Etiuda&Anima: Polish School of Animation "Female hearth"

31. Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival
Kraków, Poland

Thursday, 26. 9. 2023 at 9.30 / Vetrinj mansion, big hall

Project curator: Katarzyna Surmacz (Festival Organization Director)
Programme will be introduced by Agnieszka Zając (Etiuda&Anima IFF) and Paulina Ziółkowska (filmmaker).

The organizer of the project is Fundacja Promocji Kultury Artystycznej, Filmowej i Audiowizualnej Etiuda&Anima (International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima). This project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Culture Promotion Fund and by the Polish Film Institute.

 

  • The Polish School of Animation project was initiated on the occasion of the Polish Presidency 2011 and since then we have presented it during animation and short film festivals in 36 countries, including: Germany, China, Japan, Bulgaria, Portugal, Estonia, Brazil, Mexico, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA, Korea, Sweden and Ukraine.

    The project aims to popularize Polish animation around the world, illustrating various trends, developments and changes taking place in this field over the last 70 years. Although the Polish School of Animation was born only after 1945, next to the films of the Polish School, the Grotowski Theater and the Polish School of Posters, animated cinema has been for decades one of the most important elements of the Polish culture's showcases for the international public. The program prepared by the Foundation recalls the most valuable achievements of the national school, presenting films by poets and ironists of the image, master puppeteers and cut-out virtuosos, painters, cartoonists. In addition, it demonstrates the most interesting achievements of the generations that came to prominence in later years, continuing, often polemically, the work of Polish masters. Two-part presentation consists of the screenings "Male Eye" (screened in Maribor during the Lent Festival 2024) and "Female Heart" which is presented in the frames of the 14th StopTrik IFF.

    The "Female Heart" screening draws attention to Polish young artists. Currently a huge difference prevails in the animation industry in comparison to the last century that can be described as men-dominated. This programme emphasizes a significant role of women in the world of animation and the colossal difference in subject matter and gender proportions since the times of the People's Republic of Poland. Among top arists of noawadys scene we should mention arists such as Wiola Sowa, Anita Kwiatkowska Naqvi, Marta Pajek, Karolina Specht, Ewa Borysewicz, Paulina Ziółkowska or Julia Orlik, who stimulate special sensitivity to the world. In their films, they touch upon topics strongly related to women's lives, female body, as well as physiological and physical changes that occur in the lifespan (e.g. puberty, sexual experiences, pregnancy, aging). The contemporary wave of films made by women, after years of male dominance in the industry, has brought a pleasant breath of fresh air to Polish animation.

 
 
 

01.

Ab Ovo
Anita Kwiatkowska Naqvi (Film School Lodz)
2013, Poland, 5'18''

A film originating from the unique experience of femininity. The power of fertility is the source of both distressing and beautiful experience. A visually convincing view on surprising and uncontrollable transformations of a woman’s body.

  • Recommended for children under 14 years old: Yes
    Technique: Puppet film, clay animation
    Language: N/a

    Team:
    Written and directed by Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi // Cinematography, Editing: Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi // Cinematography collaboration: Leyla Comert // Puppets: Krzysztof Lech // Sound: George Antoniv // Sound: Marek Knaga // Synchronization effects: Wiesław Nowak // Supervision: Henryk Ryszka, Aleksandra Chrapowicki.

    About the director:
    Anita Kwiatkowska-Naqvi, born in 1986 in Krakow, animation graduate and PhD student at Lodz Film School, Poland. In her short films she takes a novel approach to traditional animation techniques, using unusual materials to create hypnotising, poetic worlds. Her films gained worldwide recognition, including the award for the best diploma film in Annecy for Ab ovo. Co-founder of LeLe Production.

02.

To Thy Heart  / Do serca twego
Ewa Borysewicz (Animaso)
2013, Poland, 10'

She wanted to listen to his sweet-talking and wanted him to talk until the moon was up. Then she stopped pinning her hopes on him. She couldn't let him off so easily for his betrayal. A secular litany and a story of affection.

