POLISH SHORT FILMS AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS IN 2016
2016 was a very successful year for Polish shorts. More than 260 titles were shown at more than 1,100 festival screenings all around the world, winning nearly 130 awards. Polish shorts were also special guests at festivals such as Curtas Vila do Conde in Portugal, Regensburg International Short Film Week in Germany and Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival SICAF in Korea.
Last year Polish shorts were presented in more than 1,100 screenings at more than 400 festivals all around the world - more than 800 times taking part in competitions. Animated films were shown more than 500 times from January to December 2016 – around 350 times in sections of various competitions. Short fictions had about 400 screenings, more than 300 in competitions, while short documentaries were presented in more than 220 (150 times as a part of competitions).
Polish short which was most often presented at foreign film festivals in 2016 was “Adaptation” by Bartosz Kruhlik – it had 74 screenings. Second best was animated documentary “A Documentary Film” by Marcin Podolec which was shown 43 times. Third place goes to animated film “Creatures” which was presented 38 times abroad.
Among other frequently shown short fiction there are "A long time ago in Silesia" by Tomasz Protokowicz (34 screenings) and „America” by Aleksandra Terpińska (29 times). Successfully presented on foreign film festivals were also such Polish animations as "Gyros dance" by Piotr Loc Hoang Ngoc (25), "Fences" by Natalia Krawczyk (25), "Woolen Cogwheels" by Bartosz Kędzierski (21) and "Pussy" by Renata Gąsiorowska (21). 2016 was also a second good year for Teresa Czepiec’s film “Super Unit” – it was shown 22 times on foreign film festivals.
In 2016 Polish shorts won 130 awards. The most awarded film of 2016 is “Adaptation” which received 19 awards. Second best was “America” which won 11 awards. Among animated films the most award-winning is “Pussy” which was honoured 6 times at different festivals. 7 awards gained a short fiction by Miłosz Sakowski “Grandma’s Day” and 5 awards was given to "A long time in Silesia".
Last year several Polish shorts had an opportunity to run for Oscar nomination. Thanks to awards gained at festivals following films could apply for the Academy Award: “The Dogcatcher” by Daria Woszek, “Invisible” by Zofia Pręgowska, “Close Ties” by Zofia Kowalewska – which were shortlisted and “Tenents” by Klara Kochańska which won Student’s Academy Award in 2016.
2016 was not only the year of awards for Polish shorts – these films were also special guests at many festivals. A big show of Polish animated films was held at Regensburg International Short Film Week: the audience could watch almost 30 films made in Poland in recent years. Polish shows were also held during following festivals:
Curtas Vila do Conde (Portugl), "The Fantastic Four" (Turkey), RIFF (Iceland), Varmlands Film Festival (Sweden), Semana del Cortometraje de la Comunidad de Madrid (Spain), Filmfest Dresden (Germany), Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival SICAF (Korea), Lago Film Fest (Italy), Central European Film Festival V4 (Turkey), ReAnimania International Animation and Comics Art Festival (Armenia), Tbilisi International Film Festival (Georgia).
In February Krakow Film Foundation for the tenth time organized a Polish Shorts national stand at International Fair Short Film in Clermont Ferrand - Europe's festival and fairs dedicated exclusively to short film. On the stand, which in five days was visited by hundreds of people, were promoted latest Polish shorts. Accredited producers and distributors had the opportunity to maintain existing and establish new international contacts. It is worth noting that in the competition of the festival in Clermont-Ferrand were three Polish films: "No matter what happens, I love you," by Justyna Mytnik, "A Documentary film" by Marcin Podolec and "Sexy Laundry" by Izabela Plucińska.
“Polish Animations” – a separate stand dedicated to promoting animated films – was organized by KFF during MIFA fairs accompanying the festival in Annecy. Numerous accredited animation producers took part in the industry events, they also had a chance to look for international partners and expand professional contacts. The festival audience could see four Polish productions: "I, the animal" by Michalina Musialik, "Basia and a Hot Day in the ZOO" by Marcin Wasilewski, "Signum" by Witold Giersz and "Perpetuum Mobile" Piotr Kamler. The digital library which was available for accredited guests of the fairs and festival there were 9 Polish production availeable.
