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