13/07/2023 - The largest industry event in Poland will present a curated selection of 22 film projects at different stages of production

The upcoming Polish Days, the premier industry event of the New Horizons International Film Festival, is set to unveil a captivating line-up of eagerly awaited titles from the Polish film industry. Taking place in Wrocław from 23-25 July, alongside the 23rd New Horizons (20-30 July), the 13th edition of Polish Days will feature a selection of 22 diverse film projects spanning various stages of production. Among them, four completed films, nine works in progress and nine projects in development will be showcased, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the nation's cinematic landscape.

In the category of completed films, Marcin Koszałka (The Red Spider [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Marcin Koszalka
film profile]) presents his latest feature, White Courage [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which delves into the entangled lives of two families from Podhale, exploring a lesser-known and enigmatic chapter of Polish history within the highland community. Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Tomasz Wolski (1970 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tomasz Wolski
film profile]) takes us on a journey through World War II and the post-war years in his latest documentary, The Big Chief, narrating the experiences of its protagonist, Leopold Trepper. Klaudiusz Chrostowski's debut drama, Ultima Thule, follows Bartek, a 30-year-old who, after unexpectedly losing his father, embarks on a profound and solitary expedition to the titular secluded British isle. Additionally, Edward Porembny will be focusing on The Life and Deaths of Max Linder, a docu-fiction about the eponymous international star of the silver screen, who served as a pioneering figure in early silent-film comedy and acted as a mentor to Charlie Chaplin.

Among the nine works in progress, Jan P Matuszyński (Leave No Traces [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jan P Matuszyński
film profile]) presents Minghun, a poignant tale of Jurek and his Chinese father-in-law, Ben, who embark on a metaphorical journey in search of the ideal deceased husband for Jurek’s daughter Marysia, following her passing. Returning with an oil painting-based animated film, The Peasants [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman (Loving Vincent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dorota Kobiela
film profile]) depict the story of a young woman striving to carve her own path within the constraints of a late 19th-century Polish village. Meanwhile, Łukasz Barczyk's (Soyer [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) latest work, Challenge of the Bow, unfolds on a Greek island, where Marta returns to unravel the enigmatic disappearance of her husband, drawing inspiration from Homer's Odyssey.

Piotr Dumała's (Ederly [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) comedy Fin del Mundo? blends elements of melodrama, western, horror, crime and comedy while contemplatively questioning the proximity of our world's end. In their documentary, RAVE. 140 Beats per Minute, Łukasz Ronduda (All Our Fears [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Dawid Nickel (Love Tasting [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) explore the evolution of techno music and rave culture in Poland, juxtaposing two distinct eras: the 1990s and the present day. The selection is further enriched by four debut features: Maria Zbąska's relationship dramedy It's Not My Film; Natalia Pietsch's drama Milk Bearer; Grzegorz Dębowski's sociopolitical crime-drama Next to Nothing; and Justyna Mytnik's fantasy-dramedy Wet Monday.

Finally, the majority of the projects that are currently in development are being helmed by established filmmakers, and the selection includes Bad Mother by Małgorzata Imielska (Used Up [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Brother by Maciej Sobieszczański (The Reconciliation [+see also:
trailer
interview: Maciej Sobieszczański
film profile]), The Queen of Pots by Jakub Piątek (Pianoforte [+see also:
film review
film profile]), Runa by Agnieszka Zwiefka (Scars [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agnieszka Zwiefka
film profile]), Under the Volcano by Damian Kocur (Bread and Salt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Damian Kocur
film profile]) and Wanda by Maciej Pieprzyca (Icarus. The Legend of Mietek Kosz [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). The selection is topped off by three debut projects: Hiss by Anna Kasińska, Kingdom by Michał Ciechomski and Obsession by Tadeusz Łysiak.

Here is the complete selection of the projects participating in New Horizons Polish Days 2023:

Completed films

The Big Chief - Tomasz Wolski
Producer: Anna Gawlita (Kijora Film)

The Life and Deaths of Max Linder - Edward Porembny
Producer: Edward Porembny (AMP Polska)

Ultima Thule - Klaudiusz Chrostowski
Producers: Beata Rzeźniczek, Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Klaudiusz Chrostowski, Jakub Gierszał (Madants)

White Courage [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Marcin Koszałka
Producers: Agata Szymańska, Magdalena Kamińska (Balapolis)

Works in progress

Challenge of the Bow - Łukasz Barczyk
Producer: Maciej Ostoja-Chyżyński (ADD SUM)

Fin del Mundo? - Piotr Dumała
Producer: Piotr Kobus (Mañana)

It’s Not My Film - Maria Zbąska
Producer: Inga Kruk (HI MOVIES)

Milk Bearer - Natalia Pietsch
Producers: Marta Habior, Michel Franco (No Sugar Films)

Minghun - Jan P Matuszyński
Producers: Klaudiusz Frydrych, Krzysztof Rak, Inga Kruk (Wonder Films)

Next to Nothing - Grzegorz Dębowski
Producers: Jerzy Kapuściński, Ewa Jastrzębska, Katarzyna Malinowska (Munk Studio)

The Peasants [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman
Producers: Sean Bobbitt, Hugh Welchman (Breakthru Films)

RAVE. 140 Beats per Minute - Dawid Nickel, Łukasz Ronduda
Producer: Izabela Kiszka-Hoflik (IKH Pictures Promotion)

Wet Monday - Justyna Mytnik
Producer: Marta Gmosińska (Lava Films)

Pitching of projects in development

Bad Mother - Małgorzata Imielska
Producers: Olga Bieniek, Marlena Kreńska (Cinemundo)

Brother - Maciej Sobieszczański
Producers: Izabela Wójcik, Violetta Kamińska, Dariusz Jabłoński (Apple Film Production)

Hiss - Anna Kasińska
Producers: Kuba Kosma, Katarzyna Sarnowska (Serce)

Kingdom - Michał Ciechomski
Producers: Ewa Jastrzębska, Jerzy Kapuściński, Katarzyna Malinowska (Munk Studio)

Obsession - Tadeusz Łysiak
Producer: Stanisław Dziedzic (Film Produkcja)

The Queen of Pots - Jakub Piątek
Producers: Alicja Gancarz, Anna Wereda, Magdalena Zimecka (ORKA)

Runa - Agnieszka Zwiefka (Poland/Denmark)
Producers: Zofia Kujawska, Agnieszka Zwiefka (Chilli Productions), Sigrid Dyekjaer (Real Lava)

Under the Volcano - Damian Kocur
Producer: Mikołaj Lizut (Lizart Film)

Wanda - Maciej Pieprzyca
Producer: Zbigniew Domagalski (WFDiF)