  • Recommended for children under 14 years old: No
    Technique: 2D hand-drawn
    Language: Polish

    Team:
    Written and directed by Ewa Borysewicz // Director of the voice actors: Marcin Wierzchowski // Additional cinematography: Jakub Pierzchała // Visuals and animation: Ewa Borysewicz // Music: Michał Augustyniak // Sound: Michał Jankowski, Michał Fojcik // Synchronization: Michał Jankowski, Paweł Łuczak, Noiseroom // Sound recording: Piotr Knop, Michał Focjik // Mix: Michał Jankowski, Piotr Knop // Artistic supervision: Jerzy Kucia // Translation: Marcin Wierzchowski // Executive producer: Marek Serafiński // Producers: Małgorzata Bosek, Tomasz Wojtkowski // Voice actors: Ewa Borysewicz, Adrianna Janowska-Moniuszko, Karolina Kamińska, Jakub Kryształ, Anna Pijanowska, Marta Ruszkiewicz, Bartosz Szpach, Marcin Wierzchowski

    About the director:
    Director, screenwriter, visual artist and university pedagogue. Graduate of Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice and Krakow Academy of Fine Arts. Currently - a PhD student at Polish National Film School in Lodz. The author of award-winning animated films, of which To Thy Heart was nominated for e.g. Golden Bear at Berlinale Shorts and won Grand Prix at Animateka Festival in Ljubljana. She took part in the artist-in-residence program in Tokyo and in Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart; collaborated with polish public TVP Kultura channel, Arsenał Gallery (Białystok), Silesia Film. She was a member of the Animation Board in Polish Filmmakers Association. She works and lives in Warsaw and has just finished The Miracle  - her hybrid live-action/animated short film, an adaptation of the novel by Ignacy Karpowicz.

03.

The Incredibly Elastic Man / Nieprawdopodobnie elastyczny człowiek
Karolina Specht (Film School Lodz)
2013, Poland, 5’

A man is born without a shape. Can one live completely detached from others, from reality? Who and what decides who we ultimately are?

  • Recommended for children under 14 years old: Yes
    Technique: 2D
    Language: N/a

    Team:
    Written and directed by Karolina Specht // Cinematography and editing: Karolina Specht // Sound: Marek Knaga // Synchronization: Wiesław Nowak // Supervision: Henryk Ryszka, Aleksandra Chrapowicka

    About the director:
    Karolina Specht, born in 1991, a graduate of animation at the department of Photography & Television Production of Lodz Film School. Apart from award-winning The Incredibly Elastic Man, she also made animations: Don’t lose your head (2015), Beside Oneself (2016), Squaring the Circle (2018). Laureate of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award for her outstanding achievements granted to students of Polish artistic schools.

04.

Your Own Bullshit / Własne śmieci
Daria Kopiec (Studio Munka, Likaon)
2020, Poland, 6'25''

There's nothing better than dinner with family, even though it reminds us of a looped script that repeats itself infinitely. And though, except for food, you have to swallow the words of your loved ones.

  • Recommended for children under 14 years of age: No
    Technique: Puppet film, clay animation
    Language: Polish

    Team:
    Written and directed: Daria Kopiec // Dialogues: Agata Żyźniewska // Cinematography: Daria Kopiec, Piotr Matysiak // Lights: Maciej Bedyk // Visuals: Daria Kopiec, Aleksandra Kotarska // Scenography: Aleksandra Kotarska, Sylwia Nowak, Daria Kopiec, Krzysztof Wierzbowski // Scenographer on call: Piotr Śmiałek // Puppets: Aleksandra Kotarska, Sylwia Nowak, Daria Kopiec, Krzysztof Wierzbowski, Janusz Grzelak // Animation: Wojciech Sankiewicz, Piotr Ficner, Daria Kopiec, Sofya Nabok // Image post-production: Jacek Mazur // Color corrections: Jarosław Sterczewski // Music: Natalia Czekała // Recording and Sound: Agata Chodyra // Sound Post-production: Katarzyna Marchewa // Editing: Monika Sirojc, Janusz Czubak // Artistic supervision: Piotr Dumała // Consultants: Elżbieta Chowaniec, Agata Żyźniewska // Promotion and distribution: Michał Hudzikowski // Public relations: Anna Wróblewska // Stills: Tomasz Łaptaszyński // Executive Producers: Justyna Rucińska, Anna Mroczek, Wojciech Leszczyński // Production coordination: Agnieszka Ptaszyńska, Karolina Panasiuk // Producers: Jerzy Kapuściński, Ewa Jastrzębska // Voice actors: Mikołaj Kłosiewicz, Izabela Dąbrowska, Dariusz Siastacz, Natalia Czekała, Modest Ruciński, Robert Mróz, Aleksandra Lechocińska, Magdalena Haworska, Paulina Wróblewska, Karolina Gwóźdź

