POLISH SHORT FILMS AND POLISH FILM-MAKERS AT THE 56TH KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL

From among several hundred Polish documentary, animated and short films, submitted to the festival, on the festival screens of Krakow, several dozen of the best films will be shown, made both by beginner film-makers as well as artists recognised in Poland and abroad.

Polish films will participate in all four festival competitions: the international short film competition, the international documentary film competition, DocFilmMusic competition and the national competition. There will also be non-competing screenings: Panorama of the Polish Film, Krzysztof Kieślowski documentary film retrospective, the screening of the best films by the Dragon of Dragons winner, Marcel Łoziński, and a special series dedicated to the works of Andrzej Wajda. The opening film of the 56th edition of the festival is the latest film by Piotr Stasik, "21x New York City." 

Traditionally, among the short feature films submitted to participate in the Festival, the majority are productions made by students, mainly of the school films in Katowice, Lodz and Gdynia, as well as the Wajda School and Munk Studio, operating within the structures of the Polish Filmmakers Association. Masterful acting deserves attention, also by the leading Polish artists, such as: Anna Dymna ("Grandma's Day," dir. Miłosz Sakowski), Beata Fudalej and Julia Kijowska ("The Tenants," dir. Klara Kochańska), Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik ("Otwarcie," dir. Piotr Adamski), and Janusz Chabior in the film by Daria Woszek "The Dogcatcher."

As usual, animated films are strong during Krakow Film Festival. From among 13 animated films qualified for the national competition, 4 films will compete for the Golden Dragon statuette in the international competition, all of them are made by women. "Xoxo - Hugs and Kisses" by Wiola Sowa is a beautiful tale about intimacy, fascination and bodily expression, as well as about emotions and setting emotional boundaries. "Impossible Figures and Other Stories II" by Marta Pajek is the image of the world full of paradoxes and illusions, based on the concept of the impossible object. The film by Aneta Kwiatkowska-Naqvi "Locus," presents an extremely interesting visual form and animation technique, whereas "Sexy Laundry" by Izabela Plucińska is an erotic comedy, made using the traditional stop motion animation.

Every year, the list of films qualified for the national competition at Krakow Film Festival awakens the most intensive emotions. For many film-makers, the Festival is a stepping stone to international career. This year, 45 films will participate in the competition: 24 documentary films, 8 short feature films and 13 animations. In Panorama of the Polish Film, 20 films will be shown, the majority of which will constitute Polish and international premieres.

56th Krakow Film Festival is held from May 29 to June 5, 2016.

A detailed programme will be published in the first days of May.