40th Warsaw International Film Festival

11.10.2024 - 20.10.2024

Warsaw

The Ecumenical Jury at the award ceremony, from left: Marianna Kavka, Jean-Luc Gadreau, Katalina Sanchez (main actress of "Bitter Gold"), and Anna Wozniak-Kot

The Ecumenical Jury in Warsaw 2024 awarded their Prize to "Bitter Gold", directed by Chilean director Juan Francisco Olea, and a Commendation to "My Late Summer", directed by Danis Tanović. The Grand Prix of the festival went to "Traffic" (OT: Najeźdzcy), directed by Teodora Ana Mihai from Romania. Anatol Schuster from Germany won the Award for Best Director for his film "Chaos and Silence" (Chaos und Stille). The FIPRESCI Jury of the Federation of International Film Critics awarded their Prize for the Best Debut Film from Eastern Europe to "Ink Wash" by Sarra Tsorakidis from Romania.

On October 11, the 40th Warsaw International Film Festival opened with the Polish production "Kulej. All That Glitters isn't Gold" (original title: Kulej. Dwie strony medalu) by Xawery Żuławski about a successsful, famous Polish boxer and his marriage. The film is part of the Creme de la creme Competition. The Ecumenical Jury watches the International Competition and chooses their award winner from this section.

Link: Festival website

Awards

Commendation of the Ecumenical Jury, Warsaw 2024

Nakon ljeta

Danis Tanovic

2024

It’s a celebration of life where the Oscar winning director, Danis Tanović, invites everyone to enjoy the Croatian flair by colours, music, nature and fabulous people. Both entertaining and poignantly scripted, the film centres on Maja who travels to a remote island determined to get answers to questions about her past - and to get a piece of the inheritance she feels is rightfully hers. While her personal mission takes longer than expected, the charming island, its eccentric inhabitants and an unexpected romance help her focus on her identity and ambitions and rethink her life.

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Warsaw 2024

Oro amargo

Juan Francisco Olea

2024

Still keep the hope, even if it is hopeless!

Sometimes the worst tragedies can become opportunities for profound transformations. Carola, a young woman in North Chile, decides to take her life in her hands, and fight against the patriarchal structures and brutal laws of the jungle. Like a resurrection, she descends to the depths of hell to emerge stronger and increase a self-empowerment which become the key to a new life. Through magnificent landscapes and a tense drama, the director allows us to perceive that in the face of the impossible, hope remains.