POLISH SHORTS – 2011 IN NUMBERS

Since last year the number of screenings and awards received by Polish short films at international film festivals has risen nearly two times. With the total outcome of more than 760 screenings and 145 awards and special mentions Polish short films are finishing the year on the festival’s tournee.

Since last year the number of screenings and awards received by Polish short films at international film festivals has risen nearly two times. With the total outcome of more than 760 screenings and 145 awards and special mentions Polish short films are finishing the year on the festival’s tournee.

From the total number of 761 screenings 555 were those in the competition section. The unbeatable winner of the documentary cathegory is “Charcoal Burners” by Piotr Złotorowicz – the student of Polish National Film School in Łodź, that was screened worldwide more than 60 times. Right after him there is another documentary, of the very similar subject – “A piece of summer” by Marta Minorowicz screened 27 times and then mountaineering “Declaration of Immortality” by Marcin Koszałka scoring 17 festival’s screenings.

In the fiction category student films proved the most frequently screened in 2011. “Twist and Blood” by Kuba Czekaj – produced at the Department of Film and Television of the Silesian University in Katowice opens the rating with 28 festival screenings. The following leaders are the students of Polish National Film School in Łódź - Magnus Arnesen screening his “Sing me to sleep” 24 times, Igor Chojna with his “Through glass” with 16 festival’s entries and Bartłomiej Żmuda and his “Barbican” shown all over the world 13 times. It is worth also to mention “Frozen stories” by Grzegorz Jaroszuk, whose film received last year the nomination for the European Film Award in the cathegory of short film. Another short fiction – “Without snow” by Magnus von Horn, also graduating from Łodź, scored Grand Prix awards in Bilbao and Leuven.

The biggest bestseller in the group of animated films is a twenty-minutes long “The Lost Town of Świteź” by Kamil Polak that during the last 12 months hit the number exceeding 110 screenings. Right after it comes a five-minutes long “Ritual” by Zbigniew Czapla (more than 60 screenings), “Millhaven” by Bartek Kulas, based on Nick Cave’s dark ballad (41 screenings) and “Gallery” by Robert Proch (34 screenings). Polish animations, with the most frequently awarded „Maska” by Quay Brothers and „Danny Boy” by Marek Skobecki, received last year nearly forty awards and special mentions!

It is also worth mentioning that over the last year Polish films were included in the programmes of the most important short film festivals worldwide. The screening and the Special Mention for the documentary “Out of reach” by Kuba Stożek at Sundance started a run of good luck for Polish films. In February documentary “A piece of summer” by Marta Minorowicz received the Grand Prix at Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival in France, while a few months after that “That’s life” by Daniel Zieliński and “Out of reach” by Kuba Stożek were selected for the competition of Canadian Hot Docs. At the turn of May and June another exceptional documentary – “Paparazzi” by Piotr Bernaś received the nomination for the European Film Award. The beginning of the summer brought great news to the authors of animated films – seven Polish animations were selected to compete for the awards of the biggest and the most prestigious animated film festival in French Annecy – three of them received the final honors – “Paths of Hate” by Damian Nenow got the Special Mention, “Maska” by Quay Brothers the Award for the Best Original Music while “The Lost Town of Świteź” the prize for the Best Debut. At the end of June Marcin Koszałka picked up the prize for the Best Documentary in Czech Karlove Vary for his “Declaration of immortality”. In August two above mentioned student films – “Without snow” by Magnus von Horn and “Frozen stories” by Grzegorz Jaroszuk made their way straight to the competition at Locarno. In November two documentaries – “Paparazzi” by Piotr Bernaś and “Trip” by Bartosz Kruhlik – were featured in IDFA’s competition.


THE LIST OF AWARDS FOR THE POLISH SHORT FILMS IN 2011

B-1033, dir. Paweł Kryszak
Audience Award (Animation and Experimental Film) - goEast Film Festival, Germany

Barbican, dir. Bartłomiej Żmuda
Audience Award - 10th Beijing Film Academy International Student Film&Video Festival
Best European Talent Award - interfilm Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
Best Short Fiction Film - 28th Tehran Short Film Festival, Iran
International Panorama Audience Award - Curta Cinema 2011 - Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival, Brazil

Two steps behind.., dir. Paulina Majda
First Place in the Non Narrative Cathegory - CutOut Fest, Mexico

Gallery, dir. Robert Proch
Animation Panorama Audience Award - Curta Cinema 2011 - Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival, Brazil
Best Animated Short - Worldwide Short Film Festival, Canada
Honorable Mention - AniFest, Czech Republic
Honorable Mention, Onda Curta Award - MONSTRA Lisboa Animated Film Festival, Portugal
Mind's Eye Award - Short Short Story Festival, USA
Special Mention - 41th  International Film Festival  "Molodist", Ukraine

Glasgow, dir. Piotr Subbotko
Best Debut - Message to Man International Film Festival, Russia
Golden Apricot - “Golden Apricot” 8th Yerevan Film Festival, Armenia
Special Award - 21. Filmfestival Cottbus, Germany
Special Jury Prize - Festival Tous Courts, Aix en Provance, France

