From 16 to 25 October 2020, in selected cinemas in Brussels, the 12th edition of the Millennium International Documentary Film Festival will take place, presenting more than 80 documentary films from all over the world.
This year, two Polish films have been selected:
“Letters to A” (2019) by Wiktoria Szymańska is part of the International Competition of the festival!
Synopsis:
Portrait of an unusual boy with a hostile city in the background. The alien of modernity, whom everyone calls an idiot, lives in the confines of reality. He wanders through the urban jungle, struggling for his humanity, which is confiscated from him on a daily basis. The world around him is incapable of accepting his wisdom. But Arthur believes in the beauty of life and sees happiness everywhere. Like a little prince lost in the streets of Warsaw. Can this story have a happy ending?
About the director:
Wiktoria Szymańska is a director and writer. She is recognized and regularly awarded for her films shown at prestigious festivals such as Toronto, Locarno, Karlove Vary, or the British Academy. She was born in Poland, grew up in the UK, studied in France (Sorbonne, Fémis) and in Warsaw (Wadja School), she also participated in Eurodoc, Esodoc, and Archidoc.
This film will have its Belgian premiere on 19 October at 9 pm at the Cinéma Vendôme.
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: Polish
Subtitles: English, French
“Lessons of Love” (2019) by Małgorzata Goliszewska and Katarzyna Mateja is one of the festival’s coup de cœur and was shown at the closing ceremony.
Synopsis:
Jola, a free woman, after escaping her nightmare marriage, she is relaxing with her friends and rushes into a new romance at a Latin dance class. The drama unfolds when the conservative powers of her generation try to justify her abusive husband. It’s a delightful journey of cinematic beauty as a woman tries to reinvent herself at the best age of her life, 69.
About the directors:
Malgorzata Goliszewska became a documentary filmmaker after obtaining an MFA in Multimedia Art. She works with contemporary art and documentary, often combining both. Her film “Dress me”, was acclaimed by critics for its innovative way of portraying women. She is a co-director and screenwriter of the film “Lessons o Love”.
Katarzyna Mateja is a director and photographer, a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, with a degree in Film and Television. She has worked as a director, cinematographer, editor, sound engineer and producer. She has directed several short documentaries and experimental films in Scotland, Ireland, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Mongolia. Her documentary film “Silence on the way to the Reindeer People” has won awards at festivals in Brazil, Romania, Portugal and Poland. She leads workshops with young people from difficult backgrounds.
This film will have its Belgian premiere on 25 October at 9 pm at the Kinograph.
Duration: 72 minutes
Language: Polish
Subtitles: English, French
