Polish Days co-organized by the Polish Film Institute  are the most important industry event of T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival, where industry representatives including programmers, sales agents, producers, film funds and distributors from all over the world meet to watch the latest Polish films at closed screenings. This year's edition of Polish Days took place on 8-10 August.

Five completed Polish films and nine works-in-progress were shown at closed screenings during the event. Eleven projects in development were also pitched to the international audience. All presentations were followed by one-on-one sessions.

The event has been gaining international interest and strengthening its position in recent years. This year around 250 key Polish and international guests were present in Wrocław, including producers, film funds and festival programmers (Cannes, Berlin,  Rotterdam, Tribeca among others), as well as a number of international and domestic buyers.

Among the works shown in full at closed screenings were Panic Attack by Paweł Maślona, Wild Roses by Anna Jadowska, Thrice Falls the Saint by Jacek Januszyk, Tower. A Bright Day by Jagoda Szelc and The Reconciliation by Maciej Sobieszczański.

The works-in-progress section presented 9 films, including Back Home by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, The Mute by Bartek Konopka,Speedway by Dorota Kędzierzawska, The Fastest by Łukasz Palkowski, The Man with the Magic Box by Bodo Kox among others.

Pitchings presented Polish films at an earlier stage of development and production. Among them, new works by Jan Komasa (Corpus Christi), Borys Lankosz (Dark, Almost Nighttime), Karolina Bielawska (Neon Tears), Kuba Czekaj (Lipstick on the Glass), Magnus von Horn (Sweat), Norman Leto (Pilot 9/11).

Awards from Aeroplan Studios and ColorOffOn Film went to the projects: Lipstick on the Glass by Kuba Czekaj  and The War Has Ended by Hagar Ben Asher respectively.

The scholarship from EAVE was awarded to Beata Rzeźniczek from Madants, representing project The War Has Ended directed by Hagar Ben-Asher

Event partners included the Wrocław Film Commission, the Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission, the Łódź Film Commission, the Krakow Film Commission, the Podkarpackie Film Commission, the National Audiovisual Institute, Coloroffon, Aeroplan Studios and EAVE. Media partners included Film Pro, Film New Europe and Film & TV Kamera.

Organized by the New Horizons Association and Creative Europe Desk Poland, it consisted of workshops and lectures on various aspects related to the project promotion and development.

Studio New Horizons+ selected European director-producer pairs who are developing their first or second feature film. 10 emerging talents from Poland and 10 from Hungary, Austria, Germany, Romania, and the United Kingdom took part in the programme under the supervision of the following experts: David Pope (London Film Academy); Alya Belgaroui (EAVE), sales agent representing Wild Bunch; Aranka Matits (EAVE), representing Featurette; Raquel Cabrera from The Film Agency; Mark Lautman from Intermission Film; Jakub Duszyński from Gutek Film; and Jan Naszewski from New Europe Film Sales.

The New Horizons Studio+ program was completed with an insightful lecture “Film Trailers” by the special guest from the UK Mark Lautman from Intermission Film, which was given as a part of Creativity Talks organized by the British Council.

The participants took part in the pitching contest. The jury selecting the best pitch (composed of Aranka Matits, Raquel Cabrera and David Pope) decided to split the awards into two parts.

Statement from the Jury:

We are very impressed with the evolution of each project – in the span of just four days.

We hope to have provided an inspiring and nourishing environment for both directors and producers; and that sharing our ideas, suggestions and experience will be of use to them as their pursue their burgeoning carriers. We, for sure, will leave Wrocław feeling inspired by their vision and drive.

QUEENS – an Honourable Mention at the New Horizons Studio+ Pitching

We were impressed by the evolution from when the director-producer team first introduced the project where they were grabbling with genre labels, tonality and social context to a pitch that engaged us with nuanced characters and made us curious to find out how they will resolve their dilemmas. The Honourable Mention goes to QUEENS, directed by Stefan Bohun and produced by David Bohun. 

FISHEYE – the Winner of the New Horizons Studio+ Pitching Contest and recipient of the London Film Academy Award

The New Horizons Studio+ /The London Film Academy Award goes to FISHEYE (directed by Michał Szcześniak and produced by Ewa Turczańska), a project that painted a very clear picture of what the team behind it wants to accomplish. The pitch presented effectively the promise of the story and its universe as well as articulating all the specific creative contributions of the range of collaborators that are involved in each and every filmmaking process.

