At the 64^th Locarno International Film Festival, the film Opowieści z chłodni (Frozen Stories) by Grzegorz Jaroszuk received a nomination for the European Film Awards in the Best Short Film category. Special mention of the International Federation of Film Societies went to the Polish-Romanian animated film Crulic - Droga na drugą stronę (Crulic - Road to the Beyond) by Anca Damian. Both films were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Photo by Easy Busy Productions

Frozen Stories screened in the Pardi di domani / Leopard of Tomorrow short film competition, alongside Bez śniegu (Without Snow) by Magnus von Horn. Both features were produced at the National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź.

Frozen Stories is focused around two supermarket workers who have two days to find their purpose in life. The film was previously recognized at the "Łodzią po Wiśle" film festival, receiving the Grand Prize and audience award. Frozen Stories also screened at the 36^th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (Young Cinema Competition), at the New Horizons festival in Wrocław, and at the "Dwa Brzegi / Two Riversides" film festival in Kazimierz Dolny.

Crulic, which screened in Main Competition at this year's Locarno IFF, is a combination of animation, documentary, and feature film. The plot is based on real events from 2007 and 2008, when Claudiu Crulic, a Romanian prison inmate, died in a Krakow prison after a four-month-long hunger strike.

At this year's 51^st edition of the Krakow Film Festival, the short documentary Paparazzi by Piotr Bernaś also received a nomination for the European Film Awards. Paparazzi was also co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

The European Film Awards ceremony will be held in Berlin on December 3, 2011.

Further details about the Locarno International Film Festival available at: www.pardolive.ch.

The official website of the European Film Academy available at: www.europeanfilmacademy.org.

Best regards,

Olga Domżała

Olga Domżała

Film Sales Support & PR Manager

Polish Film Institute

Krakowskie Przedmieście 21/23

00-071 Warsaw PL

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +48 695 363 335

The grants contest in Romania takes place twice a year, following the Government's Ordinance No.39/2005 and the contest regulations approved by the Minister of Culture and National Trust by Decree No.2335/2006. The main body for film and film financing is the National Centre for Cinema/ Centrul National al Cinematografiei (4-6 Dem. I. Dobrescu street, Sector 1, Bucuresti 010026, Romania, Phone:+4.21. 310.43.01, Fax:+4.21 3104300, www.cncinema.abt.ro, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

CNC provides Direct credit, meaning reimbursable interest-free credit granted from the Cinematographic Fund for film production and project development, and Non-reimbursable financial support, which is non-reimbursable funds allotted from the Film Fund for the distribution of the Romanian films, the organization of or participation in specialized festivals and fairs, ans for educational programs.

CNC is coordinated by an administrative board of seven members: five appointed upon recommendation of the film associations, one recommended by the Ministry of Culture, and the general director of the CNC (who is also the chairman of the board).

The Film Fund - the supporting fund - consists of: 2% contribution from the price for sale/rental of recorded video cassettes, DVDs, etc; 4% contribution from the publicity minutes purchased by public and private television stations; 3% contribution from the price of the publicity minutes sold by the cable television companies; 3% contribution from the film exploitation; 1% contribution from the monthly income of cable, satellite and digital companies; 20% of the income obtained from the privatization of the cinema halls and parks. The Government's Ordinance No.39/2005 also states that the public television (www.tvr.ro) has to contribute to the Film Fund with 15% of its advertising income. It can also opt for the direct financing of film production.

The Film Fund was 31 million RON in 2010, the lowest amount in the last five years (35,849,793 RON in 2006, 40 million RON in 2007, 44 million RON in 2008 and 32 million RON in 2009). The Government approved the exemption from the contribution to the Film Fund of the national lottery Loteria Romana, which until 2009 contributed 4% to the Film Fund. The budgetary support to the Film Fund also stopped in 2006.

