. The winning director will be awarded the Nescafé Gran Prize and 5.000 euros.

All those interested will be able to take part in the workshops, of which SCENE Insiders, the most important one, is offered to directors as well as scriptwriters, producers and distributors. Among the festival's novelties, the organizers will launch the CentEast, a cinema mini-market, where the interests of Polish, East European and Central European cinema can be compared. The first Warsaw Screenings, introducing the latest Polish films, will also be available to the foreign buyers.

List of films in competition

Anklaget (Accused) by Jacob Thuesen, Denmark.

Como un avión estrellado (Like A Crashed Plane) by Ezequiel Acuna, Argentina.

Crash Test Dummies [trailer] by Jorg Kalt, Austria.

Dallas Pashamende (Dallas Among Us) by Róbert Adrian Pejó, Hungary/Austria/Germany.

Gypo by Jan Dunn, Great Britain.

Hawaii, Oslo [trailer] by Erik Poppe, Norway.

Jazireh Ahani (Iron Island) by Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran.

Kaladan kelgen kyz (Rebirth Island) by Rustem Abdrashov, Kazakhstan.

Odgrobadogroba (Gravehopping) by Jan Cvitkovič, Slovenia/Croatia.

Oprosti za kung fu (Sorry for Kung Fu) by Ognjen Sviličić, Croatia.

Perviyje na lune (First People On The Moon) by Alexei Fedorchenko, Russia.

Putevoditel (The Guidebook) by Aleksandr Shapiro, Ukraine.

SommerHundeSoehne (Slight Changes in Temperature and Mind) by Cyril Tuschi, Germany.

Teraz ja (It's me now) by Anna Jadowska, Polonia.

Žralok v hlavě (Shark in the Head) by Maria Procházková, Chech Republic.

(Translated from French)