The 7th Polish Kinoteka Film Festiwal kicks off with the Opening Night Gala screening of the highly anticipated new feature by Polish rising star Malgorzata Szumowska, 33 Scenes from Life. Szumowska’s sophisticated, beautfully observed family drama scooped the top prize at this week’s 11th Polish Film Awards (Polish Eagles) where it dominated the field, winning the Eagle for Best Polish Feature, as well as Best Music and Best Editing.
 
The awards organised by the Polish Independent Film Foundation and awarded by the Polish Film Academy, also rewarded Kinoteka Guest of Honour, Jerzy Skolimowski’s new film Four Nights With Anna where it won two Eagles for Best Director and Best Cinematography and Juliusz Malchulski’s latest comedy How Much Does The Trojan Horse Weigh? picking up both Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards.
 
In addition Kinoteka’s exciting line up includes 2008 Polish Eagle winners; Andrzej Jakimowski’s Tricks, which won Best Director and Danuta Szaflarska who won Best Actress for her magnetic performance in Time To Die.
 
Showcasing the very best of Polish Cinema, Kinoteka offers something for everyone, with the latest features, documentaries, shorts, retrospective titles and special events. This year’s festival focuses on New Polish Cinema, the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Kieslowski’s influential Dekalog series, Polish New Wave films from the 1960s and 1970s and a celebration of the work of feted director and actor Jerzy Skolimowski.
 
Spanning 6 venues across the capital, the Festival runs from 12th March to 8 April, culminating in a unique evening of film and music at the Barbican with Michael Nyman, one of Britain’s most celebrated and recognised contemporary composers. The Closing Night Gala concert “Films To Write Music To” brings together Michael Nyman with Poland’s cutting-edge accordion group, Motion Trio to perform the world premiere of his latest work, a personal tribute to Polish cinema in honour of Kinoteka, alongside a montage of classic Polish films.
 
Kintoteka is organised by the Polish Cultural Institute in partnership with Wyborowa Wodka and supported by the Polska! Year.  Full details of this year’s programme can be found at www.kinoteka.org.uk

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