„LOSING SONIA” AND „3 DAYS OF FREEDOM”
PREMIERE AT VISIONS DU RÉEL

Two documentaries produced by Wajda Studio, "Losing Sonia" by Radka Franczak and "3 Days of Freedom", by Łukasz Borowski, were selected for the programme of the 18th Visions du Réel Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, which starts today.

"Losing Sonia" is the latest production of Wajda Studio (co-produced by Otter Films Anna Wydra), whose world premiere will take place at this year's Visions du Réel Festival (20 - 27 April), where the film will be screened in the International Competition for Middle Length Films. The Radka Franczak documentary shows how a seemingly rigid monastery can be a place full of life, beauty and artistic expression. Sonia, a young nun, paints icons in the night and then sleeps until noon. She has a dog, cats, exotic birds, and a body that rebelled against the strict rigour of the monks. Trying to understand her and the meaning of her life choices, we come to Sonia’s family, marked with the history of Russia. At the same time, the film is a journey inside the Orthodox church, showing that the deep spirituality of the nation is being reborn. "Losing Sonia" tells the story of an unusual woman who, within the walls of the monastery, is trying to rebuild the values that Russian society has lost under successive political regimes.

"Losing Sonia" is Radka Franczak's debut middle length film production. The director alludes to the topic of her previous short documentary film – "Stiepan" (produced by Wajda Studio, 2006), which was a record of a conversation with a random traveller at the train station in Terespol. In 13 minutes, a 75-year-old Russian recounts his life story – the story of a deeply religious man who, despite severe persecutions, refused to renounce his beliefs.

One of the five cameramen is Michael Ackerman, an American photographer known for his radical and unique approach to photography.

Screenings of “Losing Sonia” at Visions du Réel:

· April 22^nd, 2:30pm
cinema Capitole 1

· April 23^rd, 2pm
cinema Capitole 2

“3 Days of Freedom”, dir. Łukasz Borowski

"3 Days of Freedom" is a short documentary that will be presented in the International Competition, which will be its European premiere. The protagonist is Peter, who, after a long stay in prison, receives a three-day pass, during which he will have to decide what is most important in his life. So far, the film has already received the Grand Prix of the Etiuda & Anima Festival in Krakow (in the etude section) and the Best Polish Short Film Award at the "New Horizons" Festival in Wroclaw, for example. In late March, Łukasz Borowski's documentary had an American premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival "It's All True" in Brazil.

Screenings of “3 Days of Freedom” at Visions du Réel:

· April 25^th, 10pm
cinema Capitole 1

· April 26^th, 10am
cinema Capitole 2

The Visions du Réel Festival is one of the most prestigious documentary film festivals in Europe. It is worth recalling that it is not the first time that documentaries endorsed by Wajda Studio and Anna Wydra will have their premiere in Nyon. In 2009, there was the international premiere of "Rabbit a la Berlin," by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosołowski (produced by MS Films and Otter Films Anna Wydra), for which Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra were nominated for an Oscar, and 2010 saw the showing of "Dog Hill" by Grzegorz Zariczny (produced by Wajda Studio).