„BATTLEHEART” BY TOMEK MATUSZCZAK SELECTED TO LOCARNO FF!
Short fiction „Battleheart” directed by Tomasz Matuszczak is going to compete for the main award of the Pardi di Domani competition at Locarno Film Festival – one of the most prestigious film festivals worldwide.
The 65th edition of Locarno Film Festival will be held between 1st and 11th August. From its establishment in 1946, Locarno keeps on discovering new talents by creating the invaluable launch-pad for the young filmmakers starting their international career. Just like many years ago when Stanley Kubrick, Jim Jarmush or Kim Ki-Duk screened their first films in Locarno, also today the festival highlights the works of dozens of filmmakers every year.After last year’s success of Poles at the Swiss festival when “Frozen stories” by Grzegorz Jaroszuk received the „Pianifica Prize”, that automatically nominates for EFA, this year another Polish film is featured in the competitive section of Locarno. “Battleheart” by Tomasz Matuszczak shows the story of two young people – Julka and Maciek, who live in a dangerous, Polish housing estate. For years now their neighborhood is threatened by the fights of the hooligans supporting two opposing football clubs – Czarni and Pogoń. The protagonists caught on the two opposite sides of the conflict are now desperately trying to find a place for their love. Film was made in frame of “30 minutes” programme by Munk Studio in coproduction with Vostok8.
Tomasz Matuszczak is a graduate of Polish National Film School in Łódź. He is an author of several short films including his latest “The Fence” made as a part of the “Decalogue 89” cycle in 2009.
The list of selected films and more on the festival to be found at the official website