The 50th edition of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (22-27 September) was something of a national holiday for the local film industry. Many special screenings and meetings were organised to celebrate the anniversary of the event, making connections between the past and the present of Polish cinema.

The most eagerly awaited part was, as usual, the announcement of the awards. The grand prix, the Golden Lions, was given to The Altar Boys, a coming-of-age dramedy about a gang of pre-teens who serve at a local church and decide to use what they learn there about the local flock in their own, mysterious way. Writer-director Piotr Domalewski, who previously won the Golden Lions for his debut feature, Silent Night [+lee también:
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The first runner-up was Franz [+lee también:
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Debuting helmer Emi Buchwald received the Best Director Award and the Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award for her very well-received No Ghosts on Good Street, while Karolina Rzepa was named Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Andrzej Konopka took home Best Actor in a Supporting Role for LARP, Matylda Giegżno won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Photosensitive, and Filip Wiłkomirski was lauded for Best Professional Acting Debut in Brother.

Chopin, a Sonata in Paris left Gdynia with the Best Production Design (for Katarzyna Sobańska and Marcel Sławiński) and Best Costume Design (Magdalena Biedrzycka and Justyna Stolarz) Awards. Best Music went to Piotr Szulc “Steez83” for Three Loves.

Meanwhile, The Great Warsaw Race picked up Best Sound (Teresa Bagińska, Michał Bagiński, Miłosz Janoszek). Sebastian Pańczyk snagged the Award for Best Debut or Second Film for North South. The Sapphire Lions – the main prize in the Perspectives Competition – went to Helena Ganjalyan and Bartosz Szpak for Glorious Summer [+lee también:
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SLAP! by Mikołaj Piszczan triumphed in the Short Film Competition. The Dybbuk by Maciej Tyburski received the Special Award, while two Special Mentions went to People&Things by Damian Kosowski and Dad’s Not Home by Jan Saczek.

Additionally, veteran Polish production and set designer (as well as an Oscar winner for Schindler’s List) Ewa Braun was handed a Lifetime Achievement Award – the Platinum Lions. Jerzy Skolimowski received a special FIPRESCI 100 Lifetime Achievement Award during the festival’s opening night.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Golden Lions
The Altar Boys – Piotr Domalewski (Poland)

Silver Lions
Franz [+lee también:
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Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award
No Ghosts on Good Street – Emi Buchwald (Poland)

Best Director
Emi Buchwald – No Ghosts on Good Street

Best Screenplay
Piotr Domalewski – The Altar Boys

Best Directorial Debut or Second Film
Sebastian Pańczyk – North South (Poland)

Best Cinematography
Tomasz Naumiuk – Franz

Best Music
Piotr Szulc “Steez83” – Three Loves (Poland)

Best Production Design
Katarzyna Sobańska, Marcel Sławiński - Chopin, a Sonata in Paris (Poland)

Best Sound
Teresa Bagińska, Michał Bagiński, Miłosz Janoszek – The Great Warsaw Race (Poland)

Best Editing
Agnieszka Glińska – The Altar Boys

Best Make-up
Gabriela Polakova – Franz

Best Costume Design
Magdalena Biedrzycka, Justyna Stolarz - Chopin, a Sonata in Paris

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Karolina Rzepa - No Ghosts on Good Street

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Andrzej Konopka – LARP (Poland)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Matylda Giegżno – Photosensitive (Poland)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Idan Weiss – Franz

Best Professional Acting Debut
Filip Wiłkomirski – Brother (Poland)

Audience Award
The Altar Boys – Piotr Domalewski

Platinum Lions for Lifetime Achievement
Ewa Braun

Perspectives Competition

Sapphire Lions for the Best Film
Glorious Summer [+lee también:
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Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution
Kuba Grabowski – North South

Short-film Competition

Winner
SLAP! – Mikołaj Piszczan (Poland)

Special Award
The Dybbuk – Maciej Tyburski (Poland)

Special Mentions
People&Things – Damian Kosowski (Poland)
Dad’s Not Home – Jan Saczek (Poland)