A special screening of the film “Phenomenon” was held at the Kinoteka cinema in Warsaw. – This is a story about us, about Poles, about Poland – said Dominika Kulczyk, the film’s lead producer. During the event, together with the director, Małgorzata Kowalczyk, she signed the poster designed by Andrzej Pągowski, which will be put up for auction by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP). “Phenomenon” – the first cinema documentary about Jurek Owsiak and the history of WOŚP – opens in cinemas this Friday, 20 January, just ahead of the upcoming 31st Grand Finale of the charity drive.

The special screening of “Phenomenon” was attended by the film’s creators as well as stars connected with the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, including Patrycja Markowska, Wojciech Waglewski, and Kasia and Jacek Sienkiewicz (Kwiat Jabłoni). Before the screening, the audience heard from Dominika Kulczyk, the film’s lead producer, and Małgorzata Kowalczyk, the director of “Phenomenon”.

 

– This is an exceptional film. The first feature-length documentary we have made with the dFlights crew, with whom I have had the pleasure of working for many years. This is a story about us, about Poles, about Poland. About what it means to have a beautiful heart – one I am always proud of around the world. About how we see another human being, how we hear them, how we are truly there for them. But also about how difficult and mean we can sometimes be. I hope your adventure with “Phenomenon” will be a special one and that you will discover a new story of your own in the film – said Dominika Kulczyk on stage.

– Jurek, thank you for all the conversations we had on set and the ones we had the chance to have in person. You taught me a lot – it was a valuable lesson and I am very grateful to you for it – added Małgorzata Kowalczyk, addressing her words to Jerzy Owsiak.

During the event, the film’s poster was symbolically signed by its author, Andrzej Pągowski, and the makers of the documentary. The poster will be auctioned off for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. After the screening of “Phenomenon”, the filmmakers received a standing ovation from the audience.

“Phenomenon” is the first film in which Jurek Owsiak – founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity – reveals in such a candid conversation how the idea of establishing the Orchestra was born and what the difficult early days of its work looked like. He also revisits the entire 30-year history of WOŚP, without avoiding topics as difficult as the brutal wave of online hate that has come his way.

The documentary about the founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity also shows his transformation – from a carefree hippie into the leader of an enormous civic movement and one of the most important symbols of free Poland. It also reveals the behind-the-scenes story of bringing the idea of the Przystanek Woodstock festival to Poland.

“Phenomenon” opens in Polish cinemas on 20 January 2023. Its release coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the first Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity and the upcoming edition of the fundraiser. NEXT FILM is responsible for the distribution of “Phenomenon” in Poland.

The film was made with financial support granted by the Polish Film Institute from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, under the act on financial support for audiovisual production.

 

PHENOMENON

Release date: 20.01.2023

 

PRODUCER: Dominika Kulczyk
DIRECTOR: Małgorzata Kowalczyk

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Bogumił Godfrejów

EDITING: Robert Ciodyk PSM

SOUND: Marta Kosiorowska

MUSIC: Szymon Nidzworski

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Joanna Zielińska, Marek Kłosowicz

PRODUCTION MANAGERS: Darek Kielak, Dominik Danek