Four Films Distributed by NEXT FILM, Including In-House Production “Sparrow”, in the Main Competition of the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia

Four films distributed by NEXT FILM, including the company’s own production – “Sparrow” – have been selected for the Main Competition of the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Alongside the film directed by Tomasz Gąssowski and produced by Robert Kijak (NEXT FILM), the Golden Lions will also be contested by “Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” (prod. Krzysztof Terej, Watchout Studio), “Simona Kossak” (prod. Magdalena Kamińska and Agata Szymańska, Balapolis) and “Woman of” (prod. Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Katarzyna Jordan-Kulczyk, Grzegorz Jankilevitsch, Bogna Szewczyk-Skupień, Małgorzata Szumowska, Michał Englert, NO-MAD FILMS). Three of the selected films will hit cinemas in the coming months.

“SPARROW”, OR EVERYTHING CHANGES

Last year, “Johnny”, produced by Robert Kijak (NEXT FILM), came back from the Gdynia festival with as many as four awards, including the audience award. This year, the chance to repeat that success goes to another NEXT FILM in-house production from Robert Kijak – “Sparrow”. What is the film about?

Remek Wróbel is a postman and a keen footballer in an amateur team. Pushing forty, he leads a bachelor’s life. He passionately studies the encyclopaedia, exercising his extraordinary memory. Apart from his resourceful friend Pedro, who runs shady businesses, he has no one close in the world. And he is fine with that. One day everything changes – his well-ordered life is turned upside down, and on top of that, a new quick-tongued neighbour, Marzenka, and a grandfather he never knew unexpectedly appear in it. Remek will have to learn how to make lemonade when life gives you lemons.

“Sparrow” is a story about the irony of life, told with wry distance and intelligent humour. In it, absurdity meets truth and a touch of magical realism. Starring Jacek Borusiński, Julia Chętnicka, Krzysztof Stroiński, Piotr Rogucki, Bartłomiej Kotschedoff. Appearing in unusual cameo roles are, among others, advertising world great Iwo Zaniewski, legendary sports journalist Stefan Szczepłek, stand-up comedian Wojciech Fiedorczuk, footballer Radek Majewski and journalist Michał Ogórek. Tomasz Gąssowski is the film’s writer, composer and director. The film is produced by Robert Kijak (NEXT FILM). The cinematographer is Wojciech Staroń. His credits include the cinematography for films such as “Papusza” (with Krzysztof Ptak), “Plac Zbawiciela” and “Ptaki śpiewają w Kigali”. Theatrical release: 23 August. The film has also been included in the programmes of the 25th Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec and the 51st Ińskie Lato Filmowe festival.

“KULEJ. ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD”… AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

The story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej – the most colourful married couple of 1960s Poland. He – a legendary boxer, two-time European champion and eight-time Polish champion, the only Polish boxer to win two Olympic golds; and although he was never knocked down in the ring, in life he fell more than once. She – a strong woman who stood steadfastly by his side, but refused to remain in his shadow forever.

“Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” focuses on the period between 1964 and 1968, when Jerzy Kulej won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and then repeated the feat in Mexico City. It is a multi-layered story of an athlete, his triumphs in the ring and the colour of the era, but also a tale of the turbulent fortunes of the Kulejs’ marriage, in which a great love was put to the test of coping with great success.

Jerzy and Helena Kulej are played by Tomasz Włosok and Michalina Olszańska. On screen we will also see Andrzej Chyra as the legendary coach Papa Stamm, as well as Tomasz Kot, Bartosz Gelner, Konrad Eleryk and Monika Mikołajczyk.

The producer of “Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” is Krzysztof Terej of Watchout Studio, the company behind the big-screen stories of Zbigniew Religa and Michalina Wisłocka – “Gods” and “The Art of Loving: Story of Michalina Wislocka”. The title closing this trilogy of biopics is directed by Xawery Żuławski. Together with Rafał Lipski, he also wrote the film’s screenplay.

“SIMONA KOSSAK” – ONE OF THE HERD

Simona Kossak, daughter of the painter Jerzy Kossak and granddaughter of Wojciech, deprived of the talent that has defined her family for generations, grows up without warmth from her despotic mother. When, after her studies, she abandons everything – home, tradition, social conventions – and takes up a post as a scientist in Białowieża, she begins life on her own terms. She settles in the middle of the primeval forest, in a house with no electricity or running water, surrounded by wild nature. There, in that magical wilderness, she meets photographer Lech Wilczek, with whom she shares her passions – a love of nature and… a need for freedom. Their extraordinary relationship defies all conventions. But Simona’s ideas about the work of a naturalist and the position of a young woman in a male-dominated world are painfully put to the test. She must stand up not only for her ideals, but also for the world of plants and animals.

“Simona Kossak” is an inspiring story about independence and determination in the search for one’s own place on Earth. It is a tale of the timeless need for closeness and of finding one’s own herd.

Simona Kossak – who came from a family of famous painters and became a symbol of an extraordinary bond between humans and nature – is played by Sandra Drzymalska. Her long-time partner, Lech Wilczek, is played by Jakub Gierszał. The cast also includes Agata Kulesza, Borys Szyc, Olga Bołądź and Marta Stalmierska.

The producers of “Simona Kossak” are Magdalena Kamińska and Agata Szymańska of the Balapolis studio. The co-producers are Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych, Mazowiecki Instytut Kultury, Krakowskie Biuro Festiwalowe and Hollman Emea Limited. Theatrical release: 22 November. “Simona Kossak” will also be screened at the 24th mBank New Horizons IFF in Wrocław as part of the “Special Screenings” section, as well as at the 25th Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec and the 51st Ińskie Lato Filmowe festival.

“WOMAN OF” – THE ROAD TO BEING YOURSELF

The Main Competition also features April’s release – “Woman of”, directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert. It is the story of Aniela Wesoły. She led an ordinary life – growing up in a small town, work, love, marriage, family. Yet she could never fully be herself – Aniela was born in a male body. What choices will she make? Will she be ready to sacrifice everything to be able to live a normal life without fear?

“Woman of” is a tender story about fighting for oneself, but also about the beauty of true closeness, starring Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik, Joanna Kulig, Mateusz Więcławek and Bogumiła Bajor in the leading roles. The film also features, among others, Jerzy Bończak, Anna Tomaszewska, Jacek Braciak, Renata Dancewicz, Wojciech Mecwaldowski, Marta Nieradkiewicz, Tomasz Schuchardt and Mikołaj Grabowski.

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