Today in the French city of Aix-en-Provence starts the 31st edition of the Tous Courts festival. Apart from the four films in the international competition, the programme also includes two special screenings presenting the most interesting Polish short films of the last few years.

Within two programmes of the series Visa pour la Pologne 11 documentaries, short films and animations will be screened. The first programme dedicated to the motive of journey includes the fiction film "Hanoi-Warsaw" by Katarzyna Klimkiewicz, the documentaries "Rogalik" by Paweł Ziemilski and Jakub Piątek’s "Mother", as well as the animated "Two Steps Behind.." by Paulina Majda, "The Gallery" by Robert Proch and Paweł Prewencki’s "What Happens When Children Don’t Eat Soup". In the second set the viewers will be able to see films addressing family issues, the documentary films "Written in Ink" by Martin Rath, "Six Weeks" by Marcin Janos Krawczyk, Izabela Plucińska’s animation "Esterhazy" and two fiction films, namely "Don’t Be Afraid of a Dark Room" by Kuba Czekaj and "A Story of a Missing Car" directed by Grzegorz Jaroszuk. All the films will be presented at the festival for the first time. Both screenings are taking place this Thursday, 5 December.

The Polish partner of the festival, as well as the coordinator of the Polish programme, is the Krakow Film Foundation.

Among 55 films in this year’s competition, the lineup includes four Polish titles, such as Aleksandra Terpińska’s "All Souls’ Day","Our Bad Winter" by Grzegorz Zariczny, "Ex animo" by Wojciech Wojtkowski and Tomek Popakul’s "Ziegenort". It is worth to add that two of the last year’s awards, including the Grand Prix and the Audience Award, went to Grzegorz Jaroszuk and his "Frozen Stories" (prod. Polish National Film School in Łódź, EasyBusyProductions).

The Tous Courts festival, right after Clemont-Ferrand, is one of the oldest French festivals presenting short films. Apart from the rich programme of cinema screenings, films are also available in the video library designed for film professionals such as festivals’ programmers, buyers and distributors. Over 200 films are shown every year in Aix-en-Provence.

To learn more about the festival and the Polish screening, visit the official website

DECEMBER 2013