CNC finances (by direct credit) the production of short fiction films, feature films, documentaries and animated films, and also the developement of such projects. A production grant cannot exceed 50% of the budget, with the exception of low-budget and difficult films (which can be supported with up to 80%). The producer can spend at least 20% of the film's budget inside the EU member states or the states having agreed with the Central European Free Trade Agreement.

A Romanian co-producer cannot enter into a multilateral international co-production with less than 10% of the budget, and with less than 20% in a bilateral co-production. Direct credit cannot exceed 50% for a Romanian co-producer, with the exception of a low-budget or difficult film.

The grant contest has three selection committees: fiction, documentary and animation, made up of professionals proposed by the filmmakers associations. The selection committee for fiction evaluates the features and short films projects, as well as the development of projects. The selection committee for documentary decides the production and development grants for short and long documentaries. The selection commitee for animation does the same for animated films.

From a grant session, 5% usually supports first feature films, 5% short fiction films, 10% documentaries, 10% animated films, and 59% long feature films, while 1% goes for developing long features, documentaries and long animated films. A maximum of 50% of the total sum may be granted at the beginning of the preparation, up to 20% (upon the request by the producer) at the end of the shooting, and 10% (upon the demand by the producer) once the standard copy is delivered. A direct credit can be reimbursed in 10 years.

CNC announced at the end of 2010 that production companies that don't respect their contracts with the CNC and producers who dropped projects which were awarded at previous sessions will not be eligible to apply for the next grant session. The European Commission (ec.europa.eu) approved €80.68 million (RON 347 million) in state aid for the Romanian funding scheme at the end of 2010. The scheme approved by the European Commission will be run by the Romanian authorities until 31 December 2014. It allows producers to spend up to 20% of the film budget within the European Economic Area (EEA), not just in Romania.

In 2010, 19 features were produced in Romania, the highest number in the last five years (18 in 2006, 11 in 2007, 9 in 2008, 18 in 2009). Of those, eight were made with a production grant from CNC, nine entirely financed in Romania and ten co-productions. The National Cinema Center supported almost all the big successes of the Romanian New Wave. For a Romanian co-producer, the support of the CNC is indispensable. Moreover, if he wants an international co-producer, he has to have the support of his national body.

Sean Durkin has been awarded for the best direction at Sundance for his film Martha Marcy May Marlene which is going to be screened in the competition program of the Miskolc International Film Festival in September. The Hungarian cinema-goers can watch the film, which appeared in the Un certain regard section in Cannes, much earlier than the Americans - as the film’s US premiere is going to be held only on 21^st October. Among the stars of this masterful psychological thriller are Christopher Abbot, Hugh Dancy - and Elizabeth Olsen, the talented sister of the Olsen twins, who gives Oscar-worthy performance in the film. Martha Marcy May Marlene escapes from the captivity of a sect, but her memories still keep her suffering for a long time. Sean Dunkin’s first feature film has a good chance for the Academy Awards, just like the opening film of Jameson CineFest, The Help, which has been leading the US charts for 14 days.

--
Peter Muszatics

The program of the Polish Academy of Document in Kiev is now available on our website www.dragonforum.pl/en

During the Kiev workshops, young documentary makers will develop their film projects under the guidance of international experts such as Jerzy Śladkowski, Marcin Koszałka, Krzysztof Kopczyński and Dorota Roszkowska. The program also includes Master Classes and Case Studies and Art of Document screenings in Kinopanorama cinema as well. We will show a choice of intriguing films about Poland and the world, including: «Warsaw To Take» by Karolina Bielawska i Julia Ruszkiewicz , «Kruzenshtern» by Maciej Cuske, «Mobile Cinema Of Dreams» by Andrzej Fidyk, Marcel Łoziński's «Poste Restante», «I Love Poland» by Marii Zmarz-Koczanowicz, «Declaration Of Immortality» by Marcin Koszałka and «Vodka Factory» by Jerzy Śladkowski. The session will end with an open conference of Polish and Ukraininan filmmakers on the current issues in cinematography.