Normal People, dir. Piotr Złotorowicz
Golden Tadpole for the Best Student Film- International Film Festival of the Art of cinematography Plus Camerimage, Poland

Millhaven, dir. Bartek Kulas
Special Mention - 6th Animest International Animation Film Festival, Romania

Frozen Stories, dir. Grzegorz Jaroszuk
EFA nomination – Locarno FF, Switzerland
Grand Jury Prize Live Action Short - AFI Fest Los Angeles, USA
Grand Prix, Audience Award - Recontres Henri Langlois, Festival International des Ecoles de Cinema, France

The Last Train, dir. Weronika Tofilska
The Best Fiction Film, The Best Camera Work - Open Saint Petersburg Student Film Festival Beginning, Russia

Talk to him, dir. Agata Prętka
Best Film - AniFest, Czech Republic

Through glass, dir. Igor Chojna
BHF-BANK Foundation Award for Best Short Film from a non-German film school, Audience Awards (Short Feature Film) - goEast Film Festival, Germany
Special Mention - 4th Cape Winelands Film Festival, South Africa

Ritual, dir. Zbigniew Czapla
Best Debut - TOFUZI 2010, Georgia
Best Debut Film - 9th International Animated Film Festival Tindirindis
Diploma for the best professional film - 18th KROK International Animated Film Festival, Ukraine
Special Prize- AniFest ROZAFA, Albania

Twist and Blood, dir. Kuba Czekaj
2nd Place Narrative Award - Next Frame International Student Film and Video Festival, USA
Best Feature Film under 40 minutes - Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival, Germany
Best Student Film - 41th  International Film Festival  "Molodist", Ukraine
Grand Prix - Kyoto International Student &Video Festival, Japan
Special Mention in the cathegory of Authour film - International Student Film Festival OSTRAVA PICTURE, Czech Republic

Birthday, dir. Maciej Sobieszczański
Special Mention - Etiuda and Anima International Film Festival, Poland

Without snow, dir. Magnus von Horn
Silver Hobby Horse 51st Krakow Film Festival, Poland
Grand Prix - ZINEBI 53 International Festival of Documentary and Short Films of Bilbao, Spain
Grand Prix of the European Competition - International Short Film Festival Leuven, Belgium

Sing me to sleep, dir. Magnus Arnesen
Best Medium Lenght Film, The Award of the Young Jury - Brest European Short Film Festival, France
Special mention - 16th Ourense International Film Festival, Spain
Special mention - Nordic Panorama Film Festival
Special Mention - Drama International Short Film Festival, Greece

Danny Boy, dir. Marek SkrobeckiBest Short Film of the Shadows Shorts – Transylvania Int’l Film Festival 2011 , Romania
Best Short Film, Pinokio Prize for the Best Animation- 62nd Festival Montecatini Toscana, Italy
Grand Prix – Banjaluka International Animated Film Festival 2011, Bosnia and Hercegovina
Best Foreign Animation Short Film – 14th International Short Film Festival La Boca del Lobo, Spain
Audience Choice Award - 35th International Animated Film Festival Cinanima Espinho 2011, Portugal
Best Animation Short Film, Fancine – Film festival de cine fantastic 2011, Spain

Maska, dir. Bracia Quay
First Prize in Animation category, Athens International Film and Video Festival, USA
Main prize in the category Short film from 15 to 60 minutes, ANIFEST 2011, Czech Republic
Best Short Film - International Film Festival of Uruguay
Best Original Music, Annecy – Festival international du film d’animation, France
19th CURTAS VILA DO CONDE, Short Wave Award, Portugal
Grand prix, WFAF Varna, Bulgaria
Special award of the Jury for the work of mastery, Balkanima Animated Film Festival, Serbia
Special mention of the international jury, ANIMA CORDOBA, Argentina
Special award for animation, Banjaluka International Animated Film Festival, Bosnia and Hercegovina

The Lost Town of Świteź, dir. Kamil Polak
FIPRESCI Jury Mention, Belgrade Documentary & Short FF, Serbia
Best Short Film - Las Palmas IFF, Spain
Best Short Film - Cartoons on the Bay, Italy
Best Animation, National Competition - Krakow IFF, Poland
Best Debut - Annecy IFF, France
Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers Award - Varna World Festival of Animated Film, Bulgaria
Best Animation - Message to Man IFF, Russia
Spezial Prize - Anifest Rozafa, Albania
Best Short Animated Film - Golden Kuker Film Festival, Bulgaria
Best Animation - Best Animation - Naoussa IFF, Greece
Grand Prix - Multivision Int’ Festival of Animation Arts, Russia
Best Animation - Soria Short Film Festival, Spain
Audience Award - Etiuda & Anima Krakow, Poland

3 days of Freedom, dir. Łukasz Borowski
Grand Prix Golden Dinosaur - Etiuda & Anima Krakow, Poland
Best Polish Documentary Film - New Horizons International Documentary Film Festival, Poland

