Green Border emerges triumphant at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia

by Cineuropa

02/10/2024 - Agnieszka Holland’s film has scooped the Golden Lions at the 49th edition of the gathering, while the Silver Lions and the biggest haul of awards went to Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle

Green Border emerges triumphant at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia

The winners of the 2024 Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (© Anna Bybrowska)

Green Border [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Agnieszka Holland, about the refugee crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, which started its international journey at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival, has snagged the Golden Lions, the main award at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (23-28 September). The verdict felt puzzling for some, who expected the top honours to go to The Girl with the Needle [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Magnus von Horn
film profile] by Magnus von Horn, which had its world premiere at Cannes and was the most talked-about title of the 49th edition of the Polish gathering. Others considered the jury’s decision to be fair and just, also because Green Border – which wasn’t submitted last year, even though it was released theatrically during the previous festival – faced immense political backlash from the right wing in Poland.

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Holland’s film also won the Audience Award and Best Sound (for Roman Dymny). The director, who wasn’t present at the event, sent a letter in which she wrote, “Poland is once again becoming a place where fascist groups of citizens, with the passive consent of the state, are organising a pogrom against people with a different skin colour, but also against those who work there and help them, and who often end up paying the highest price for it. I feel that we are all responsible for this. Also us, as filmmakers.”

It seemed as though most of the films rewarded this year discussed social and political issues – like White Courage [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which centres on Polish Highlanders during World War II, some of whom collaborated with the Nazis. This is a delicate issue in Poland, and the film was also heavily criticised for its content. The period pic got four gongs: Best Director (Marcin Koszałka), Best Screenplay (Łukasz M Maciejewski), Best Lead Actress (Sandra Drzymalska) and Best Supporting Actor (Julian Świeżewski).

The Girl with the Needle, which touches on the subject of freedom of choice, got the Silver Lions, Best Cinematography (Michał Dymek), Best Production Design (Jagna Dobesz), Best Costume Design (Małgorzata Fudala), Best Music (Frederikke Hoffmeier) and Best Supporting Actress (Trine Dyrholm). Additionally, the Best Supporting Actor nod went to Sparrow (Jacek Borusiński), Best Editing to Wrooklyn Zoo (Sebastian Mialik), Best Make-up to Kulej: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold (Agnieszka Hodowana) and Best Professional Acting Debut to Under the Volcano [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Damian Kocur
film profile] (Sofiia Berezovska).

Under the Grey Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mara Tamkovich
film profile] by Mara Tamkovich, which depicts civil resistance to the Belarusian dictatorship, was shot entirely in Poland and was previously shown at Tribeca, was named Best Debut, with Loss of Balance by Korek Bojanowski and Travel Essentials by Kamila Tarabura pocketing Special Mentions. The latter film wasn’t presented in the Main Competition, but rather in the newly introduced Perspectives Competition (the Best Debut Film jury was working across all sections), where it also bagged its top award – the Sapphire Lions.

The Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution went to late actor Maciej Damięcki for his performance in Night Silence by Bartosz M Kowalski. An Orange from Jaffa by Mohammed Almughanni, who graduated from the Lodz Film School, was named Best Short Film. The Lifetime Achievement Award, the Platinum Lions, was presented to veteran director Wojciech Marczewski, who previously won the Golden Lions but also a Silver Bear at the Berlinale (for Shivers in 1982).

Joanna Łapińska, the artistic director of the event, who assumed this role last year, thanked the guests for a “light, open festival” during the closing gala. It was an international edition as well, as the winners included Polish, Danish, Palestinian, Ukrainian and Belarusian artists.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Golden Lions
Green Border [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Agnieszka Holland (Poland/France/Czech Republic/Belgium)

Silver Lions
The Girl with the Needle [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Magnus von Horn
film profile] – Magnus von Horn (Denmark/Poland/Sweden)

Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award
It’s Not My Film – Maria Zbąska (Poland)

Best Director
Marcin Koszałka – White Courage [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Poland)

Best Screenplay
Łukasz M Maciejewski – White Courage

Best Directorial Debut (or Second Film)
Mara Tamkovich – Under the Grey Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mara Tamkovich
film profile] (Poland)
Special Mentions
Korek Bojanowski – Loss of Balance (Poland)
Kamila Tarabura – Travel Essentials (Poland)

Best Cinematography
Michał Dymek – The Girl with the Needle

Best Music
Frederikke Hoffmeier – The Girl with the Needle

Best Production Design
Jagna Dobesz – The Girl with the Needle

Best Sound
Roman Dymny - Green BorderBest Editing
Sebastian Mialik – Wrooklyn Zoo (Poland)

Best Make-up
Agnieszka Hodowana – Kulej: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold (Poland)

Best Costume Design
Małgorzata Fudala – The Girl with the Needle

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Drzymalska – White Courage

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jacek Borusiński – Sparrow (Poland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Trine Dyrholm – The Girl with the Needle

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Julian Świeżewski – White Courage

Best Professional Acting Debut
Sofiia Berezowska – Under the Volcano [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Damian Kocur
film profile] (Poland)
Special Mention
Nel Kaczmarek – Loss of Balance