Wellcome!

The calls for projects to participate in Polish Academy of Document are open:
for Kiev (4-8 Oct) until September 4th
for Minsk (8-12 Nov) until October 2nd
for Moscow (6-10 Dec) until October 16th

Application form, regulations and additional information about Polish Academy of Document are available at www.dragonforum.pl

WATCH DOCS 2011 program includes among others:
1. Competition for feature-length, human rights – oriented documentaries from all over the world, of outstanding cinematic quality
2. Permanent repertoire section „I Want to See”, including documentaries about events, problems and people on whom the attention of human rights defenders is currently focused
3. Permanent repertoire section „Discreet Charm of Propaganda” -sixth edition: the war propaganda during the Balkans conflict
4. Permanent repertoire section „New Polish Films” presenting the most recent Polish docs that are focused on social issues
5. Permanent repertoire section „Close Up”- the Arab World including films depicting recent North African revolutions
6. Second part of the retrospective „The Shelved Gems” – documentaries and feature films which were banned by the censorship for various reasons.,
7. Thematic retrospective focuses on racism, xenophobia, and various forms of intolerance in contemporary world.

WATCH DOCS is not only about films. This year the Festival’s accompanying events include among others: an international conference on human rights today with theoreticians and hands on human rights defenders from all over the world; master classes conducted by renowned filmmakers; panel debates, discussions and meetings.

More details on http://www.watchdocs.pl/

On the initiative of the Polish Film Institute two cultural institutions: the Film Society of Lincoln Center together with the Polish Cultural Institute of New York teamed for a week of contemporary Polish cinema from the last two years: Transitions: Recent Polish Cinema. With the maximum effort of the Polish Film Institute it took a year to organize the series that audience will get to chance to see between September 9 – 15. The series mark for the Polish Cinema the first time of being held by such a prestigious institution like Lincoln Center.

The line-up includes the best features from acclaimed Polish film directors as well as debutants, the best Polish shorts from the previous year, documentaries, animated works and a two film tribute of digitally restored prints featuring Zbigniew Cybulski from Janusz Morgenstern with Krzysztof Komeda’s music: Goodbye Until Tomorrow and Night Train.

The screenings of Suicide Room by Jan Komasa (Friday, Sept 9, 6:45 pm) and Mall Girls by Katarzyna Rosłaniec (Saturday, Sept 10, 9:10 pm) will be accompanied by the meeting with the directors. On September 10 at 5 pm there will be also the chance to meet Kamil Polak (Switez) and Bartek Kulas (Millhaven) during the shorts screenings.

LIST OF FILMS:

All That I Love (Wszystko co kocham), 2009

Director: Jacek Borcuch, Cast: Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Jakub Gierszał, Olga Frycz.

Spring of 1981. A wave of strikes sweeps through Poland. Communist authorities are trying to find ways of destroying “Solidarity” movement. Four 18-year-old kids in a seaside town form a punk rock band. Their leader Janek is the son of a prominent navy officer.

Festivals: Busan IFF 09//Sundance IFF 10 //Rotterdam IFF 10

Black Thursday (Czarny czwartek), 2011

Director: Antoni Krauze, Cast: Marta Honzatko, Michał Kowalski.

The story of workers' strikes in December 1970 that were met with a brutal reaction from the communist authorities. The film is based around a Gdynia shipyard worker named Brunon Drzywa, who died during the riots after having been shot in the back at a local train station.

Festivals: Montreal IFF 11

Erratum, 2010

Director: Marek Lechki, Cast: Tomasz Kot, Ryszard Kotys.

A few days before his son’s First Communion, Michał heads to his hometown. He has some business to attend to, and return home as soon as possible. When he gets there, it turns out that he will have to stay for a few days. While walking the town streets, he encounters people he used to be close with, visits familiar places. What started out as a trivial trip slowly turns into an emotional life journey.

