2013 YEAR END WRAP UP - AROUND THE YEAR AT FOREIGN FILM FESTIVALS

This year's frequency results are not very different from the ones we noted last year. Between January and December 2013, Polish short films were shown at foreign film festivals over 950 times. However, the fact that particularly makes us proud is that in 2013 Polish films were awarded 110 times.

In 2013, fcition films won in the genre ranking, but only by a hair’s breadth. Short fiction films, last year shown in competition sections at 247 festivals, were screened 327 times; this includes 249 competitive screenings. Among the most frequently screened films, student films took the lead. The best one was “All souls’ day” - the etude by Aleksandra Terpińska - in 2013, the film went to competition sections of 30 festivals and won 6 awards. Terpińska is the student of the Faculty of Radio and Television at the University of Silesia in Katowice. The second and third places were taken by the students of Lodz Film School - "The Kiss" by Filip Gieldoń, present at 29 festivals, and "The Heat" by Bartosz Kruhlik, present at 27 festivals.  Last year, popular films included also "The Big Leap" by Kristoffer Rus - screened at 23 festivals, "Miruna" by Piotr Sułkowski - 20 festivals, "Watermelon" by Tato Kotetishvili - 18 festivals and "The Mother" by Łukasz Ostalski - 14 festivals. 

Last year, it was an animated film - "Ziegenort" by Tomasz Popakul – that proved the most popular at festivals. In 2013, the film was selected by 82 festivals, including such prestigious ones as Annecy, Raindance and Oberhausen. Last year, the animated film by Popakul, produced by Kraków based NoLabel, won 12 awards at foreign festivals, among others in Portugal, the USA and Great Britain. Right after “Ziegenort” comes "Toto" by Zbigniew Czapla, selected to 33 festivals. It is not the first film by Czapla, which does so well at international festivals - his previous film "The Ritual" was shown at 60 festivals, and last year's "Paperbox" - at 32 festivals. Also the following animated films proved festivals’ blockbusters: "Lost Scenes" by Marcin Wasilewski (17 festivals), "Ab Ovo" by Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi (14 festivals), "What happens when children don't eat soup" by Paweł Prewencki (12 festivals), "The Railway Watchman" by Piotr Szczepanowicz and "Darling" by Izabela Plucińska - 11 festivals each. Yet there are not just numbers that speak for themselves. This year, animation filmmakers won many prestigious awards, including the Best Graduation Film award at the festival in Annecy ("Ab ovo" by Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi), the Best Animated Film award at Raindance Festival ("Ziegenort" by Tomasz Popakul) and the Best Animated Film award at the Message to Man Film Festival ("Toto" by Zbigniew Czapla).

It was also a good year for short-length documentary film. During last 12 months, Polish documentary films were included in the programmes of 178 festivals and won 27 awards. Two short documentaries competed for the title of the record-breaker as far as the frequency of being shown at festivals is concerned: "The Whistle"  by Grzegorz Zariczny, shown at 31 international festivals and  "Rogalik" by Paweł Ziemilski, with 30 festival screenings to its credit. The following films can also boast a large number of screenings: "My House Without Me"  by Magdalena Szymków - 19 screenings, last year's most frequently screened film – "Written in Ink"  by Martin Rath, shown 17 times this year, "Freestyle Life"  by Adam Palenta – 16 times and "Exit Point"  by Jagoda Szelc – 11 times and "Camp"  by Tomasz Jeziorski – 10 times. Polish documentaries were also present at the most important festivals - in January, "The Whistle" by Grzegorz Zariczny won Grand Prix award at the Sundance Festival, in July "God's Lake" was chosen the Best Short Film at the DOCSDF Festival, while in August and November „Our Curse” by Tomasz Śliwiński represented Poland in the competitions of the festivals Locarno and IDFA. It is worth mentioning that in 2013 two Polish documentaries went to the pop up film festival Future Shorts. In the spring season, viewers in the cinemas in Europe and around the world could watch "The Whistle" by Grzegorz Zariczny, while in December "Out of Reach" by Jakub Stożek was selected to the programme of Future Shorts.

Throughout the whole year, Polish short films were present at the biggest international events dedicated to short film. In February 2013, Krakow Film Foundation, with the support of Polish Film Institute, organized for the seventh time the Polish Shorts stand at the Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand. The representatives of such institutions as Polish Filmmakers Association - Munk Studio, New Europe Film Sales and Krakow Film Festival attended the market. For six years now Krakow Film Foundation is the Polish partner of the Euro Connection pitching, in which Poland was represented by "Circus Maximus" produced by Kosma Film. During the Short Film Corner that was held in frames of the Cannes IFF in May, a Polish programme of twenty two films, signed by Polish Shorts, was included in the videolibrary, among many other Polish films. In June, came the animated film market MIFA, which takes place every year in parallel with the festival in Annecy in France. It was a special year for Poland at Annecy as the festival featured the vast panorama of Polish films in honour of the Polish animated cinema. Furthermore the representatives of 12 Polish animation studios, including Human Ark, GS Animation and Se-Ma-For, were present at the Polish Animations stand at the MIFA market. In addition, the programme of industry events included for the first time ever  the presentation of Polish animation studios - "Focus on Poland." At the end of the month, Polish documentary films and their producers went to French La Rochelle  and attended the documentary film market Sunny Side of the Doc. Both stands were organised by the Krakow Film Foundation. Concurrently Polish short film programmes were shown within the frames of the following festivals: Tous Courts (France), Ljubljana ISFF (Slovenia), Curtas vila do Conde (Portugal) and Raindance IFF (Great Britain).