The award is project consultation with David Pope (London Film Academy).

Congratulations to the winners and thank to all the participants and partners: EAVE, London Film Academy, Romanian Institute of Culture, German Films and the Austrian Cultural Forum, as well as media partners: Film & TV Kamera, Film Pro and Film New Europe.

Film productions funded by the Subcarpathian Regional Film Fund in 2017.

OFFICIAL AWARDS 

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – FEATURE FILM

Jury:
Michel Franco, Director, Writer, Producer (President of the Jury, Mexico)

Members of the Jury:
Mark Adams, Artistic Director of EIFF (UK)
Goran Bogdan, Actor (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia)
Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute (Qatar)
Melisa Sözen, Actress (Turkey)

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
SCARY MOTHER / SASHISHI DEDA
Georgia, Estonia
Director: Ana Urushadze
Producer: Lasha Khalvashi
Financial Award, in the amount of 16.000 €.

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST DIRECTOR
EMANUEL PÂRVU
MEDA OR THE NOT SO BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS / MEDA SAU PARTEA NU PREA FERICITĂ A LUCRURILOR
Romania
Financial Award, in the amount of 10,000 €, is provided by Agnes B.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
DIRECTIONS / POSOKI
Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia
Director: Stephan Komandarev

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST ACTRESS
Ornela Kapetani, DAYBREAK / DITA ZË FILL
Financial Award, in the amount of 2.500 €, sponsored by Tondach.

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST ACTOR
Şerban Pavlu, MEDA OR THE NOT SO BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS / MEDA SAU PARTEA NU PREA FERICITĂ A LUCRURILOR
Financial Award, in the amount of 2.500 €, sponsored by Tondach. 

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – SHORT FILM

Jury:
Igor Drljača, Director and Writer (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada)
Milica Tomović, Director (Serbia)
Florian Weghorn, Programme manager of Berlinale Talents (Germany)

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST SHORT FILM
INTO THE BLUE / U PLAVETNILO
Croatia, Slovenia
Director: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović
Financial Award, in the amount of 2.500 €.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
SOA
Montenegro
Director: Dušan Kasalica

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
COPA - LOCA
Greece
Director: Christos Massalas

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – STUDENT FILM

Jury:
Boaz Frankel, Director and editor (Israel)
Guillaume de Seille, Producer (France)
Teona Strugar Mitevska, Director (Macedonia)

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST STUDENT FILM
CLEAN / ČISTOĆA
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Director: Neven Samardžić
Financial Award, in the amount of 1,000 €, sponsored by Regional Cooperation Council.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
LJUBLJANA - MÜNCHEN 15:27 / LJUBLJANA - MUNICH 15:27
Slovenia
Director: Katarina Morano

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – DOCUMENTARY FILM

Jury:
Claas Danielsen, CEO of Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung GMBH (MDM) (Germany)
Gitte Hansen, Deputy Director of First Hand Films, International Sales & Services | Swiss Distribution (Switzerland)
Želimir Žilnik, Director (Serbia)

HEART OF SARAJEVO FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
CITY OF THE SUN / MZIS QALAQI
Georgia, USA, Qatar, Netherlands
Director: Rati Oneli
Financial award, in the amount of 3,000 €, sponsored by Government of Switzerland.

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR COMPETITION PROGRAMME DOCUMENTARY FILM
KINDERS
Austria
Directors: Arash T. Riahi, Arman T. Riahi
Financial Award, in the amount of 2,500 €, is provided by Al Jazeera Balkans.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
HOME / DOM
Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Director: Zdenko Jurilj

HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
MR. GAY SYRIA
Turkey, France, Germany
Director: Ayse Toprak
Best film of the Competition Programme – Documentary Film dealing with the subject of human rights. Award in the amount of 3,000 €, sponsored by Government of Switzerland.

HONORARY HEART OF SARAJEVO

John Cleese, Actor
Oliver Stone, Director

CINELINK AWARDSCINELINK CO-PRODUCTION MARKET AWARDS

CineLink Co-Production Market Jury:
Uldis Dimisevskis, Georges Goldenstern, Behrooz Hashemian, Čedomir Kolar, Annamaria Lodato, Tomi Salkovski and Jani Thiltges.

