2019 turned out to be an extremely lucky period for Polish short feature films. Nearly 120 titles were presented at over 400 festival screenings, almost 350 out of which were competition screenings, from South America to Australia. At 280 international festivals, Polish films were awarded by the jury as many as 52 times. Polish short feature films were also special guests at the festival in Quebec.

The truly unrivalled Polish short film in 2019 was "Play" by Piotr Sułkowski with the staggering number of 45 screenings at the international festivals. The second place went to "Nuclear Shadows" by Marek Leszczewski with 26 screenings, followed by third place for "A Sinner Girl" by Karolina Porcari with seven screenings fewer. Just behind the podium, there is "Weightlifter," directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk with 17 screenings, followed by "New Bronx" by Filip Ignatowicz and "The Stop" by Bartosz Reetz, which were shown at 16 festivals each.

Just behind them, there were "Tremors" by Dawid Bodzak (the most frequently awarded Polish short film of 2018), "The Last Tale About Earth" by Magdalena Seweryn and Igor Polaniewicz, "Border Crossing" by Agnieszka Chmura and "I've Got Something For You Too" by Iwo Kondefer, all of which qualified for the competitions at 14 international festivals. "Daughter" by Mara Tamkovich, which was screened at 10 festivals, also went above the magical two-digit boundary.

Polish short feature films finished 2019 with approximately 55 awards. They are more or less the same as in the list of the most popular short films: "Play" won 7 awards, in turn, "A Sinner Girl", "Nuclear Shadows" and "Wiki" by Veronica Andersson left festivals with awards six times. Further on, "I've Got Something For You Too" and "The Stop" won 3 awards each, in turn, 2 awards went to each of these films: "Atlas" by Maciej Kawalski, "Bitter Herb" by Maria Ornaf, "Tremors" by Bodzak, "New Bronx" by Filip Ignatowicz and "High Heels" by Juan Alejandro Bermudez Martinez.

In 2019, there was no lack of Polish short feature films at the major international festivals. In January, at the American Slamdance, "Users" by Jakub Piątek was shown in the competition. The same film, together with "Bitter Herb" by Maria Ornaf, also qualified for the competition at the international film festival in Moscow. At the same time, "Tremors" by Dawid Bodzak had a chance to win the awards at the prestigious festival in Busan, Korea. Three Polish short feature films also appeared at the Copenhagen Shorts: "Boys With Butterflies" by Marcin Filipowicz, "The Last Tale About Earth" by Magdalena Seweryn and Igor Planiewicz and "I've Got Something For You Too" by Iwo Kondefer.

Polish short films also won main awards at large, international events. In January, "Tremors" by Bodzak won the Grand Prix award at the short film festival in Prague, in March "Atlas" by Maciej Kawalski won at the festival Bermuda Shorts, "I've Got Something For You Too" by Iwo Kondefer won the best feature film award at the Portuguese festival FIKE Évora, in turn, "On Strike!" by Stanisław Horodecki won at the international festival in Burgas.

It was also a very good year for Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, whose "Weightlifter" received a special mention at one of the oldest European short film festivals, the Czech Brno16, in turn, the jury of the international event in the Greek Drama decided to recommend it to the shortlist of the European Film Award.

The festival outside Poland which in 2019 could boast the highest number of Polish short feature films in its programme was the international festival in Newark, the USA, where eight films were screenings. The event dedicated to short films, held in Yerevan, had one film less in its competition catalogue. As many as six Polish films were presented within the frames of the British festival Kinofilm Manchester, as well as at the Etiuda&Anima in Krakow.

Definitely, one of the most important events for the Polish short film in 2019 was the Focus on Poland at the festival in Quebec City. During this ten-day event, the accredited guests and the audience could get acquainted with a wide range of Polish short films in every possible genre. From among our representation, consisting of 24 productions, 6 were feature films, and one was included in the main competition: "The Last Tale About Earth" by Magdalena Seweryn and Igor Połaniewicz.

In February, the Krakow Film Foundation organised for the thirteenth time the national stall of the Polish Shorts at the International Short Film Market in Clermont Ferrand – the largest film market in Europe, dedicated exclusively to the short film. The stall, which was visited by several hundred people in five days, promoted the latest Polish short films. Accredited producers and distributors present at the stall had the opportunity to maintain existing international contacts and make new ones.

THE LIST OF AWARDS FOR POLISH SHORT FILMS IN 2019*

7a+, reż. Julia Ruszczyńska:

Festival de Cortometraje Universitario UVAQ Facultad de Comunicación UVAQ, Meksyk – Best Film in Portrait Section

Ania, dir. Dora Laszlo-Gulyas:

The Best-First Student Film Festival, the USA – the Best Student Short Film

Atlas, dir. Maciej Kawalski:

The Bermuda International Film Festival 2019, the USA – the Best Short Film

The 47th Huesca International Film Festival, Spain – the First Prize (the Danzante Award)

Daughter, dir. Mara Tamkovich:

The FEST — New Directors | New Films Festival 2019, Portugal – the Audience Award for the Best Short Film (the Cineuropa Award)

Dreamland, dir. Natasza Parzymies:

The Short to the Point, Romania – the Best Young Filmmaker

Tremors, dir. Dawid Bodzak:

The 14th Prague Short Film Festival, the Czech Republic – the Best Short Film

The 18th Euganea Film Festival, Italy – the Special Mention

The Beast, dir. Kamila Chojnacka:

The Sukhum International Film Festival, Abkhazia – the special Jury award funded by the Minister of Culture of Abkhazia

„Eden” dir. Jędrzej Gorski:

Canada's Yes! Let's Make a movie Film Festival, Canada – Best Low Budget Short

Elizabeth, dir. Wojciech Klimala:

The 2nd Yerevan Short Film Festival, Armenia – the Grand Prix Award

Fascinatrix, dir. Justyna Mytnik:

The 26th International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland – the honourable mention for the best costumes

A Sinner Girl, dir. Karolina Porcari:

The Global India International Film Festival 2019, India – the Best Acting Award

The Festival In … Corto 2019, Italy – The Best Cinematography

The Indie Cyprus Short Film Festival 2019, Cyprus – the Best Script

The Fotogramma D'oro Short Film Festival 2019, Italy – the Best Debut

The Barcelona International Short Film and Video Festival 2019, Spain – the Best Short Film

The Barcelona International Short Film and Video Festival 2019 – The Best Acting

Control, dir. Natasza Parzymies:

The FRESH Film Festival, Irlandia – the Highly Commended: Editing

The Crossword, dir, Jan Bujnowski:

The 26th International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland – the honourable mention for the best actor

Masks, dir. Bartek Cebula:

The Indie Visions Film Festival, the USA – the Best Short Film

On Strike!, dir. Stanisław Horodecki:

The Burgas International Film Festival 2019, Bulgaria – the Best Short Film

New Bronx, dir. Filip Ignatowicz:

The Peekskill Film Festival 2019, the USA – the Best Short Film in the International Film Competition

The Barcelona International Short Film and Video Festival 2019, Spain – the Best Narrative Short Film

The Last Client, dir. Anna Urbańczyk:

The Autumn in Voronet International Film Festival 2019, Romania – the Best Cinematography in the Student Film Competition

The Baku International Short Film Festival 2019, Azerbaijan – the Jury Special Mention

Bitter Herb, dir. Maria Ornaf:

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece – the Cinematic Achievement Award

Play, dir. Piotr Sułkowski:

The Hollywood Screenings Film Festival, the USA, 2019 – the Best Actress

The SA Indie Film Fest 2019, South Africa – the Best Experimental Film

The SA Indie Film Fest 2019, South Africa – The Best Music

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece – the Cinematic Achievement Award

The Polish International Film Festival 2019, Poland – the Best International Short Film

The Indie Visions Film Festival, the USA – the Best Experimental Short Film

The Linz International Short Film Festival, Austria – the Best Cinematography

Border Crossing, dir. Agnieszka Chmura:

Bihać Avantura Film Festival 2019, Bosnia&Hercegovina, 2019 – Best International Short Film

Festival International de Cine Luz del Desierto 2019, Argentina, 2019 – Best Short

World of Film International Glasgow 2019, UK, 2019 – Best Short Film in Female Perspective

The Stop, dir. Bartosz Reetz:

The Cinalfama International Film Festival 2019, Portugal – the Special Mention

The Riurau Film Festival 2019, Spain – the Best Cinematography

Recharge, dir. Michał Hytroś:

The Sci-Fi, Terror and Fantasy Film Festival, Colombia – the Best Direction of Photography

High Heels, dir. Juan Alejandro Bermudez Martinez:

The International Catharsis Film Festival, Belgium – the Best Student Short Film, the Best Sound Design, the Best Screenplay

The Trenton Film Festival, the USA – the Special Mention

Weightlifter, dir. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk:

The 60th International Short Film Festival Brno16, the Czech Republic – the Honourable Mention

The Cecil County Independent Film Festival, the USA – the Audience Award

Ravik the Steppe Turtle, dir. Michał Chmielewski:

The Autumn in Voronet International Film Festival 2019, Romania – The Best Director in the Student Film Competition

I've Got Something For You Too, dir. Iwo Kondefer:

The Film&Music Festival, Serbia – The Vilko Filač Award for the Best Cinematography

The FIKE Évora International Short-Film Festival 2019, Portugal – the Best Fiction

The 7th Duka Fest International Student Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Best Cinematography

Ticket, dir. Nikita Tanadzhy:

The Cherkasy Short Film Festival, Ukraine – the Special Jury Award

This, Which I Have, dir. Marek Stokłosa:

The X World Short Film Festival, the USA – the Best Cinematography (the Most Emotional Film)

Bitten, dir. Helena Oborska:

The 26th International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland – the honourable mention for the best music

Cradle Me, dir. David Tejer:

The 49th ALCINE – Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares / Comunidad de Madrid, Spain – the Third Prize (the Third Prize Alcine)

Nuclear Shadows, dir. Marek Leszczewski:

The 11th International Film Festival of Larissa – the 2nd award for the best film in the international competition

FESTPRO Film Festival, Rosja – Best cinematography, best sound

Watford Short Film Festival, UK – Best drama

DAE Studio Film Festival – Best Film

FIAfest, Colombia – Best International Fiction Short Film

15. TAFIC – Festival Internacional de Cine de Tapiales, Argentina – Best Foreign Film

„Więź” dir. Stacey Rushchak:

Brixia Film Festival, Italy – Best Cinematography

Wiki, dir. Veronica Andresson:

The Yale Student Film Festival, the USA – the Best Narrative Short

The Zsigmond Vilmos IFF, Hungary – the Special mention by the Viewfinder Cinematography Masterclass Students' jury

The Kurzfilmfestival Kufstein 2019, Germany – the Special Mention

The Kurzfilmfestival Kufstein 2019, Germany – the Audience Award

Vacant Rooms, dir. Bartłomiej Jakubiak:

The Short to the Point, Romania – The Best Children's Short

* data collected on the basis of information sent by producers, filmmakers and festival organisers to the editors of Polish Shorts. If you know about international awards for Polish short films, which are not included in this list, please send the information to the address of the editorial office: redakcja@polishshorts.pl

FEBRUARY 2020