Bon Apettit, dir. Kuba Maciejko
Maciej Szumowski’s Award - 51st Krakow Film Festival, Poland

Written in ink, dir. Martin Rath
Best Short Documentary – Abu Dhabi Film Festival, The United Arab Emirates

Declaration of immortality, dir. Marcin Koszałka
Documentary Award – Encounters Bristol International Film Festival, UK
Kamera Alpin in Gold – 23rd International Mountain & Adventure Filmfestival Graz, Austria
Best Documentary Film – 46th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic
Silver Gentian for the best artistic-technical contribution – 59th TrentoFilmfestival, Italy
Silver Hugo Award for the Best Documentary Film – 47. Hugo Television Awards, USA
Diploma of Merit – Tampere International Short Film Festival, Finland

Decrescendo, dir. Marta Minorowicz
Special Mention – 51st Krakow Film Festival
A piece of summer, dir. Marta Minorowicz
Nanook Second Prize – Curt.doc Short Documentary Festival, Spain
Grand Prix – Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2011, France

The last day of summer, dir.. Piotr Stasik
Prix RTP2 Onda Curta – Festival Tous Courts, Aix-en-Provence, France
“Silver Nanook” Award for the best short film – International Documentary Film Festival “Flahertiana”, RussiaDocumentary Award “Remembrance and Future” – goEast Film Festival, Germany

The Contest, dir.. Jakub Cuman
Nagroda im. Michała Maryniarczyka – EKRAN 2011 – TORONTO POLISH FILM FESTIVAL, CANADA

Mother, dir. Jakub Piątek
Best Documentary – 9th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, Bulgaria

Oh my God, Dear God, dir. Julia Popławska
Best Short Documentary – MiradasDoc Festival, Spain

Paparazzi, dir. Piotr Bernaś
Best Documentary – International Music&Film Festival, Latvia
EFA Nomination – 51st Krakow Film Festival, Poland
Golden Frog – Plus Camerimage FF, Poland

Take a Look, dir. Adam Palenta
Special Jury Mention - 7th Polish Film Festival New York, USA

Returns, dir. Krzysztof Kadłubowski
Best Documentary Film – International Short Film Festival Lille, France
Best Experimental Documentary – Couch Fest Films, Iceland

Out of reach, dir. Jakub Stożek
Special Mention – RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES DU DOCUMENTAIRE DE MONTRÉAL, CANADA
FIPRESCI Jury prze – International Documentary Film Festival “Flahertiana”, Russia
Best International Short Dox Award – International Documentary and Short Film Festival – Dokufest, Kosovo
Best Documentary in the Interantional Short Film Competition – It’s All True – 16th International Documentary Film Festival, Brazil
Special Prize from the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine – Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Ukraine
Honorable Mention – 2011 Sundance Film Festival, USA

Rolls of Identity, dir. Jakub Pączek
Jury Award for Best Film – FilmOneFest, USA
Second Award – 19th Croatian One Minute Festival
Grand Prix – One Minute Film & Video Festival, Toronto, Canada

The Conversation, dir. Piotr Sułkowski
Best Documentary Short Film – Tirana International Film Festival, Albania

Charcoal Burners, dir. Piotr Złotorowicz
2nd Place Documentary Award Winner – Nextframe International Student Film And Video Festival, USA
Best Documentary – Ostrava-Picture, Czech Republic
Best Documentary – Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival, Canada
Best Documentary Prize – Con i minuti contati – International Short Fil
m Festival, ItalyFirst Prize – 17th Film Festival Della Lessinia, Italy
First Prize – 3rd Inigo Film Festival, Spain
Best Documentary – Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico
Honorable Mention – Lume International Film Festival, Brazil
Best Documentary Film – Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival, UK
Honorable Mention – EMERGEANDSEE Media Arts Festival, Germany
Best Student Film – EfeboCorto Film Festival, Sicilia
Best Documentary – Kansas City FilmFest, USA
Special Mention for documentary – West-Östliches FilmFestival, Germany
The Best Documentary Award – REGARD – Saguenay International Short Film Festival, Canada
Award for the Best Documentary – Taos Shortz Film Fest, USA
Grand Jury Award For Short – Washington DC Independent Film Festival, USA
“Little Stamp” Award – 7th ZagrebDox, Croatia
Grand Prix – Festival Filmer le Travail, France

The Lucky Ones, dir. Tomasz Wolski
National Geographic Award – Best Documentary – 20th Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Australia

Vakha and Magomed, dir. Marta Prus
Best Short Documentary – 52nd Festival dei Popoli, Italy
Prix Roger Closset – Festival International des Ecoles de Cinéma – FIDEC, Belgium

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*all of the above mentioned data was gathered basing on the information received by Polish Shorts from the producers, filmmakers and festival’s representatives. If by any chance you happen to know about any awards for the Polish short films that were not included in this rating, please inform us by sending an e-mail to: info@polishshorts.pl