Festivals: Warsaw IFF 10 // Busan 10 // Chicago Iff 10 // Thessaloniki 10

Mall Girls (Galerianki), 2009

Director: Katarzyna Rosłaniec, Cast: Anna Kaczmarczyk, Dagmara Krasowska, Dominika Gwit.

Milena and her friends are Middle school students. They enjoy spending time at the mall. They meet rich men, who give them presents in exchange for sex.

Festivals: Toronto IFF 10 // Banghkok IFF 09 //Cottbus IFF 2009 // Tallin IFF 09

Mother Teresa of Cats (Matka Teresa od kotów), 2009

Director: Paweł Sala, Cast: Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Filip Garbacz, Mariusz Bonaszewski, Ewa Skibińska.

A story inspired by real events. Two brothers brutally murder their cat-loving mother. This heinous crime serves as a pretext for pondering on the condition of the family in Poland. How is it possible that an average and seemingly normal family can suddenly be deprived of their chance for a normal life...

Festivals: Karlovy Vary IFF 10 // Tallin IFF 10 // Cottbus IFF 10 // Cairo IFF 10

Out of Love (Z miłości), 2011

Director: Anna Jadowska, Cast: Marta Nieradkiewicz, Wojciech Niemczyk, Daniel Olbrychski, Ewa Szykulska.

Ewelina and Piotr recently got married. Now they have a baby, but also constant financial difficulties. Piotr doesn’t have a steady job, nor has he any ideas for supporting his family. In a conversation with friends, Ewelina and Piotr learn that performing in a porn film is a fun and easy way to make quick money.

Suicide Room (Sala samobójców), 2010

Director: Jan Komasa, Cast: Jakub Gierszał, Roma Gąsiorowska, Agata Kulesza, Krzysztof Pieczyński.

Dominik, a high school student, is humiliated by his colleagues one too many times; he stops going to school and shuts himself in the virtual world. There he meets a girl who brings him into the “suicide room” an online place for people who, like Dominik, no longer want to live, or at least give off that impression.

Festivals: Berlin IFF 11 // Off Plus Camera in Krakow 11 // Polish Film Festival in Gdynia 11

Venice (Wenecja), 2010

Director: Jan Jakub Kolski, Cast: Magdalena Cielecka, Marcin Walewski, Agnieszka Grochowska.

A ten-tear-old boy dreams of going to Venice. But then the Second World War starts and his family hides him in the home of his aunts who build him a small Venice in the flooded basement. A coming-of-age story about love and courage.

Festivals: Montreal IFF 10 // Cottbus IFF 10 // Tallin IFF 10

SHORT FILMS

SWITEŹ, dir. Kamil Polak, 2011
GALERIA, dir. Robert Proch, 2010
SZELEST, dir. Leszek Korusiewicz, 2010
POROZMAWIAJ Z NIM, dir. Agata Prętka, 2010
POWROTY, dir. Krzysztof Kadłubowski, 2010
MILLHAVEN, dir. Bartek Kulas, 2010
PRZESŁUCHANIE, dic. Adam Palenta, 2010
PUSSYCAT, dir. Ola Jankowska, 2011

Further details available on Film’s society website.

Best regards,

Olga Domżała

Olga Domżała

Film Sales Support & PR Manager

Polish Film Institute

Krakowskie Przedmieście 21/23

00-071 Warsaw PL

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +48 695 363 335

The Flying Machine will have its official premiere screening in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing on August 30 as a part of celebration of the Polish Presidency in European Union. For this most famous concert hall in China the screening will mark the first 3D movie projection ever.Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski and the Director of the Polish Film Institute Agnieszka Odorowicz have confirmed their presence at the premiere.

The Flying Machine is a Polish-Chinese co-production with the support of the Polish Film Institute. The film was produced by BreakThru Films (Poland) and co-produced by: Telewizja Polska S.A, Canal+ Poland, Media Skok Sp. Z o.o., Sean Michael Bobbitt Investment, Hugh Welchman. Total budget amount is 36 mln PLN. The world sales is handled by the Distribution Workshop. The distribution of The Flying Machine in Poland will be handled by Kino Świat and Bona Film Group in China (also co-producer).