EURIMAGES COPRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT AWARD
HALF-SISTER
Director: Damjan Kozole
Writers: Damjan Kozole, Urša Menart
Producer: Danijel Hočevar
Production company: Vertigo
Slovenia
- 20.000 €

MACEDONIAN FILM AGENCY CINELINK AWARD
HOLY EMY
Director: Araceli Lemos
Writers: Araceli Lemos, Gulia Caruso
Producers: Elina Psykou, Giulia Caruso, Konstantinos Vassilaros
Production company: StudioBauhaus
Greece
- 10.000 €

ARTE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CINELINK AWARD
CAT IN THE WALL
Directors: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
Writer: Mina Mileva
Producers: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
Production company: Activist38
Bulgaria
- 6.000 €

SPECIAL MENTION
THE GREAT TRAM ROBBERY
Director: Slobodan Šijan
Writers: Slobodan Šijan, Biljana Maksić, Vladimir Mančić
Producer: Marko Paljić
Production company: Gargantua Films
Serbia

MDM EAVE SCHOLARSHIP
Konstantinos Vassilaros / HOLY EMY 

WORK IN PROGRESS AWARDS
Work In Progress Jury:
Paolo Bertolin, Petra Gobel, Paz Lázaro, Hedi Zardi and Serkan Yildirim.

TRT AWARD 
HONEYLAND
Directors: Ljubo Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska
Producers: Ljubo Stefanov, Atanas Georgiev
Production company: Apollo Media, Trice Films
Macedonia
- 30.000 €

POST REPUBLIC AWARD
THE DAY AFTER I’M GONE
Director: Nimrod Eldar
Producer: Eitan Mansuri
Production company: Spiro Films Ltd
Israel
- 50.000 € (in kind support)

RESTART AWARD
WHAT COMES AROUND
Director: Reem Saleh
Producers: Reem Saleh, Konstantina Stavrianou
Production company: Mazameer Productions
Lebanon / Egypt / Qatar
- 20.000 € (in kind support)

CINELINK DRAMA AWARD
CineLink Drama Award Jury:
Meinolf Zurhorst, Tatjana Andersson and Giacomo Durzi.

FILM CENTER SERBIA CINELINK DRAMA AWARD
ALL PANTHERS ARE PINK / SVI PANTERI SU PINK
Creators: Titus Kreyenberg, Miroslav Mogorović
Writer: Dimitrije Vojnov
Director: TBC
Producers: Titus Kreyenberg, Miroslav Mogorović
Production company: Unafilm, Art & Popcorn
Germany, Serbia
- 10.000 €

SPECIAL MENTION
GLYCERIN / GLICERIN
Creators: Ivan Knežević, Miloš Pušić
Writers: Ivan Knežević, Miloš Pušić
Director: Miloš Pušić
Producers: Ivan Knežević, Miloš Pušić
Production company: Altertise
Serbia

23rd SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL PARTNER'S AWARDS

AWARDS OF ASSOCIATION OF BOSNIAN FILMMAKERS

Ivica Matić Award
Redžinald Šimek

Ivica Matić Award 
Tomislav Topić 

Ivica Matić Award
Action Group of the Association of Bosnian Filmmakers for copyrights (Pjer Žalica, Jovan Marjanović, Elma Tataragić and Amar Nović) 

CINEUROPA NAGRADA 
SCARY MOTHER / SASHISHI DEDA
Director: Ana Urushadze 

CICAE NAGRADA
SON OF SOFIA / O GIOS TIS SOFIAS
Director: Elina Psykou

THE EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY NETWORK - TALENT GRANT 
WHEN PIGS COME
Director: Biljana Tutorov 

SARAJEVO SHORT FILM NOMINEE FOR EUROPAN FIOM AWARDS 2017
COPA-LOCA
Director: Christos Massalas

BEST PACK & PITCH AWARD (TALENTS SARAJEVO PACK & PITCH)

SIRIN
Senad Šahmanović – invitation for participation in the co-production market CineLink 

PINKLER
Patricia D'Intino
The postproduction of sound services in the amount of 4.000 EUR (studio Chelia)

BH FILM STUDENT PROGRAMME AWARD 

Best B&H Student Film Award
TO OUTLIVE A TURTLE / NADŽIVETI KORNJAČU
Director: Katarina Živanović
Fakultet dramskih i filmskih umjetnosti Bijeljina 

Special Jury Award 
CLEAN / ČISTOĆA
Director: Neven Samardžić
Akademija scenskih umjetnosti Sarajevo  

Special Mention
WINTER SUN / ZIMSKO SUNCE
Director: Pilar Palomero
Sarajevo Film Academy