A masterpiece of silent cinema, A Strong Man by Henryk Szaro with live music, the oldest ‘shelved’ film of the Republic of Poland and Andrzej Fidyk’s documentary Wałęsa by Wałęsa. These two exceptional special events of the 64th Krakow Film Festival will be held at the MANGGHA Museum of Japanese Art and Technology.
Manggha holds a special place in the hearts of Kraków’s residents. It is wonderful that we can host events in this beautiful venue, brought to life by the initiative of Andrzej Wajda, where the Kyoto-Kraków Foundation, headed by Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda, has its seat. These two diverse events are united by the patrons of this place, who all hold a permanent spot in the history of global culture, – says Krzysztof Gierat, Director of the Krakow Film Festival.
Henryk Szaro’s film is one of the masterpieces of Polish silent cinema. The audience will have the opportunity to see A Strong Man projected from a 35mm print. Vintage projectors will be set up in the auditorium, and viewers will get to hear their distinctive clatter. Accompanying this unique screening will be live music by Piotr Orzechowski ‘Pianohooligan’ and Kuba Więcek. In contrast, Andrzej Fidyk’s documentary about Lech Wałęsa is Poland’s oldest ‘shelved’ film. The first public screening of Wałęsa by Wałęsa is going to feature special guests, including Lech’s wife Danuta Wałęsa and son Bogdan Wałęsa. Before the screening, the book Andrzej Wajda. Notesy. will have its premiere. The authors, Tadeusz Lubelski and Agnieszka Morstin, will discuss their work on this unique publication.
Piotr Orzechowski ‘Pianohooligan’ and Kuba Więcek
A Strong Man dir. Henryk Szaro
A Strong Man (dir. Henryk Szaro) with live music
Krakow Film Festival, in collaboration with the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA), invites you to a screening of the Polish silent film A Strong Man with live music. The film will be projected from a 35mm reel sourced from FINA archives. Henryk Szaro’s film is an adaptation of Stanisław Przybyszewski’s novel, formally inspired by German expressionism. This psychological drama, depicting an artist’s moral decline, was considered lost for nearly 70 years and is one of the last Polish films of the silent era. Live music will be performed by Piotr Orzechowski ‘Pianohooligan’ and Kuba Więcek.
The Silent Film Festival in Kraków is a partner of the screening.
31.05 FRI 6:00 P.M. | MANGGHA Museum of Japanese Art and Technology
Premiere of the documentary Wałęsa by Wałęsa (dir. Andrzej Fidyk)
A special screening of Poland’s oldest ‘shelved’ film. This film, produced in 2015, will be broadcast on Polish Television on 4 June, marking the 35th anniversary of the first democratic elections. The documentary presents a portrait of Lech Wałęsa – the leader of Solidarity, a Nobel Prize winner, and President of Poland – from his own perspective, in conversation with the director, using previously unseen archival footage. After the screening, there will be a meeting with the film’s director Andrzej Fidyk, co-writer Anna Więckowska, as well as the protagonist’s wife Danuta Wałęsa and son Bogdan Wałęsa, president of the Lech Wałęsa Institute Foundation.
30.05 THU 6:00 P.M. | MANGGHA Museum of Japanese Art and Technology
Passes and tickets for the 64th Krakow Film Festival are on sale now!
The schedule of screenings and accompanying events is available here.
The Krakow Film Festival is on the exclusive list of qualifying events for the Oscars® in the categories of short film (live action, animated, documentary) and documentary feature, as well as a recommending event for the European Film Awards in the same categories.
The Festival is organised with the financial support of the Municipality of Kraków, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the European Union’s Creative Europe program, the Lesser Poland Province, the Polish Film Institute. It is co-organised by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
The 64th Krakow Film Festival will be held in cinemas from 26 May to 2 June and online across Poland on the KFF VOD platform from 31 May to 16 June 2024.