From Academy Award Winning team behind Peter And The Wolf (Best Short Animation Film) and Line Producer Gareth Unwin (King’s Speech),The Flying Machine is a spectacular 3D adventure for the whole family, combining live action and stop motion animation. Starring Heather Graham and super-star pianist Lang Lang (considered by Time magazine in 2009 one of 100 the most influential people in the world) who also performs the soundtrack, Chopin’s timeless unforgettable music provides the inspiration for a modern fairy tale.

The Flying Machine’s animated part was directed by Martin Clapp and the cinematographer credit goes to Krzysztof Ptak. The film was created to promote Chopin's music internationally.

The Flying Machine has assembled a truly class team of stop motion and 2D animators. Each of the stop motion animators have credits as lead animators on some of the biggest stop-motion films of recent years – Coraline, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, DreamWorks Spirit, Aardman’s Wallace & Grommitt. The 2D animators include Dino Athanassiou, director of Treasure Island and Sequence Director of DreamWorks, and Paul Bolger, lead animator on Cool World, The Thief and the Cobbler and Director of Happily N’everAfter(starring Sigourney Weaver).

Best regards,

Olga Domżała

Olga Domżała

Film Sales Support & PR Manager

Polish Film Institute

Krakowskie Przedmieście 21/23

00-071 Warsaw PL

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +48 695 363 335

For the second year in a row, Kaunas International Film Festival will be opened by a Lithuanian film – this year it will be the documentary The Field of Magic by Mindaugas Survila. The premiere of the story about the people who have been living in the Buda Forest near the former Karijotiškės landfill for over 20 years will take place in Kaunas on September 27.

“We are establishing a tradition to begin the programme of the Festival with a Lithuanian film – last year we screened Eastern Drift by Šarūnas Bartas, and this year we chose the work of Mindaugas Survila who represents the young generation of Lithuanian filmmakers. Each year, we try to introduce both renowned Lithuanian works of cinematography and promising filmmakers,” said the Festival’s director Ilona Jurkonytė.

Four years in the making, the documentary The Field of Magic is a scrutiny of the miserable lives, holidays and survival of the residents of the Buda Forest. By giving voice to those who usually remain unheard, the filmmaker reveals the difficulties of these actions as well as shows the ability of the characters to be ironical about the surrounding world and the fear of losing touch with it.

“My visits to the Buda Forest were very frequent during the filming and gradually those people began accepting me: I would accompany them to the landfill, and celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve with them. All of a sudden I could see them in a completely different way as compared to the picture drawn by the press and the television – they not only do their share of hard work every day, but also read books, listen to music, make jokes, fall in love, sing, cry, play cards, do their hair and are always ready to help each other,” said the author of the film Mindaugas Survila.

The Field of Magic is the second documentary of the young filmmaker. The debut titled Meeting the Ospreys about the rare species of birds was awarded the best Lithuanian nature documentary in 2007 and received the prize of Petras Abukevičius, maker of the films about nature.

The 5th Kaunas International Film Festival will take place September 27 – October 9 in Kaunas and Vilnius. The Festival will visit Panevėžys film theatre “Garsas” on October 10–13 and Nida film theatre “Agila" on October 13–16. More information on www.kinofestivalis.lt.

--
Gintarė Kavaliūnaitė
Public relations | Ryšiai su visuomene
Kaunas International Film Festival | Tarptautinis Kauno kino festivalis
+370 610 05056 | www.kinofestivalis.lt| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |

Following up on its Uncensored series, HBO Czech Republic has announced another call for documentary proposals from Czech and Slovak filmmmakers. The call is organized in cooperation with the Institute of Documentary Film and the winning project will receive funding support in the amount of approx. EUR 50,000.