Sobieszczański's black-and-white production tells a love story from the times of Stalinist terror, based on facts. Its characters, imprisoned for their activities in the anti-communist underground, establish contact through the wall using Morse code. The award for cinematography for the film went to Jolanta Dylewska.
While making this film, we asked ourselves a basic question: what gives us hope if the situation is hopeless, if the world is against us. And we found this answer. We were looking for it in a rather unconventional place and in an unconventional way. This hope is given to us and our heroes by enormous love. This is not a film about a relationship, it is not a film about one person falling in love with another. This film is about the fact that love has to be born somewhere within us. And that only when it is born can we transfer it to another person, a nation, a society, a garden - said Sobieszczański, receiving the Golden Lions.
Silver Lions for Łukasz Ronduda
The film "Tell Me What You Feel" is a story about young people who face childhood traumas. Jan Sałasiński, who appeared in the production, was awarded for his professional acting debut.
There are many young people for whom reality is very unfavorable. We wanted to tell how they respond to this brutality with things like authenticity, focus on closeness, and relationships. We wanted them not to be marginalized as snowflakes, oversensitive people undergoing therapy. There is such wisdom in these young people that we, the elders - who have built this world for them this way and not otherwise - should support them. This film is a kind of support for them, Ronduda pointed out.
Pawlikowski the best director
The statuette for best director for "Homeland" was received by Paweł Pawlikowski. Katarzyna Sobańska and Marcel Sławiński were honored for the set design for this film.
To look like a good director, you need a good cameraman - in this case Łukasz Żal, who is not here - and set designers. And above all, Ewa Puszczyńska, who creates conditions for me to direct as much as I want. I would like to thank the entire Haka Films brigade who managed this film wonderfully and took care of us, said Pawlikowski.
The director dedicated the award to the deceased cinematographer Ryszard Lenczewski.
Holland on creative freedom
Agnieszka Holland, presenting the award to Pawlikowski, expressed solidarity on behalf of the Polish Directors' Guild with Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, the creators of the documentary "NAZA" about the killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Today, the creators are called traitors in their country, and the rulers of Israel have announced that they will be stripped of their citizenship. Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham say they made this film out of a sense of duty to look at what their country is responsible for (…). The creator has the right, and sometimes the obligation, to ask the most difficult questions and show things that the authorities do not want to see. He should not be intimidated or punished for his creative expression. That's why we stand on the side of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, on the side of creative freedom - she emphasized.
Other winners
Golden Claw named after The Andrzej Żuławski award went to Agnieszka Smoczyńska for "Hot Spot". Zuzanna Wrońska and Marcin Macuk were awarded for music, Marcin Lenarczyk for sound, and Katarzyna Lewińska for costumes for this film.
"Good Boy" by Jan Komasa won four awards: for editing for Agnieszka Glińska, script for Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, leading male role for Anson Boon and the audience award.
The best leading actress was Jaśmina Polak, and the supporting actress - Monika Frajczyk, both for their roles in "Exotic" by Sonja Orlewicz-Zakrzewska. The best supporting actor was Jacek Koman, awarded for his role as Marek Edelman in "Our Revolution" by Piotr Domalewski.
The award for make-up for "Violetta Villas" went to Anne Cathrine Sauerberg, Agnieszka Józefina Sasim and Aneta Brzozowska.
Platinum Lions for Halina Prugar-Ketling
Platinum Lions for lifetime achievement went to Halina Prugar-Ketling, an outstanding editor collaborating with, among others, with Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polański, Jerzy Skolimowski and Andrzej Żuławski. She is the first editor to receive this award in the history of the festival.
Aleksander Sosiński, the winner's grandson, said on her behalf that her grandmother dedicates the award to all editors.
Prizes in other competitions
The Sapphire Lions in the Perspektywy competition went to "Dark Hour" by Filip Bojarski. Julia Totoszko was honored for her exceptional artistic contribution in the film "Nice Women".
The award for directorial debut or second film went to Eliza Godlewska and Alan Ruczyński, creators of "Single Women". The best short film was "Case No." by Patrycja Polkowska.
The 51st Polish Feature Film Festival lasted from September 21 to 26.
