June 3-5, 2022 in person
SCANDINAVIA HOUSE
58 Park Ave, 
New York, NY 10016

June 7-28, 2022
Online at www.nypff.com

The 17th annual New York Polish Film Festival is organized in solidarity with and in support of Ukrainian filmmakers and people. The Festival is proud to present the Ukrainian film REFLECTION dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych as well as Polish filmmaker, Agnieszka Holland’s, Mr. Jones. (Polish, English, and Ukrainian co-production) in-person at Scandinavia House from June 3–5, 2022. All income from “Reflection” showings will go towards Ukrainian Filmmakers recently displaced from Kyiv. 

As the world’s attention is focused on Eastern Europe, Poland is organizing help and shelter for almost 2.6 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Now more than ever we must highlight historic and cultural ties between the countries and continue to present Polish cinema to the New York community. The New York Polish Film Festival was founded in 2005 by Hanna Kosinska Hartowicz, who also serves as its artistic director, and is held annually. Last year, the NYPFF was the first (next to Lincoln Center) to bring cultural events back to life since the pandemic began.

Program

DAY ONE: Friday, June 3

OPENING NIGHT
ACTRESS at 5PM
Aktorka, doc. 72 min by Kinga Dębska & Maria Konwicka

A documentary that traces the dramatic story of Elżbieta Czyżewska, the great Polish actress best known for her films of the 1960s such as Giuseppe in Warsaw, Wife of an Australian,  Marriage of Convenience and especially Wajda’s Everything for Sale. The documentary focuses on her time in New York, a city that becomes a character in the film, and includes interviews with Andrzej Wajda, Meryl Streep, Krystyna Janda, Annette Insdorf, and Kevin Kline.

BACK THEN at 6:30PM
Zupa Nic, 94 min (Poland 2021) by Kinga Dębska (director in person)

This satire of life in Communist Poland depicts a multi generational family living under the same roof. Their daily lives and momentous moments are depicted with humor as well as nostalgia.

REFLECTION at 8:30PM
Odbicie, 125 min. (Ukraina, 2021) by Valentyn Vasyanovych

In 2014, Ukrainian surgeon Serhiy enlists to fight Russian military forces in the Donbass region. He is captured by the enemy and as prisoner of war, witnesses horrific scenes of humiliation, torture and violence committed by the Russian invaders. His medical training helps him to aid the suffering, tortured and dying prisoners with mercy killings. After his release, Serhiy returns to his comfortable middle class life, suffering deeply from the trauma of his horrifying experiences. Searching for meaning and purpose in his life, he strives to rebuild his relationship with his daughter and ex-wife. Reflection is a heartfelt depiction of pain and redemption. Written, directed, produced, shot and edited by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker, Valentyn Vasyanovych. Variety called the film “One of the most intellectually provocative and rewarding films” of 2021 Venice film Festival.

DAY TWO: Saturday, June 4

BACK THEN at 12:00PM
Zupa Nic
94 min (Poland 2021) by Kinga Dębska (director in person)

This satire of life in Communist Poland depicts a multi generational family living under the same roof. Their daily lives and momentous moments are depicted with humor as well as nostalgia.

POLANSKI, HOROWITZ. HOMETOWN. at 2:15PM
Polanski. Horowitz. Miasto rodzinne., 2021, doc. 75 min, by Anna Kokoszka-Romer & Mateusz Kudła 
Filmmakers and a special guest Ryszard Horowitz in person. Interview by Prof. Annette Insdorf.

A captivating story of the mutual friendship of Roman Polanski and Ryszard Horowitz dating back to their childhood and youth. Now, after 60 years they meet in Krakow to reminisce about their most difficult and painful experiences during the Holocaust, where they met in a Jewish ghetto established by the Nazis. It truly is a harrowing story of survival and courage of little boys caught in the brutal war. The grim reality of post war Communist Poland did not distinguish their pursuit of artistic passions and each became a Master in their respective fields, enriching the world of film and photography with their prolific visions.

DAY THREE: Sunday, June 5

MR. JONES at 2PM
Obywatel Jones, 2021, 119 min by Agnieszka Holland

Based on a true story that inspired George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Agnieszka Holland’s biographical thriller, sees Hitler’s rise to power and Stalin’s Soviet propaganda machine. Gareth Jones (James Norton),  an ambitious young journalist travels to Moscow to uncover the truth behind the propaganda, where he gets a tip that could expose an international conspiracy. Jones goes on a life or death journey to uncover the truth about the facade.

POLLYWOOD at 4:15PM
Pollywood, doc. 85 min by Paweł Ferdek

The film is the director’s personal journey to the Hollywood of Warner Brothers, Samuel Goldwyn and Louis B. Meyer. It is a universal and entertaining story of courage and desperation, the history of the Dream Factory and modern-day Hollywood. Ferdek takes us inside the American Dream, the core of the film industry.

LEAVE NO TRACES at 6:30PM
Zeby nie bylo sladow, 160 min by Jan P. Matuszyński

Based on true events, the film portrays the story of the brutal beating resulting in death of high school student, Grzegorz Przemyk, by the militia. Jurek, being the only witness, becomes number one enemy of the state and is relentlessly sought by the secret service, militia and the courts.