"MOTHER" - THE BEST IN BULGARIA!
Last Saturday, the 25 of June, the 9th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival in Balchik came to an end. Polish film “Mother” by Jakub Piątek was announced as the best documentary.
“After careful deliberation into the wee hours of the morning (June, 25th) our jury emerged unanimous in our decision for BEST FILM and BEST DOCUMENTARY. In all categories, the work is outstanding – script, cinematography, editing, direction and acting. Taken together these are among the best short films ever made. Even the documentaries are driven by a powerful narrative” – the jury of the 9th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival said.
Among three nominees for Best Documentary Award Polish film “Mother” by Jakub Piątek was “unanimously chosen as the winner for excellent achievement in Documentary filmmaking”. Apart from that, “Mother” and its cinematographer Michał Stajniak were awarded the special mention in cinematography. According to the jury, it “gives us a glimpse via a forgotten camera into the life of a struggling elderly Polish matriarch. Spellbinding in it's intimacy and details Mother lives with constant waiting.”
The entire life experience of the main protagonist of Jakub Piątek’s film is engraved in the wrinkled face of a mother who, despite her old age, regularly covers a 450-kilometre distance to visit her son serving a prison sentence. These moments in a visiting room are all she can hope for to express her feelings: longing, persistent concern, her wise resignation to her lot. The camera follows her daily life in a poor village as she raises her grandchildren, prays, and waits. Will she live to see her son a free man? After all, he still has ten long years to serve.
The 9th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival was held between 18th and 25th June, 2011.
More about the festival on the website: www.inthepalace.com