THE LIST OF AWARDS WON BY POLISH DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN 2013*

3 Days of Freedom by Łukasz Borowski
12th Euganea Film Festival, Italy, International Short Documentary Mention

18 kg by Kacper Czubak
DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada, Short Documentary Award

Ab ovo, by Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi
37. Annecy Animation Film Festival, France, Best Graduation Film
6th Xiamen International Animation Festival, China, Silver Medal

All Souls' Day by Aleksandra Terpińska
10th Naoussa International Film Festival, Greece, Best SEE Talents Film
Les Enfants terribles/Next Generation, Belgium, Best Short Film of the Young Jury
33rd International Film Festival Autumn in Voronet, Romania, Best Student Film
19th International Short Film Festival in Drama, Greece, Grand Prix
31st Festival Tous Courts -Aix en Provence, France , Second Jury Prize
2nd Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Ukraine, Special Jury Prize

Arena by Martin Rath
58th Cork Film Festival, Ireland, Grand Prix

Baths by Tomek Ducki
37th Cinanima Animated Film Festival, Portugal, Best Short Film up to 5 minutes
11th Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, Switzerland, Best Visuals Award

Beach by Paweł Prewencki
10th Be Film Undergrond Film Festival, USA, 1st Place in Animation Cathegory

Brother Dog by Maria Zbąska
23rd Film Festival Cottbus, Germany, Main Prize of the Short Feature Competition

Danse macabre by Małgorzata Rżanek
16th Ismailia International Film Festival, Egipt , The Jury Prize in the Animation Competition

Darling by Izabela Plucińska
29th interfilm International Short Film Festival, Germany, Best German Film

Echo, by Marcin Filipowicz
Ploiesti International Film Festival, Romania, Grand Prix

Eighteenth Birthday by Marta Prus
12th Silhouette Film Festival, France – Special Mention

Exit Point by Jagoda Szelc
Bansko Filmfest 2013, Bulgaria, Special Jury Mention

Favourite Thing by  Piotr Iskra
Voghera Film Festival, Italy, Best Directing
George Lindsey UNA Film Fest Florence, USA, Best Professional Narrative, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Sound Design

Freestyle Life by  Adam Palenta
4th BCN Sports Film Festival, Spain, Best Short Film
31st Milano International FICTS FEST 2013, France, Special Mention
DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada, Youth Jury Honourable Mention

God's Lake by Diana Aszyk
8th DOCSDF 2013, Mexico, Best International Short Documentary

Indrivaren. When the man comes around by Michael Rendell
Speechless Film Festival, USA – Professional Long Form Award

Left Side of the Face by Marcin Bortkiewicz
Festival dei Popoli – International Documentary Film Festival, Italy, Syracuse University in Florence Award

Lost senses, by Marcin Wasilewski
AVANCA International Film Festival 2013, Portugal, Best Animated Film
SIGGRAPH, USA, Jury Prize

Magma by Paweł Maślona
Palm Springs International Short Fest, USA, Best Student Live Action Short over 15 minutes

Mercy by Eliza Subotowicz
34th Durban International Film Festival, South Africa, Best Short Film Award

Miruna by Piotr Sułkowski
54th Brno Short Film Festival, The Czech Republic, Best Cinematography
Garden State Film Festival, USA, Best International Narrative Short
Outlier IFF, Canada, Best International Short
Bloody Hero International Film Festival, USA , Best Short Film

Normal People by Piotr Złotorowicz
Stoke your Fires Film Festival, UK, Best Student Short Feature
AYVALIK Film Festival, Turkey – Best Script, Best Actress

My House Without Me by Magdalena Szymków
Festival of Migrant Film, Slovenia, Best Short Film

Our Curse by Tomasz Śliwiński
IDFA 2013, The Netherlands, Nomination for IDFA Award

Our Bad Winter by Grzegorz Zariczny
10th Naoussa International Film Festival, Greece, 2nd Best SEE Talents Film

Rogalik by Paweł Ziemilski
43rd ALCINE International Film Festival, Spain, 1st Prize European Competition
59th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany, Special Mention
9th International Documentary Film Festival ZAGREBDOX, Croatia, Special Mention
22nd DokumentArt Film Festival, Niemcy, The Award of the Student Union Greifswald
17th Cinemaiubit International Student Film Festival, Bucharest - Victor Iliu Award

