27/07/2023 - New projects by Damian Kocur and Valeria Sochyvets are among the victors, while emerging talents were rewarded during New Horizons Studio+

The team behind Under the Volcano and Andrzej Łucjanek, of Fixafilm

The 13^th instalment of Polish Days took place from 23-25 July in Wrocław, as part of the 23rd New Horizons International Film Festival. Organised in collaboration with the Polish Film Institute, the event culminated in the prestigious award announcements, presided over by the head of Industry, Weronika Czołnowska, and festival director Marcin Pieńkowski. The three-day event featured exclusive closed screenings, attracting close to 200 attendees from both Poland and abroad. These screenings showcased the latest Polish film projects at various stages of production, encompassing completed movies, excerpts from titles in post-production and presentations of projects in the development phase.

Under the Volcano, the highly anticipated next effort by Damian Kocur (Bread and Salt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Damian Kocur
film profile]), was honoured with the Fixafilm Postproduction Award. This accolade covers post-production expenses, with a value of up to 30,000 PLN (€6,800). The director describes it as an “auteur cinema project”, and he is striving to maintain its accessibility for all viewers while keeping it firmly rooted in an original and creative approach. The narrative revolves around a Ukrainian family's last day in Tenerife: they are blissfully unaware that their return to Kyiv will be disrupted by Russia's unexpected attack on Ukraine. Under the Volcano is being produced by Mikołaj Lizut for Lizart Film, and the movie is scheduled for production in 2023.

Polish Days also presented a brand-new award, the ORKA Postproduction Award, again to the tune of 30,000 PLN (€6,800), intended for image post-production services. It was bestowed upon Obsession, the debut feature by Tadeusz Łysiak. The movie delves into the realm of the psychological thriller, chronicling the anguish that engulfs two parents when their ten-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace. Shooting is expected to commence next year, and it is being produced by Stanisław Dziedzic, of Film Produkcja.

No Problemo Music made the decision to bestow awards upon three projects. From among the works in progress, efforts by two debuting directors, the sociopolitical crime-drama Next to Nothing by Grzegorz Dębowski and the dramedy It's Not My Film by Maria Zbąska, were granted an unrestricted Audio Network licence, which applies to the films and promotional materials in question. In the in-development section, the award-winning project was Runa, the upcoming documentary being helmed by Agnieszka Zwiefka (Scars [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agnieszka Zwiefka
film profile]), and the prize comes in the form of a co-production contribution dedicated to sound post-production, with its value amounting to 75,000 PLN (€16,980).

Just prior to Polish Days, the 14^th edition of New Horizons Studio+ took place from 20-23 July, in collaboration with Creative Europe Desk Poland. The programme included a series of workshops and lectures, providing a platform for emerging European directors and producers who were working on their debut or sophomore projects to engage with experts and gain insights into project promotion and development.

The New Horizons Association/London Film Academy Main Award was presented to the Ukrainian project Curtain, directed by newcomer Valeria Sochyvets and produced by Inna Lastochkina, and the accolade includes script consultancy sponsored by the London Film Academy. Additionally, the debut-feature project Niemcy – The Strangers, helmed by German director Aart Steinmann and produced by Robin Meisner, received the CANAL+online Award, which granted it a letter of intent for TV distribution. FilmCamp awarded director Katarzyna Iskra and producer Giacun Caduff, the team behind The Crack, with a month-long residency in Norway. Moreover, two deserving producers were honoured with a Special Mention: Patryk Sielecki from Poland received it for the project You Don’t Know Me by Michał Edelman, and Robin Meisner was acknowledged once again for Niemcy – The Strangers. The winners thus get a guaranteed visit to, and accreditation for, connecting cottbus.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 13th Polish Days and the 14th New Horizons Studio+:

Fixafilm Postproduction Award
Under the Volcano - Damian Kocur
Producer: Mikołaj Lizut (Lizart Film)

ORKA Postproduction Award
Obsession - Tadeusz Łysiak
Producer: Stanisław Dziedzic (Film Produkcja)

No Problemo Music Award
It’s Not My Film - Maria Zbąska
Producer: Inga Kruk (HI MOVIES)

Next to Nothing - Grzegorz Dębowski
Producers: Jerzy Kapuściński, Ewa Jastrzębska, Katarzyna Malinowska (Munk Studio)

Runa - Agnieszka Zwiefka (Poland/Denmark)
Producers: Zofia Kujawska, Agnieszka Zwiefka (Chilli Productions), Sigrid Dyekjaer (Real Lava)

New Horizons Studio+

New Horizons Association/London Film Academy Award
Curtain - Valeria Sochyvets (Ukraine)
Producer: Inna Lastochkina

CANAL+online Award
Niemcy – The Strangers - Aart Steinmann (Germany)
Producer: Robin Meisner

FilmCamp Award
The Crack - Katarzyna Iskra (Poland/Switzerland)
Producer: Giacun Caduff

Special Mentions
Patryk Sielecki - You Don’t Know Me (Poland)
Robin Meisner - Niemcy – The Strangers (Germany)