Traditionally, a set of Polish shorts was included in the program of the Short Film Corner fair, organized at the Cannes Film Festival. The program Polish Shorts, which consisted of thirteen films, was promoted during the stationary fair as and was available to accredited professionals from around the world via online video library.
All events received financial support from Polish Film Institute and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The partners were Krakow Festival Office and Krakow Film Commission.
THE LIST OF AWARDS FOR POLISH SHORT FILMS IN 2016*
7 sheeps, dir. Wiktoria Szymańska
Athens International Film + Video Festival, USA - Third Prize
22nd Festival International Du Film Nancy-Lorraine, France - Best Music Prize
3rd Festival Cinemistica, Spain - La Lupa y El Iman Award
America, dir. Aleksandra Terpińska
28th Filmfest Dresden, Germany - Golden Horseman of the Youth Jury in the International Competition
45th Sehsuchte International Student Film Festival, Germany - Best Short Film
24th Art Film Fest, Slovakia - Special Mention
10th Thess International Short Film Festival, Greece - Cinematic Achievement Award
13th Filmfest Eberswalde, Germany - Jury Award Short Feature Film
shnit International Short Film Festival, Switzerland - shnit TRIBUTE Award
Student International Film Festival, Croatia - Best Fiction Film
12th Early Bird International Student Film Festival, Bulgary - Early Bird Grand Award
9th La Cabina International Medium Length Film Festival, Spain - Best Actress Award
5th Winchester Short Film Festival, The United Kingdom - Special Mention
15th Rome Independent Film Festival, Italy - Special Mention
Adaptation, dir. Barotsz Kruhlik
Cinemaiubit International Student Film Festival, Romania - Best Actor, Award For Cinematography
International Film Festival Bratyslava, Slovakia - Best Short Film
Mal Del Cap Festival Internacional De Cortometrajes, Spain - Special Mention Of The Jury
Zamoxis Short Film Showcase, USA - Special Mention
Tirana International Film Festival, Albania - Best Short Film
Fiaticorti Film Festival, Italy - Best Short Film
Tryon International Film Festival, USA - Best Student Film
Tetova International Film Festival "TIFF Oda", Macedonia - Best Directing
"FESTICINI" International Independent Film Festival, Brazil - Best Actress (Małgorzata Witkowska)
Riga International Film Festival "2ANNAS", Latvia - Best Director
"PARMA International Music Film Festival", Italy - Best Short Film
"CERVIGNANO Film Festival", Italy - Best Actor (Michal Wlodarczyk)
"FICVINA" Festival Int. De Cine Vina Del Mar, Chile - Best International Student Film
"TARATSA" International Film Festival, Greece - Best Cinematography
"REVOLUTION Me Film Festival", USA - Best International Film
Blue Sea Film Festival, Finland - Best Student Film (ex-aequo)
SNAKE Alley Festival Of Film", USA - Best Foreign Film
"RIVER Film Festival", Italy - Best Student Film
The Play-Off, dir. Tomasz Gąssowski
32nd Warsaw Film Festival, Poland - Best Live Action Short Film Award
Black, dir. Tomasz Popakul
19th Holland Animation Film Festival, The Netherlands - Special Mention
13th Animateka International Animated Film Festival, Slovenia - Stadionshop Jury Grand Prix
Foreign body, dir. Marta Magnuska
40th Ottawa International Animation Festival, Canada - Award for Best Undergraduate Animation
Pussy, dir. Renata Gąsiorowska
DOK Leipzig, Germany - Audience Award)
14th Tabor Film Festival, Croatia - Grand Prix
AFI FEST 2016, USA - Grand Jury Award - Animated Short
32nd interfilm, International Short Film Festival Berlin, Germany - Best Animation
36th FilmSchoolFest Munich, Germany - Female Filmmakers Award, zweiB AWARD - Best Animation
Cotton Dreams, dir. Sandeep Rampal Balhara
Espiello Festival Sobrarbe, Spain - IAMS Award
Ecozine Film Festival, Spain - Best Short Documentary
