Polish Film Festival Sydney

The long-awaited POLISH FILM FESTIVAL SYDNEY returns this May and June with a strong line-up of critically acclaimed films, screening across two cinemas, Palace Norton Street in Leichardt and The Ritz Cinemas in Randwick. Get ready for smart comedies, gripping dramas, awe-inspiring biographies, a timeless classic, and a little treat for the young audience.

Commencing on Sunday 22 May with award-winning Polish-Irish comedy-drama I NEVER CRY (Jak najdalej stad) from the director of 2018 sensation “Silent Night”, we will travel to Dublin to follow the story of a rebellious teenager unexpectedly presented with a quick adulting lesson. Capturing audiences at the San Sebastian Film Festival and many other festivals worldwide, the film also won over the audience in Western Australia by winning Audience Choice at the 7th Polish Film Festival in Perth. Starring the outstanding Zofia Stafiej, Piotr Domalewski’s second feature film is a testimony to director's aptitude and artistic sensitivity as well as a great eye for young talent.

In an Australian premiere, the festival presents Poland’s submission to the 94th Academy Awards and winner of the Premio Bisato d’Oro critics’ award for best picture at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. Based on the best-selling book, LEAVE NO TRACES (Zeby nie bylo sladów) is a poignant picture of injustices of the communist era in Poland, depicting true events that shook the nation in early 1980s.

Another highlight of the festival is the German-Polish co-production ADVENTURES OF MATHEMATICIAN, which tells the unknown true story about Polish mathematician Stanislaw Ulam, who at the end of World War II joined the Manhattan Project to help create the H-bomb and later the first computer. It’s an emotional journey through the times when science lost its innocence and shaped the world we live in today.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its premiere, PFFS brings to Sydney the cult heist classic and one of the best Polish comedies, VABANK. Set in the criminal underworld of 1930’s Warsaw, the directorial debut of Juliusz Machulski tells the story of charming bank robber Kwinto, who upon leaving prison decides to take sweet revenge on his former partner Kramer, and rob his well-protected bank while making it look like the culprit is Kramer himself.

Other highlights include:

WOLKA (Wolka), shot against the backdrop of the volcanic landscape of Westman Islands in Iceland, is a Polish-Icelandic crime drama by Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson, a graduate of the world-renowned Polish Film School in Lódz, with an exceptional performance by Olga Boladz.

Two new comedies, BACK THEN, a box office hit and prequel to Kinga Debska's critically acclaimed comedy-drama “These Daughters of Mine” and BELOVED NEIGHBOURS, the 2020 Polish Film Festival in Gdynia micro budget sensation, a comedy of errors about the vicissitudes of two married couples, starring Marcin Dorocinski and Julia Wyszynska.

Full program is available on the Polish Film Festival website.

TICKETS:
Tickets are available at the box office at Palace Norton St and The Ritz Cienams or online.

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