    About the director:
    Daria Kopiec, director of live action, animated films and theater director. In 2009 graduated with a master degree from the Łódź Film School, the Direction of Photography Department, specialization: Animation and Special Effects. From November 2006 to March 2007 she was granted a scholarship at the Animation Department of l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de La Cambre in Brussels. Laureate of international awards for animated films: Cosmos, Rivers, Bobo's Metamorphoses.

05.

Impossible Figures and Other Stories I / Figury niemożliwe i inne historie I 
Marta Pajek (Animoon, NFB Canada)
2021, Poland, Canada, 16’

An ominous ticking sound triggers a massive explosion. Wandering deserted city streets, the tired, stoic woman painfully recalls what was and what could have been. 

  • Recommended for children under 14 years of age: Yes
    Technique: 2D hand-drawn, 3D computer
    Language: German

    Written and directed by Marta Pajek // Visuals: Marta Pajek // Animation 2D: Alex Boya, Eva Cvijanović, Parissa Mohit, Marta Magnuska, Małgorzata Mianowska, Marta Pajek // Animation 3D: Brandon Blommaert, Kaacper Czyczyło, Monika Kołcz // Coloring: Anna Chrzanowska, Mateusz Frank, Marta Iwańska, Julia Kożuszek // Modeling and rigging: Tomasz Tomczyk // Compositing: Marta Pajek // Computer simulation: Grzegorz Flaga // Rendering: Monika Kołcz // Color correction: Magdalena Kulak // Scanning and retouching: Marta Pajek // Mastering DCP: Marek Dudzik // Music: Aleksandra Gryka // Additional music: Marcin Kuczewski // Synchronization effect: Michał Jankowski, Noiseroom, Paweł Łuczak // Sound design: Michał Jankowski, Olivier Calvert // Sound editing: Michał Jankowski // Sound: Michał Jankowski, Piotr Knop, Toya Studios // Editing: Marta Pajek // Marketing: Judith Lessard-Berube // Director of techniques: Eloi Champagne // Coordinators of techniques: Randall Finnerty, Luc Binette // Coordination: Barry Ahmad, Faisal Moula // Administration: Rosalina Di Sario // Head Producers: Karolina Sendecka, Martyna Siwińska // Production coordinators: Dominique Forget // Line producer: Zofia Jaroszuk // Executive Producer: Michael Fukushima // Producers: Piotr Szczepanowicz, Grzegorz Wacławek, Maral Mohammadian // Voice acting: Anna Polony

    About the director: 
    Marta Pajek,  born in 1982. Film director, graphic artist. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, she studied at the Animated Film Studio headed by Jerzy Kucia. She also participated in a traineeship under the tutorship of Priit Pärn at the Turku Arts Academy in Finland. She has directed short animations, such as After Apples (2004) and Behind the Wall (2005), and an award-winning film Sleepincord (2011). The latest part of her triptych Impossible Figures and Other Stories III was qualified for the short film competition at the Cannes 2018 festival.

06.

3 geNARRATIONS / 3 geNARRACJE
Paulina Ziółkowska (Fumi Studio)
2021, Poland, 9'

A child is born. A daughter becomes a mother. The mother becomes a grandmother. The grandmother...she just wants to die. A generation change.

