After COVID-19 caused the 2020 edition to be a virtual one, the 2021 Polish Film Festival unspooled in the city of Gdynia between September 20 and 25. The atmosphere of the national gathering, led for the second time by Tomasz Kolankiewicz as artistic director, was positive; some voices even argued that finally, a young generation of filmmakers is taking over Polish cinema. However, this statement has been repeated many times over the past few years already, and so far, the revolution in Polish cinema hasn’t happened yet. And yet, evolutionary changes towards making the industry more open, diverse and professional are constant.

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The verdict of the jury, headed by Polish veteran director Andrzej Barański, was quite a surprise, although in a good way – the Golden Lions went to Fears [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] directed by Łukasz Ronduda and Łukasz Gutt. The film is loosely based on the life of visual artist Daniel Rycharski, who is both gay and a devout catholic, with the story revolving around his life in a provincial town, capturing its homophobic atmosphere and the complete rejection of the LGBT community by the church.

Łukasz Gutt, who is also an experienced DOP, left Gdynia with a Best Cinematography Award. Silver Lions roared for Venice main competition runner up Leave no Traces [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Jan P. Matuszyński
fiche film] by Jan P. Matuszyński, which also won a Best Production Design award (for Paweł Jarzębski).

Polish-American drama with body horror notes Mosquito State [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] got its director Filip Jan Rymsza the Golden Claw for Vision Apart – an award handed to the most experimental film of the selection. Additionally Mateusz Adamczyk, Sebastian Witkowski and Zofia Moruś won Best Sound awards. Visual extravaganza Other People [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Aleksandra Terpińska
fiche film], a Polish Warner Bros. coproduction, snagged the Best directorial debut award (Aleksandra Terpinska), Best Actor in Leading role (Jacek Beler) and Best editing award (Magdalena Chowańska). Łukasz Grzegorzek was named Best Director for his dramedy My Wonderful Life [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Łukasz Grzegorzek
fiche film], while other individual awards went to Marcin Ciastoń (Best Screenplay for Operation Hyacinth), Teoniki Rożynek (Best music in Prime Time [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Jakub Piątek
fiche film]), Daria Siejak (Best Make up for Operation Hyacinth), Marta Ostrowicz (Best Costume Design for The Getaway King [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film]), Sławomira Łozińska (Best Actress in a Supporting Role), Maria Dębska (Best Actress in a Leading Role), Andrzej Kłak (Best Actor in a Leading Role), Michał Sikorski (Best Professional Acting Debut). Additionally, Agnieszka Holland as a first female director received the Lifetime Achievement Award – Platinum Lions. In a moving speech, she also addressed the Polish government’s decision not to allow Afghan refugees and urged Polish citizens not to be indifferent to that tragedy.

Full list of awards:

Golden Lions
Fears [+lire aussi :
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bande-annonce
fiche film] – Łukasz Ronduda, Łukasz Gutt (Poland)

Silver Lions
Leave No Traces [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Jan P. Matuszyński
fiche film] – Jan P. Matuszyński (Poland/France/Czech Republic)

Golden Claw for “Vision Apart”
Mosquito State [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] – Filip Jan Rymsza (Poland/USA)

Best Director
Łukasz Grzegorzek – My Wonderful Life [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Łukasz Grzegorzek
fiche film] (Poland)

Best Screenplay
Marcin Ciastoń – Operation Hyacinth (Poland)

Best Directorial Debut
Aleksandra Terpińska – Other People [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Aleksandra Terpińska
fiche film] (Poland)

Best Cinematography
Łukasz Gutt – Fears (Poland)

Best Music
Teoniki Rożynek – Prime Time [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Jakub Piątek
fiche film] (Poland)

Best Production Design
Paweł Jarzębski – Leave No Traces (Poland)

Best Sound
Mateusz Adamczyk, Sebastian Witkowski, Zofia Moruś - Mosquito State (Poland/USA)

Best Editing
Magdalena Chowańska – Other People (Poland)

Best Make-up
Daria Siejak – Operation Hyacinth (Poland)

Best Costume Design
Marta Ostrowicz – The Getaway King [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] (Poland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Sławomira Łozińska – The Tenant. You Can’t Burn Us All (Poland)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Andrzej Kłak – Prime Time (Poland)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Maria Dębska – Autumn Girl (Poland)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jacek Beler – Other People (Poland)

Best Professional Acting Debut
Michał Sikorski – Sonata (Poland)

Best Microbudget Film
Songs about Love [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] – Tomasz Habowski (Poland)

Short-film competition winner
Brother the Fisherman – Alicja Sokół (Poland)

Platinum Lions for Lifetime Achievements
Agnieszka Holland