Daughter, dir. Tomasz Wolski
Premiers Plans Film Festival, Francr - Grand Jury Prize European Short Films, Audience Award European Short Films
Tenderness, dir. Emilia Zielonka
57th International Short Film Festival BRNO16, Czech Republic – Special Jury Award
New Jersey Film Festival, USA – Best Short Film
33th Busan International Short Film Festival - Excellence Award for Best Picture
cellu l'art International Short Film Festival, Germany - Best Shortfilm
A long time ago in Silesia, dir. Tomasz Protokowicz
8th Rotary Short Film Festival ROFIFE 2016, Turkey - Best Short Feature
Pennine Film Festival, The United Kingdom - Best Student Film
13th Neisse Film Festival, Germany - Bester Kurzfilm
Ariano International Film Festiwal, Italy - Best School Film
3rd Riurau Film Festival, Spain - Mejor Dirección Artística
A Documentary Film, dir. Marcin Podolec
Slow Film Festival Eger, Hungary - Jury Special Award
River Film Festival, Italy - Best Animated Film
27th Sao Paulo International Short Film Festival, Brasil - SESC TV Award for Best Debut Director
Lago Film Festival, Italy - Special Mention
Grandma's Day, dir. Miłosz Sakowski
19th Brussels Short Film Festival, Belgium - The Best Actress
A Long Week of Short Films Festival Shanghai - Emerging Talent
37th Durban International Film Festival, RPA - Best Short Film
31st Alpinale Short Film Festival, Austria - Special Mention
10th Thess International Short Film Festival, Greece - Cinematic Achievement Award
Un festival c'est trop court! - Nice Short Film Festival, France - Nice City Audience Award
Foyle Film Festival, Ireland – Best International Short Film
A Brave Bunch. Children of Warsaw Uprising, dir. Tomasz Stankiewicz
Imperial War Museum Short Film Festival, The United Kingdom - Special Mention
Figure, dir. Katarzyna Gondek
16th LPA Film Festival, Spain - Special Jury Award
10th Thess International Short Film Festival, Greece - Cinematic Achievement Award
Impossible Figures And Other Stories II, dir. Marta Pajek
26th Message to Man - International Film Festival, Russia - “Centaur” for the Best Animated Film
13th Balkanima European Animated Film Festival, Serbia - Special Mention
13th Animateka International Animated Film Festival, Slovenia - Special Mention
Goran, the camel man, dir. Marcin Lesisz
Parnu Film Festival, Estonia - Best Short Doc
The Dogcather, dir. Daria Woszek
20th Rhode Island Film Festival, USA - Best Short Film Grand Prize
Hangover, dir. Maciej Buchwald
Eger Slow Film Festival, Hungary – Best Short Film
Stone, dir. Jakub Michnikowski
International Short Film Festival Brno – Special Award
When will this wind stop, dir. Aniela Gabryel
IDFA, The Netherlands - The ARRI IDFA Award for Best Student Documentary
Liar, dir. Maciej Wiktor
13th MIFEC – Mostra Internacional de Filmes de Escolas de Cinema, Portugal - Menção Honrosa
Creatures, dir. Tessa Moult-Milewska
Sundance Film Festival London, The United Kingdom - Sundance Channel Short Film Competition Grand Jury Prize
Pázmány Film Fesztivál, Hungary – Senior Jury Award
Larp, dir. Kordian Kądziela
18th Mecal Pro - Barcelona International Short and Animation Festival, Spain - Short TV Award
The Shadow Forrest, dir. Andrzej Cichocki
Watersprite Film Festival, The United Kingdom - Best Sound Editing
Paphos International Film Festival, Cyprus - Audience Award for Student Short Film
Patriotic Lesson, dir. Filip Jacobson
DOK Leipzig, Germany - Golden Dove (Best German Shorts)
Lato 2014, dir. Wojciech Sobczyk
9th Forum for Animation Films, Egypt - Best Animation, Best Idea, The Prize of Creativity
Lila, dir. Dominika Łapka
Kaohsiung Film Festival 2016, Taiwan - Best Selection Award
Locus, dir. Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi
13th Balkanima European Animated Film Festival, Serbia - Grand Prix
Tenants, dir. Klara Kochańska
