AWARDS FOR POLISH ANIMATED FILMS AT CINEMAFORUM

Polish animated films have been awarded at the festival CINEMAFORUM, which has just ended.

CINEMAFORUM is one of the most important independent film festival in Poland. Every year, it gives the opportunity to present several dozen of the best feature films (also animated films) made at home and abroad, and their makers have a unique chance to confront their works of art both with the professional jury and other film-makers, as well as with the lively audience.

Having watched 22 films, the jury of the Main Competition at the 15th the International Independent Feature Film Festival CINEMAFORUM awarded the Grand Prix "for the ingenuous form, self-irony and the fresh look" for the film "The Wizard of US," directed by Balbina Bruszewska. In addition, Janusz Czubak was awarded for editing of this animated film.

"The Wizard of US" is an animated variation based on the novel "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. The fantastical story is combined with authentic statements by women, recorded by the film-makers. One day, Dorothy is kidnapped by a tornado which takes her to the United States. The film tells the story about the observations, dilemmas, adventures which can happen to everyone who - just like Dorothy - want to be "the voice of their generation's emigration," and to try their hands in Hollywood.  The film was produced by the studio WJ Team.

Balbina Bruszewska is a director, scriptwriter and writer. She studied animation at Lodz Film School and scriptwriting at UCLA Extensions in Los Angeles. She is the winner of many prestigious awards and scholarship, for instance the Young Poland Scholarship, two statuettes of Yach and the Grand Prix at the festival Lodzia po Wisle.

The Jury of the Main Competition also decided to award the following nominations for the Jan Machulski Polish Independent Film Awards (2017 edition). In the "best animated film" category, the nomination went to Marta Pajek for "Impossible Figures and Other Stories II." Among the nominated films, there are "The Gentle Giant" and "A Documentary Film" by Marcin Podolec and "Reveille" by Michał Wójcicki.

During the festival, there were also screenings of the films nominated for the Jan Machulski Polish Independent Film Awards 2016 - the most important award given to Polish independent film productions. Off Film Academy took stock of the achievements of Polish independent cinema, and during the award ceremony (held at the festival) selected the most talented artists, according to it, and the best films made last year. The animated film award went to Agnieszka Borowa for her film "Home." She received the award nomination from two festivals; SOLANIN Film Festival and OFFELIADA Film Festival.

The film is set in the main protagonist's family home. The girl comes back there after long years in order to finally move out.
The visit to the place where she spent her childhood brings upon her about a deluge of chaotic, difficult memories.
Without coming to terms with them, she will not leave her home.

You can find more information about CINEMAFORUM on its website.