28/03/2007

The Polish Section of the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) has presented its annual award to Złote taśmy (lit. “Golden Reel”) for the best film in Polish cinemas in 2006.

The grand winner was Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes the Barley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ken Loach
interview: Rebecca O’Brien
film profile] while Krzysztof and Joanna Krauze’s domestic title Saviour Square [+see also:
trailer
film profile] was voted Best Film and a special mention went to Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel.

Unable to attend the ceremony, Loach was represented by Irish ambassador to Poland Declan O'Donovan, who received the award from PISF director Agnieszka Odorowicz.

"I am pleased to be able to present an award to this highly acclaimed film. I hope that Ken Loach’s next film, These Times, which was partly shot in Poland and backed by the PISF, will have the same success next year," said Odorowicz.

Lesław Żurek, who plays the lead in Loach’s new production, read an open letter addressed by Loach to the Association of Polish Filmmakers.

Saviour Square has not only won this year’s Best Film critics prize – the Krauze’s production has picked up more than 20 awards in Poland alone, including the most prestigious. The title won the Golden Lion at the Gdynia Polish Film Festival (see news) and was awarded an Eagle for Best Film from the Polish Film Academy (see news).

(Translated from French)