Two Polish film-makers emerged as winners at this year’s incarnation of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
Dorota Kedzierzawska was awarded an honorary ‘Golden Alexander’ for her entire body of work to date, whilst newcomer Marek Lechki scooped the prize for Best Screenplay for his recent drama Erratum.
Speaking of her victory, Kedzierzawska said that she was ‘embarrassed’ as she was ‘not used to compliments.’ She went on to explain that many of her acquaintances had believed that she was not cut out for the film world, on account of her diffident personality.
‘I have a soft spot for people who are fragile, and this explains my choices in my films so far,’ she added.
Kedzierzawska made her silver screen debut in 1991 with Devils, Devils. Amongst her most celebrated films to date is Time to Die (2007), based on the real-life travails of one of the director’s neighbours in Lodz. The film chronicles the struggles of an elderly lady who is trying to take control of her pre-war house, which had been settled with strangers during the communist era.
Meanwhile, Marek Lechki walked away with the Best Screenplay award for a film which has yet to go on general release in Poland. Lechki wrote, produced and directed domestic drama Erratum, which focuses on a young man who returns to his home in the provinces and becomes embroiled with ghosts from the past. The film won considerable acclaim as the Polish Film Festival this year but has been unable to secure a distributor to date.
The 51st Thessaloniki International Film Festival wrapped up yesterday. It is the oldest film festival in the Balkan region. (nh)