Rondo by Artur Kordas
Cinefiesta 2013, Puerto Rico, Best Animated Film

Survey About Women by Mateusz Głowacki
6th Central and Eastern European Film Festival, Luxemburg, Audience Award

Stefan and the Beetle by Piotr Loc Hoang Ngoc
16th Holland Animation Film Festival, The Netherlands, Special Mention

Twist and blood by Jakub Czekaj
Hot Media International Film Festival, USA, Best Directing

The Big Leap by Kristoffer Rus
21st Raindance Film Festival, UK – Best Short Film Nomination
Los Angeles Movie Awards 2014, USA, 2014, Honorable Mention and Best Editing Award

The Heat by Bartosz Kruhlik
54th Brno Short Film Festival, The Czech Republic - Best Actor, Grand Prix, Best Directing
Rychnovska Osmicka, The Czech Republic – Third Award
Kinofest Festival, Romania – Jury Award
Up and coming International Film Festival Hannover, Germany – Second Prize
17th Cinemaiubit International Student Film Festival, Bucharest – Best Editing

The Kiss by Filip Gieldon
54th Brno Short Film Festival, The Czech Republic, Best Actress
Svenska Kortfilm Festival, Sweden – Best Student Film, Best Actress
Sicilia Queer Film Festival – GLBT, Italy - Jury Award, Special Mention for Agnieszka Żulewska
QFEST, USA - Best Short Film

The Mother by Łukasz Ostalski
43rd Tampere International Film Festival, Finland, Audience Award
60th Pula Film Festival, Croatia, Best Short Film
43nd Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine, Best Student Film
10th Yerevan International Film Festival Golden Apricot, Armenia, Special Mention
Odense International Film Festival 2013, Denmark, Storyteller Award
8th Batumi International Art-house Film Festival, Georgia, Grand Prix for the Best Short Film
2nd South West London International Film Festival, UK – Grand Prix

The Mystery of the Malakka Mountain by Jakub Wroński
54th Brno Short Film Festival, The Czech Republic, Best Animation, Best Script, Best Music

The Railway Watchman by Piotr Szczepanowicz
12th St. Petersburg International Festival of Debut and Student Films Beginning, Russia, Best Production Design

The Whistle by Grzegorz Zariczny
Open City Docs Fest 2013, UK, Best Short Documentary
18th Vilnius International Film Festival, Lithuania, Best Short Film
20th Febiofest International Film Festival, Slovakia, Best Short Film
10th Documenta Madrid, Hiszpania, First Prize of the Jury
55th ZINEBI International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, Spain, Golden Mikeldi for The Best Documentary
Sundance Film Festival 2013, USA, Grand Jury Prize
43nd Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine, Special Mention

To War We Go by Krzysztof Kasior
12th St. Petersburg International Festival of Debut and Student Films Beginning, Russia, Best Script
Toto by Zbigniew Czapla
KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival 2013, The Netherlands, Best Animated Short
13th Un festival c'est trop court, Nice Short Film Festival, France, Special Mention
16th Ismailia International Film Festival, Egipt, The Best Film Prize in the Animation Competition
23rd Message to Man International Film Festival, Russia, Best Animated Film

Vanishing, by  Bartosz Kruhlik
„One Shot” Film Festival, Armenia – Jury Special Mention
Short Film Festival „The Unprecedented Cinema”, Estonia – Third Award

Watermelon, by  Tato Kotetishvili
54th Brno Short Film Festival, The Czech Republic, Best Film under 10 minutes
28th Brest European Short Film Festival, France, General Council of Finistère Award for the First or a School Film

Wolf's Clothing, by Olga Kałagate
4th Flicks Student Film Festival, The Netherlands, Best Short

Written in Ink  by Martin Rath
5th annual Wallabout Film Festival, USA, Best Cinematography
Hot Media International Film Festival, USA, Best Documentary Short

Ziegenort by Tomek Popakul
29th Hamburg Short Film Festival, Germany , arte Shortfilm Award
16th Brooklyn Film Festival, USA, Best Animated Film
37th Cinanima Animated Film Festival, Portugal, Best Short Film Award
4th Xian China International Folk Video, China, Best Technology
59th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany, Grand Prix
14th Lucania Film Festival, Italy , Grand Prix for the Best Short Film
17th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival, Korea, Jury Special Prize
11th Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, Switzerland, New Talent Award
10th Naoussa International Film Festival, Greece, Special Mention
Animanima International Animation Festival 2013, Serbia, Special Mention for the Best Animation
21st Raindance International Film Festival, UK – Best Animated Film
Up and coming International Film Festival Hannover, Germany - International Young Filmmakers Award

* Data collected on the basis of the information received from producers, filmmakers and festival by Polish Shorts.  If you know about any foreign awards for Polish documentaries which are not mentioned in this summary, we would like to ask you to send a message to the editors of the portal: info@polishshorts.pl