The 18th edition of the BNP Paribas Two Shores Film and Art Festival began on Saturday in Kazimierz Dolny (Lubelskie). The event will last eight days. Its program includes film screenings, but also meetings with creators, concerts and exhibitions. The last day of the festival will feature the Polish premiere of the film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel “The Count of Monte Cristo”.
Crowds of film buffs arrived in Kazimierz Dolny (Lubelskie) on Saturday for the opening of the 18th BNP Paribas Dwa Brzegi Film and Art Festival. During the eight days, viewers can expect – in addition to film screenings – meetings with creators, concerts, and exhibitions.
At the press conference, the artistic director of the festival, Grażyna Torbicka, invited people to film screenings, as well as accompanying events, concerts and exhibitions. – Cooperation with numerous galleries in Kazimierz Dolny, with the Nadwiślańskie Museum, means that during these eight days there are many new exhibitions. The entire Lubelska Street is actually one large art gallery – she emphasized.
Stars at the BNP Paribas Two Shores Festival
The festival will also host many artists, directors, and actors. Daniel Olbrychski, Krzysztof Globisz, Andrzej Seweryn, Małgorzata Szumowska, and Maja Ostaszewska will come to Kazimierz Dolny. Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak will be the protagonist of the series “And God Created an Actress” this year. In addition to meeting the artist, her acting achievements will be recalled as part of a retrospective.
The director of the Polish Film Institute Karolina Rozwód pointed out during the conference that the Polish Film Institute not only supports film productions, but also tries to reach the audience with cinema. – I wanted to say that I am here first and foremost as a viewer. I feel like a pupil of this festival. Congratulations on coming of age and I am glad that I could visit here many times – she emphasized.
Referring to her new role as head of the Polish Film Institute, she explained that she wants it to be an institution that, above all, provides the best possible conditions for the development of Polish cinema.
BNP Paribas Dwa Brzegi takes place in Kazimierz Dolny (2022 edition)fb.com/FestivalTwoBrzegi
– I absolutely do not usurp the right to single-handedly decide how a film should or should not be made. I would very much like these decisions to be made by experts with authority. We have already started a conversation with the community about how to select these experts, because there is always a lot of discussion on this topic – assessed Rozwód. She expressed hope that it will be an increasingly friendly and transparent institution.
The mayor of Kazimierz Dolny, Artur Pomianowski, said that the town focuses on the development of culture. He said that last year there were 266 events, cultural events and 11 festivals. – Of course, the Dwa Brzegi festival plays a leading role here – added the mayor, assuring further cooperation.
Two Shores Festival Program
The opening film of the 18th BNP Paribas Two Shores will be the Palme d'Or nominee for Cannes, “Wild Diamond” directed by Agathe Riedinger. It tells the story of a nineteen-year-old who decides to take part in a reality show. “It's a film about following dreams, illusory popularity and the chance for social advancement,” the release added.
The “World Under the Tent” section also includes other hits from the world's most important festivals, such as Alonso Ruizpalacios' “Appetite for More. La Cocina” shown in the main competition at the Berlinale. The film is set in a New York restaurant, where in the multicultural kitchen each of the hard-working immigrants struggles with their own problems and fears, the tension growing as the orders come in faster. “The director, focusing on how much societies exploit migrant labor, drew on his own experiences working in the back of restaurants,” the film's description explains.
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Also presented will be the Golden Bear-winning documentary “Dahomey” by Mati Diop about the return of works of art stolen in the 19th century by French colonial troops from the kingdom of Dahomey, located in Africa on the Gulf of Guinea.
Polish cinema at the festival will be represented by, among others, the comedy-drama “Wróbel” by Tomasz Gąssowski. “It is a bittersweet story about the irony of life, referring to the beautiful film “The Postman” (“Il Postino” by Michael Radford). You will also find comedic and satirical atmospheres in the films “Horror Story” by Adrian Apanel, “Want Peace, Prepare for War” by Agnieszka Elbanowska and “U Pana Boga w Królowym Mostie” by Jacek Bromski,” the press release stated.
The International Short Film Competition will present 25 Polish and foreign productions, including new short documentaries, animations, feature films and experimental films by young creators.
The 18th BNP Paribas Dwa Brzegi Film and Art Festival in Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec nad Wisłą will last until August 4. On Saturday, August 3, the closing gala will feature the Polish premiere of the film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre De La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte.
TVN is the media patron of the festival.
Main image source: fb.com/FestivalTwoBrzegi