The Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia 2024 is coming to an end. The jury awarded the Golden Lions – the most important award in the Main Competition – to the film “The Green Border” directed by Agnieszka Holland. The Silver Lions went to the creators of the film “Girls with a Needle”, which was appreciated in a total of six categories.
The 49th Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia made history. The most important prize of the Main Competition – Golden Lions – received the film “The Green Border” Agnieszka Holland. The film was also appreciated with the Audience Award and in the Sound category (Roman Dymny).
The victory of “The Green Border” makes Agnieszka Holland the first director whose four films were awarded the most important award in Gdynia. So far, Holland and Krzysztof Kieślowski were the only directors whose three films received Golden Lions. Holland's other winning titles include: “Heat” (1981), “In Darkness” (2012) and “Citizen Jones” (2019).
“Girl with a Needle” and “White Courage” received numerous awards
The second most important award – Silver Lions – was awarded to “Girl with a Needle” directed by Magnus von Horn (the statuettes were received by the director and producer Mariusz Włodarski). The film also received awards for: cinematography (Michał Dymek), music (Frederikke Hoffmeier), supporting actress (Trine Dyrholm), set design (Jagna Dobesz) and costumes (Małgorzata Fudala).
The creators of the film “White Courage” also appeared on stage at the Musical Theater in Gdynia several times. Marcin Koszałka was appreciated for directing and, together with Łukasz M. Maciejewski, for the script. Actress Sandra Drzymalska received the award for the best female lead role, and Julian Świeżewski won in the best supporting male role category.
Moreover, in the best leading male role category, the award went to Jacek Borusiński for his performance in Tomasz Gąssowski's film “Wróbel”. The jury of the Main Competition decided to honor the actress Nel Kaczmarek with a distinction for her role in Korek Bojanowski's film “Loss of Balance”.
The statuette in the Professional Acting Debut category was received by Sofiia Berezovska, who impressed the jury with her role in the film “Under the Volcano” directed by Damian Kocur.
In the Debut or Second Film category, the jury decided to award, apart from the main prize, two distinctions: Kamila Tarabura for “Rzeczy Necessary” and Korek Bojanowski for the film “Loss of Balance”. The main prize for the best debut feature or second full-length feature film went to Mara Tamkovich for “Under a Gray Sky”.
New Sapphire Lions in Gdynia
This year, the Perspektywy competition debuted in the FPFF program in Gdynia, which included eight films: seven feature debuts and one second feature. They were assessed by a jury composed of: Janusz Zaorski, Maria Blicharska and Maciej Bochniak. Thus, for the first time, the Sapphire Lions were awarded to the creators of the film “Rzeczy Necessary” directed by Kamila Tarabura.
In accordance with the regulations of the Perspektywy competition, an award was also granted for outstanding artistic contribution. The jury decided to award it posthumously to the actor Maciej Damięcki for his role in the film “Cisza nocna” directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski. On behalf of the deceased actor, his children: Matylda and Mateusz received the statuette.
Main Competition Jury
16 films qualified for this year's Main Competition at the Gdynia event. These included “The Green Border” by Agnieszka Holland, “Girl with a Needle” by Magnus von Horn, “Wrooklyn Zoo” by Krzysztof Skonieczny, “Under the Volcano” by Damian Kocur and “Simon Kossak” by Adrian Panek.
They were assessed by a jury chaired by actress Małgorzata Zajączkowska, which also included:
- screenwriter Marcin Ciastoń,
- film producer Marta Habior,
- director Anna Jadowska,
- director, screenwriter and producer David Ondříček,
- film set designer Ewa Skoczkowska,
- cinematographer Piotr Śliskowski.
FPFF in Gdynia 2024. List of winners
- Golden Lions – “The Green Border” dir. Agnieszka Holland
- Silver Lions – “The Girl with the Needle” dir. Magnus von Horn
- Sapphire Lions in the Perspektywy competition – “Necessary Things” dir. Kamila Tarabur
- Exceptional Artistic Contribution – Maciej Damięcki for his role in the film “Cisza nocna” (dir. Bartosz M. Kowalski)
- Direction – Marcin Koszałka “White Courage”
- Main Male Role – Jacek Borusiński “Wróbel” (director: Tomasz Gąssowski)
- Main Female Role – Sandra Drzymalska “White Courage” (dir. Marcin Koszałka)
- Scenario – Łukasz M. Maciejewski and Marcin Koszałka “White Courage” (dir. Marcin Koszałka)
- Photos – Michał Dymek “Girl with a Needle” (dir. Magnus von Horn)
- Music – Frederikke Hoffmeier “The Girl with the Needle” (dir. Magnus von Horn)
- Supporting Female Role – Trine Dyrholm “The Girl with the Needle” (dir. Magnus von Horn)
- Supporting Male Role – Julian Świeżewski “White Courage” (dir. Marcin Koszałka)
- Golden Claw named after Andrzej Żuławski – “It's Not My Movie” dir. Maria Zbąska (film from the Perspectives section)
- Installation – Sebastian Mialik “Wrooklyn Zoo” (dir. Krzysztof Skonieczny)
- Sound – Roman Dymny “The Green Border” (dir. Agnieszka Holland)
- Scenography – Jagna Dobesz “The Girl with the Needle” (dir. Magnus von Horn)
- Costumes – Małgorzata Fudala “Girl with a Needle” (dir. Magnus von Horn)
- Makeup – Agnieszka Hodowana “Kulej. Two sides of a coin” (dir. Xawery Żuławski)
- Professional Acting Debut – Sofiia Berezovska “Under the Volcano” (dir. Damian Kocur)
- Directorial Debut or Second Film – Mara Tamkovich “Under a Gray Sky”
- Platinum Lions – Wojciech Marczewski
- Audience Award – “The Green Border” dir. Agnieszka Holland
- Best Short Film – “Orange from Jaffa” dir. Mohammed Almughanni
Main photo source: PAP/Adam Warżawa