13th Global Chinese Universities Student Film and TV Festival, China - Foreign Film Golden Award
10th First International Film Festival, China - Grand Jury Prize - Short Film
VGIK International Student Festival, Russia - Best Feature Film
Bath, dir. Tomasz Ducki
Pazmany Film Festival 2016, Hungary - First Place in Animated Film Category
Matka, dir. Piotr P.Gołębiowski
2nd Ramunas Atelier International Independent Film Awards, Lithuania - Best Short Narrative
2nd Västerås Film Festival, Sweden - Best Actor
The Place, dir. Julia Popławska
6th Dutch Mountain Film Festival, The Netherlands - Best Newcomer Award
Ushuaina SHH, Festival Internacional de Cine Montania, Argentina - Mention
ForadCamp 2016, 5th Nature and Cinema Exhibition, Spain - Prize Cultural Association Granollers
Kendal Mountain Film Festival 2016, The United Kingdom - Best Sound
Moloch, dir. Szymon Kapeniak
34th Festival Tous Courts of Aix-en-Provence, France - Jury Prize
Milky Brother, dir. Vahram Mkhiraryan
14th One Shot International Short Film Festival, Armenia - Best Armenian Short Film
14th Ischia Film Festival, Italy - Best Short Film
Education, dir. Emi Buchwald
9thCentral and Eastern European FF CinEast, Luxemburg - Audience Award for Best Short Film
Cinemaiubit, Romania - Audience Award
Civica Scuola do Cinema Luciano Visconti, Italy - Gian Paolo Paoli Award For Best Ethno-Anthropological Film
Don't lose your head, dir. Karolina Specht
22nd Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, The United Kingdom - Animated European Award
Invisible, dir. Zofia Pręgowska
De Cine Lebu Film Festival, Chile - Best Documentary
All Shorts International Film Festival, USA - Special Mention
The Undersigned, dir. Michał Pokropek
Salon International de la Luz Volumen, Columbia - Special Mention for Cinematography
Bradford International Film Festival, The United Kingdom - Student Widescreen Film of the Year Competition
Fences, dir. Natalia Krawczuk
Giffoni Experience Film Festival 2016, Italy - Amnesty International Award
Shujayya, dir. Mahommed Almughanni
Ann Arbor Film Festival, New Caledonia - Best Short Documentary
Bogazici Film Festival, Turkey - Best Short Film, Special Jury Prize
Super unit, dir. Teresa Czepiec
2nd PerSo - Perugia Social Film Festival, Italy - Perso Masterpiece
Snails, dir. Grzegorz Szczepaniak
GoShort - ISFF Nijmegen, The Netherlands - Audience Award
AFI DOCS, USA - Audience Award
Traverse City Film Festival, USA - Honorable Mention
What I Wants, dir. Damian Kocur
63rd Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival, Serbia - Best Short Film
Un festival c'est trop court! - Nice Short Film Festival, France - Special Jury Award
It is only a dream, dir. Jakub Michnikowski
Pazmany Film Festival 2016, Hungary - First Place in Doc Film Category
Football Brothers, dir. Marcin Filipowicz
TIFF Tirana International Film Festival, Albania – Best Short Documentary
Close Ties, dir. Zofia Kowalewska
DOK Leipzig, Germany - Golden Dove
IDFA, The Netherlands - IDFA Special Jury Award for Student Documentary
It Could Have Happened, It Had To Happen, dir. Katarzyna Warzecha
Watersprite Film Festival, Wielka Brytania - Best Production Design
Lost senses, dir. Marcin Wasilewski
Pazmany Film Festival 2016, Hungary - Third Place in Animated Film Category
Heat, dir. Bartosz Kruhlik
Fantastic Cinema & Craft Beer Festival, USA – Special Mention
4th Tally Shorts Film Festival, USA – Favorite Award
Iron Alibi, dir. Martin Rath
2morrow Film Festival, Russia - Special Jury Mention
*data collected on the basis of the information received from producers, filmmakers and festivals by Polish Docs. If you know about foreign awards for Polish documentary films which are not included in this summary, we would like to ask you to send a message to the editors of the portal: redakcja@polishshorts.pl