Grażyna Torbicka Festival Buzzes with Events and Prestigious Guests

The 20th edition of the BNP Paribas Dwa Brzegi festival in Kazimierz Dolny, Poland, has drawn to a close. The event culminated in a closing gala where the winners of the International Short Film Competition were announced, celebrating a range of cinematic talents.

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for showing that closeness and fulfillment can be found in the cruelest of places.

The International Short Film Competition jury awarded top prizes to several films. The first prize, along with 8,000 PLN, went to "Skin on Skin" (dir. Simon Schneckenburger) for its portrayal of closeness found in harsh circumstances and its depiction of a complex, often cruel, modern Europe. The second prize of 6,000 PLN was awarded to Klaudia Fortuniak's "Tytuł się jeszcze przyśni" for its dreamlike, absurdly funny, yet coherent and moving narrative. Third prize, worth 4,000 PLN, was given to Patrycja Polkowska's "Sprawa nr" for its compelling and relevant portrait of an individual entangled in systemic mechanisms.

Additionally, the Agatka Modrzejewska award for best cinematography, valued at 5,000 PLN, was presented to Fran Moreno Blanco and Santi Pujola Amati for their work on the film "Furia." The jury praised their focused, modest, and sensitive approach to capturing the film's protagonist and the consistent execution of lighting and visual character.

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for creating an oneiric, unreal world that is simultaneously coherent, moving, and above all, absurdly funny.

The festival itself showcased a rich program, opening with Lukas Dhont's "Close" and closing with Rodrigo Sorogoyen's "The Beasts." Highlights included Cannes premieres, the short film competition, four retrospectives dedicated to filmmakers Anna Dymna, Eliza Kubarska, Jan Komasa, and Lars von Trier, over 100 screenings, and an evening honoring Andrzej Wajda. Numerous meetings with directors, actors, and producers provided audiences with insights into the filmmaking process.

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for a suggestive and extremely current portrait of a person entangled in the mechanisms of the system and the power of emotional impact that leaves the viewer with questions long after the screening.

The "World Under the Tent" section presented recent feature and documentary films awarded at international festivals. The event was graced by esteemed guests from Polish cinema, including Anna Dymna, Grażyna Szapołowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Daniel Olbrychski, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, and Robert Więckiewicz. Musical performances featured artists such as Marcin Dorociński and Mary Komasa. The festival also included a Night of Galleries and over 100 artistic events.

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for an image that is focused, modest, without unnecessary fireworks, which follows the hero in the most sensitive and tender way.