Jury of the Canadian Documentary Film Festival DOXA in Vancouver has given the main prizes to Paweł Łoziński – in the feature film competition, and to Rafał Skalski – in the short film competition.

Paweł Łoziński and Rafał Skalski are among the most frequently awarded Polish directors in the recent years. Apart from the highest award at the Canadian festival DOXA, the author of "Chemo" is the winner, among others, of Prix Europa 2009 or the Best Director Award at the international "One World" festival in Prague. Rafał Skalski, who received the main prize in the short films competition at DOXA, in three years amassed several awards at the festivals in Poland and abroad. Among them, there are "the Golden Hobby-Horse" at 47th Krakow Film Festival, the Main Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival "Punto de Vista" in Pamplona and MEO Award for the best short film at Estoril Film Festival in Portugal.

"Chemo" by Paweł Łoziński is the collective portrait of Warsaw oncologic clinic’s patients. The protagonists, taking next doses of "chemo", talk about everyday matters, about their favourite dishes, wedding dresses, but also about the plans for the future, dreams, fears, anxiety, about hope. The video camera records with great subtlety these dialogues, often full of humour and irony, at the same time revealing to the audience truths and values, which emerge from the hospital distance.

Film "52 percent" by Rafał Skalski tells about a young Russian girl, who wants to become a ballet dancer. She tries again and again to be accepted to the famous A. J. Waganowa Russian Ballet Academy in St. Peterborough. The entrance exams are particularly difficult for her. Ałła has to practice additionally to lengthen her legs, as her proportions are not correct. 52 percent is the ideal ratio of the length of the legs to the height.

More information about DOXA is available here.

MAY 2010