Producers from Staron Films, Wajda Studio, Hanna Polak Films, Metro Films, Endorfina Studio, Otter Films and Krakow Film Foundation and Polish Television will attend HotDocs.
Thanks to the efforts of Krakow Film Foundation Poland is this year’s special guest of Hot Docs Film Festival. Ten Polish films presented in the “Made In” section and one in “Nightvision” section, strong representation of Polish film producers at Hot Docs Forum and Polish project in the pitching session are the most important elements of the Polish program.
Canadian festival Hot Docs is one of the most important documentary film festivals in the world. It is also the biggest documentary film festival in North America. Its first edition was celebrated in Toronto in 1993 and since that moment the festival keeps on growing by introducing new program elements and gaining international recognition. Every year almost 200 most important documentary films of the year are shown at Hot Docs and over 2000 film professionals visit Hot Docs Forum and film market. This year’s 20th anniversary edition of the festival will take place from April 25th until May 5th.
Thanks to the cooperation between Hot Docs and Krakow Film Foundation Polish documentary films have been present in the festival’s program during last years and have always been very well received by Canadian audience. In 2009 “Rabbit a’a Berlin” has been awarded with Best Mid-Length Documentary Award.
Since 2003 Hot Docs organizes special „Made In” program that features the newest documentaries from one chosen country or region. So far, in the "Made In" series films from the following were shown: South-Eastern Europe (2012), Italy (2011), South America (2010), South Korea (2009), Mexico (2008), Brazil (2007), Japan (2006), South Africa (2004) and Taiwan (2003). This year, the Canadian programmers chose Poland..
"We are thrilled to be showcasing the filmmaking of Poland this year and welcoming a delegation of Polish filmmakers to the festival,” says Charlotte Cook, Hot Docs program director. “Poland’s contribution to documentary has been vast, and it’s a joy to be able to share the incredible new work coming from the country this year with our audience.”
Ten Polish documentary films will be screened in „Made in Poland” program:
-„Galumphing”, dir. Kamila Józefowicz,
– „Man at war”, dir. Jacek Bławut,
– „Entangled”, dir. Lidia Duda
– „Dream in Making”, dir. Bartosz M. Kowalski
– „The Man Who Made Angels Fly”, dir. Wiktoria Szymańska
– „Free the Butterfly”, dir. Joanna Frydrych
– „Emperor’s Toys”, dir. Tomasz Gotfryd, Jarosław Moździerz, Joanna Rusinek, Joanna Wójcik, Grzegorz Wierzchowski
– „Exit point”, dir. Jagoda Szelc
– „Rogalik”, dir. Paweł Ziemilski
– „The conversation”, dir. Piotr Sułkowski
„Nightvision Program” will feature far-famed „Fuck for Forest” by Michał Marczak.
Polish presence in Canada will not only consist of films. Delegation of Polish producers will take part in the Hot Docs Forum held between 1st and 2nd May. Forum is a meeting point for producers, commissioning editors, buyers, financing institutions, representatives of film founds and many other professionals working in the field of documentary film. Polish producers travelling to Toronto will get the chance of presenting their projects (at all production stages) as well as finding the co-producers and other sources of financing.
Polish delegation comprising of the representatives of such producing companies as Staroń Films, Wajda Studio, Hanna Polak Films, Metro Films, Endorfina Studio and Otter Films as well as Krakow Film Foundation and Polish Television (TVP) will get the opportunity to participate in varied events organized within Hot Docs Forum. Polish delegates will be also hosted as special guests at the International Coproduction Day. There, after presenting their projects they will meet the potential co-producers. Furthermore, a Polish-Estonian project – “Rocket Men” – produced by Moma Film Foundation and Digital Sputnik will be presented at the pitching session. Other producers will take part in the pitching as observers.
Hot Docs Deal Maker is a novelty introduced to the programme for the first time this year. It allows the representatives of nearly 50 projects in development to have an individual meeting with decision makers. Furthermore, the organizers of Hot Docs plan to put together a discussion panel on Polish documentary industry to bring closer the production, financing, promotion and distribution strategies. It is worth emphasizing that Poland is the first East-Central European country invited to the forum.
The Polish Focus is co-organized by Polish Film Institute and Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto
More information to be found at www.hotdocs.ca