30-11-2008

Polish award for special edition of the Hartley-Merrill

By Katarzyna Grynienko
    The Polish Hartely-Merril 2009, organized by the Andrzej Wajda Directing School, Polish Film Institute, HBO, and the Marshall of the Masovia Province, is launching a new award PLN 10,000 to a debut scriptwriter.

    The Polish edition of the contest is organized by the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Directing ( www.wajdaschool.pl) with the special patronage of the Polish Film Institutes's (www.pisf.pl) director Agnieszka Odorowicz and the support of HBO Poland (www.hbo.pl). In 2009, the contestants will compete for a main prize of PLN 20,000, the Special HBO Prize of PLN 5,000, and a new PLN 10,000 award from Adam Struzik, the Marshal of the Masovia Province. This prize will go to the author of a script inspired by the life and work of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin, whose music was connected to Masovian culture.

    The Hartley-Merril International Scriptwriting Prize (www.www.foundationforinternationalfilmartists.org), was established in 1989 by Ted Hartley, the president of RKO Pictures, and his wife Dina Merrill, as a contest for a film script in the countries of former Soviet Union. Local editions are now held in 21 countries. Several awarded scripts were later successfully produced and praised at international film festivals. In Poland, My Blood by Marcin Wrona, Photo by Maciej Adamek and Out Of Love by Anna Jadowska were picked up for production.