Documentaries in the spotlight at Krakow
At the 48th edition of the Krakow International Film Festival (May 30-June 5) audiences had the chance to discover 350 documentaries, animated films and shorts screened in the 20 different sections. The event’s juries and audiences awarded a total of 26 prizes, which were presented yesterday evening at the closing ceremony.
This year’s guest of honour was Alan King, who was awarded the most prestigious prize – the Dragon of Dragons for Lifetime Achievement – at the festival’s opening ceremony. The statuette was presented to King by Andrzej Wajda.
At the press conference, the prize winner commented: "In my films, I try to describe those who want to share their experiences with me and I hope that their taking part in my projects helps them to cope better with their problems".
During the six days of the festival, several juries judged the films presented in the three competitive sections. The festival’s grand prize – the Golden Dragon for Best Short Film in international competition – went to Eduardo Chapero-Jackson’s Alumbramiento (UIP Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2007), a Spanish production in which the director shadows an old woman during the last moments of her life.
Three Polish directors scooped Silver Dragons: Wiola Sowa won Best Animated Film for Refreny (“Refrains”); Agnieszka Smoczynska picked up Best Narrative Film for Aria Diva; and Marcin Koszlka took home Best Documentary for Do bólu (“Till It Hurts”).
Finally, the Krakow UIP Award – the nomination for the European Film Award in the Short Film category – went to Time Is Running Out by UK director Marc Reisbig.
In the feature-length documentary competition, Sergei Loztnitsa’s German/Russian/Ukrainian film Predstavlenye (“Review”) received the Golden Horn. The director – who has won honours at previous editions of the Krakow Festival – this time presented a film made up solely of old propaganda reports.
The Silver Horn was awarded to Igor Heitzmann for A Father’s Music.
In the competition devoted to domestic titles, directorial duo Jacek Naglowski and Andrzej Dybczak scooped the top prize – The Golden Hobby-Horse – for Gugara, the story of the disappearance of a small community in Ukraine. The Silver Hobby-Horse for Best Documentary Director went to Maciej Cuske for Pamietaj, abys dzien swiety swiecil (“Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy”).
The Silver Hobby-Horse for Best Animated Documentary was awarded to Wiola Sowa for Refreny, and Best Narrative Film went to Agnieszka Smoczynska for Aria Diva.
Founded in 1961, the Krakow Film Festival became an international event in 1964. For the past three years, the festival has included the Krakow Film Market, which is one of the few markets in central Europe to promote documentaries, animated films and shorts.
(Translated from French)
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