09/11/2015 - The new films by Jerzy Skolimowski (11 Minutes) and Andrzej Zulawski (Cosmos) feature on the programme of the gathering in Bydgoszcz, unspooling between 14 and 21 November

US director-producer Steven Spielberg’s latest film, Bridge of Spies, will open the 23^rd Camerimage International Film Festival in Bydgoszcz, northern Poland. The country’s largest showcase dedicated to the art of cinematography will unspool 295 films between 14 and 21 November.

Starring US actors Tom Hanks and Alan Alda, Spielberg’s portrayal of the American lawyer who became one of the biggest and least-known heroes of the Cold War is included in the Special Screenings, where two local titles – Jerzy Skolimowski’s 11 Minutes [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Jerzy Skolimowski
film profile] (the Polish submission for the Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film) and Andrzej Zulawski’s Cosmos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Victória Guerra
film profile] – are also programmed. 

Other entries include US actress-writer-director Angelina Jolie’s By the Sea, where she performs with her husband, actor Brad Pitt, for the first time since Mr & Mrs Smith (2005); UK directors Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paco Delgado
film profile] and Stephen Frears’ The Program [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Stephen Frears
film profile]; German director Roland Emmerich’s Stonewall; and Iranian director Majid Majidi’s Muhammad: The Messenger of God. 

“I am very pleased that we can show Majidi’s film – it promotes the dialogue, openness and tolerance that the festival has valued since it started,” said festival director Marek Żydowicz. “Otherwise, we are happy to present the Polish premieres of a large number of internationally acclaimed films – and some wonderful Polish features, such as Skolimowski’s 11 Minutes.”

Żydowicz expected this year to accredit more than 4,000 participants, including 500-550 cinematographers from all over the world, 1,000 students and over 500 film professionals in other areas. He also emphasised the Cinematographers’ and Directors’ Debuts Competitions, which accommodate young filmmakers searching for their own voices, or acknowledged artists looking for new challenges. Among the participants are US cinematographer Reed Morano and UK actor Paul Bettany, who have just directed their first features.

For the first time, Camerimage will organise the First Look – TV Pilots Competition, showcasing the pilots or first episodes of brand-new TV shows, not only from the US (Adam Bernstein’s Fargo: The Crocodile’s Dilemma, Thomas Schlamme’s Manhattan: You Always Hurt the One You Love), but also Iceland (Baltasar Kormákur’s Trapped) and Sweden (Henrik Björn’s Jordskott).