Restored Polish Classic Films Selected by Martin Scorsese to be Screened Across the UKvia blu-ray.comKINOTEKA Polish Film Festival, BFI Southbank and Filmhouse Edinburgh have partnered to show 24 newly restored classic Polish films, which have been chosen by acclaimed American director Martin Scorsese. Amongst them are such renowned films as Krzysztof Kieślowski's Blind Man and A Short Film About Killing, Andrzej Munk's Eroica, and Andrzej Wajda's Man of Iron.
Director Scorsese commented: "These are films that have great emotional and visual power – they're 'serious' films that, with their depth, stand up to repeated viewings. There are many revelations in the season and whether you're familiar with some of these films or not, it's an incredible opportunity to discover for yourself the great power of Polish Cinema, on the big screen."
The 13th KINOTEKA Polish Film Festival runs from 8 April - 29 May.
Here's the official press release from the Polish Cultural Institute:
KINOTEKA, the annual celebration of Polish Cinema, returns to the capital for an extended bumper 13th edition. On offer there is an enticing mix of film, music and visual arts with an outstanding selection of screenings; UK premieres, curated retrospectives, exhibitions, concerts, interactive workshops, industry masterclasses and special guests encompassing all aspects of Polish film culture.
KINOTEKA is partnering with Filmhouse Edinburgh and BFI Southbank on an exciting new collaboration for the UK tour of Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema. 24 masterpieces, chosen by Scorsese himself, all brilliantly restored and digitally remastered to 2K resolution. The season showcases films made during a particularly fertile and creative time in post-war Poland, by directors such as Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi, Andrzej Munk, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Wojciech Jerzy Has, Aleksander Ford, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and others. The UK season launches at KINOTEKA's Opening Night Gala, on 8th April at BFI Southbank, with a screening of Camouflage, with director Krzysztof Zanussi in attendance. The event will be repeated at the Filmhouse Edinburgh on April 10th. The full list of venues will be announced soon.
The ICA plays host to KINOTEKA's New Polish Cinema strand from 10th April with a selection of both popular and critically acclaimed contemporary Polish films from the last year. The strand includes the UK premiere of the festival special guest Krzysztof Zanussi's Foreign Body and Jerzy Stuhr's Citizen. The latest film from KINOTEKA's favourite Wojciech Smarzowski (Traffic Department, The Dark House), The Mighty Angel will be presented alongside one of the year's most interesting directorial debuts, Krzysztof Skonieczny's Hardkor Disko.
KINOTEKA showcases the breadth of original, innovative documentary that has come out of Poland. In a short career before his premature death at the age of 34, influential documentarian Wojciech Wiszniewski (1946-1981) produced just 12 films in total, yet he is now considered to be one of the most outstanding personalities of his generation. His legacy is explored in Wojciech Wiszniewski Rediscovered, a programme of 6 of his shorts at the ICA on 12th April. Paweł Pawlikowski, will present a special weekend of screenings of his prestigious documentaries at the ICA (18th/19th April), including Dostoevsky's Travels and From Moscow to Pietushki. The documentary strand also celebrates the work of emerging Polish documentary filmmakers, Aneta Kopacz and Tomasz Śliwiński who have both studied at the Wajda Film School and who have been Oscar® nominated for this year's Best Documentary Short Film category.
In conjunction with Martin Scorsese presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, KINOTEKA and BFI Southbank will host an exhibition of original poster artwork celebrating the films of legendary director Andrzej Wajda. Tate Modern will screen The Performer by Łukasz Ronduda, a dynamic story full of punk energy based on the life of one of Oskar Dawicki, one of the most original contemporary Polish artists currently working, who will play himself...
This year, KINOTEKA will draw to a close with a special screening of cult Polish comedy The Cruise (1970) at the ICA (29th May), to mark Second Run's DVD release. Taking inspiration from the film's subject, festivities continue with an authentic boat ride on the Thames, for a 70's-themed interactive performance created by immersive UK theatre group Gideon Reeling, with live jazz by Obara International and DJ set to close the evening.
KINOTEKA is presented by the Polish Cultural Institute in London in partnership with DFDS Seaways and Pola Arts Foundation, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and supported by Project London Films and Forest and Ray. Venues already confirmed to participate in the 13th KINOTEKA programme include the BFI Southbank, ICA, Tate Modern, Frontline Club and Filmhouse Edinburgh.
Martin Scorsese Presents Masterpieces of Polish Cinema Complete Program:
Eroica (1957) Dir: Andrzej Munk
The Last Day of Summer (1958) Dir. Tadeusz Konwicki
Ashes and Diamonds (1958) Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Knights of the Black Cross (1960) Dir. Aleksander Ford
Night Train (1959) Dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Innocent Sorcerers (1960) Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Knife in the Water (1961) Dir. Roman Polański
Mother Joan of the Angels (1961) Dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz
The Saragossa Manuscript (1964) Dir. Wojciech J Has
Pharoah (1965) Dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Jump (1965) Dir. Tadeusz Konwicki
Walkover (1965) Dir. Jerzy Skolimowski
The Illumination (1972) Dir. Krzysztof Zanussi
To Kill This Love (1972) Dir. Janusz Morgenstern
The Wedding (1972) Dir. Andrzej Wajda
The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) Dir. Wojciech J Has
The Promised Land (1974) Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Camouflage (1976) Dir. Krzysztof Zanussi
Provincial Actors (1978) Dir. Agnieszka Holland
The Constant Factor (1980) Dir. Krzysztof Zanussi
Blind Chance (1981) Dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski
Man of Iron (1981) Dir. Andrzej Wajda
Austeria (1982) Dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz
A Short Film About Killing (1987) Dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski.