  • Recommended for children under 14 years of age: Yes
    Technique: 2D hand-drawn
    Language: Polish

    Team:
    Written and directed by Paulina Ziółkowska // Visuals: Paulina Ziółkowska // Decorations: Paulina Ziółkowska, Bogdan Ziółkowski, Marta Sieczkowska // Animation: Paulina Ziółkowska, Max Litvinov, Alicja Błaszczyńska, Vera Dementchouk, Daria Kruszka, Zofia Skórka, Agnieszka Czachór // Coloring: Małgorzata Borowiec-Uljanicka, Bogdan Ziółkowski, Elżbieta Ziółkowska, Paulina Ziółkowska // Compositing: Paulina Ziółkowska, Maciej Wierzejski // Music: Naybi Suyua Esparza Luna // Sound: Pablo Herrera Torres // Mix: Beat Shop Studio Dźwiękowe // Synchronization effects: Pablo Herrera Torres // Editing: Gabriel Herrera Torres // Artistic supervision: Piotr Dumała, Gil Alkabetz // Head producers: Maria Deskur, Piotr Furmankiewicz // Production collaboration: Jan Ptasiński // Producers: Piotr Furmankiewicz, Matuesz Michalak // Voice acting: Miriam Aleksandrowicz, Anna Apostolakis, Joanna Pach-Żbikowska

    About the director:
    Paulina Ziółkowska - born in 1988 – a polish film director, 2D Animator and illustrator. She studied animation at Lodz Film School in Poland and at Filmuniversity Babelsberg. Her debut film Oh Mother!(2017) was screened in many festivals worldwide, won many prizes. Her next film Bless you!(2018) amongst others has won a special mention at 68th Berlinale and a special mention at AnimaFest in Zagreb. Her films have been shown at festivals like: Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy,  IFF Etiuda&Anima, Krakowski Festiwal Filmowy, Melbourne IFF, Ottawa IAF, Stuttgart.

07.

I'm Here / Jestem tutaj
Julia Orlik (Film School Lodz)
2020, Poland, 15'

An elderly man is looking after his paralyzed wife. Despite his old age and health problems he’s doing his best to relieve her suffering, which is getting worse day by day.

  • Recommended for children under 14 years of age: Yes
    Technique: Puppet film
    Language: Polish

    Team:
    Written and directed: Julia Orlik // Cinematography, animation: Julia Orlik // Puppets: Janusz Grzelak // Special effects: Katarzyna Adamkiewicz // Sound: Bogdan Klat // Synchronization: Wiesław Nowak // Editing: Aleksandra Rosset // Supervision: Mariusz Wilczyński, Joanna Jasińska-Koronkiewicz // Head producer: Bartłomiej Orlik // Production coordinator: Renata Kociuba // Voice actors: Zdzisław Wardejn, Izabela Kuna, Jan Jurkowski, Stefan Jezusek, Luba Cygan, Zuzanna Kopeć, Jakub Kopeć

    About the director:
    Julia Orlik, born in 1996; a graduate of the of Lodz Film School (PWSFTviT), majoring in Animated Film and Special Effects. So far, she has made 3 animated films that have been presented at festivals around the world. The film I’m here won many awards and distinctions, including Grand Prix at PÖFF Shorts festivals (Estonia 2020) and International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima (Poland 2020).

08.

Misaligned / Koniunkcja
Marta Magnuska (Animoon, AtomArt)
2023, Poland, Latvia, 7'

A woman and a man are in a room, a gecko sits in a terrarium and several flies are circling a lamp. As the rhythm of their universes accelerates, we find more and more dependencies and analogies between their activities and the observed elements.  

  • Recommended for children under 14 years of age: Yes
    Technique: 2D hand-drawn
    Language: N/a

    About the director:
    Marta Magnuska, an animator, director and illustrator. She graduated from the Faculty of Graphics and Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź in editorial design and illustration. Participated in the student exchange programs with Universidade de Belas-Artes in Lisbon and Animationinstitut Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg in Ludwigsburg. Her former short films Foreign Body and The Other screened at the most prestigious festivals worldwide including Cannes, Annecy IAFF and Clermont Ferrand ISFF to list just a few. 

 
Kaja Fiedler