The Summer Film Academy has come to an end in Zwierzyniec. The event has been taking place for a quarter of a century. Thanks to cooperation with the Lublin Film Fund, the “Lublin” section appeared in its programme for the first time.
This year’s edition was held under the slogan: “3x Closer” – closer to cinema, closer to creators, closer to viewers. During the 7 festival days, the audience saw films from 38 countries screened in 14 sections and 3 retrospectives.
The programme of the Summer Film Academy also included new films including ones recognized by jurors, critics, and audiences during festivals in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.
The Festival’s programme had something for all ages. The films selected for the KING section introduced young viewers to the cultures of other countries, and social phenomena. They offered a commentary on important topics of the contemporary world.
During the Summer Film Academy, talking about the films was just as important as watching them. This year’s Festival programme included a record number of lectures and meetings with film makers. An important part of the programme is the retrospectives. This year, they focused on the artistic achievements of Krzysztof Zanussi, Luis García Berlanga, and Aimee Anouk.
As part of the LUBELSKIE section, viewers could watch films set in Lublin. They were created with the financial and organisational support of the Lublin Film Fund of the City of Lublin. The Zwierzyniec audience saw productions presenting Lublin and the Lublin region from an unconventional perspective:
– “This Damn Sunday” – an animated film by Przemysław Kotyński, Lublin in the 1930s.
– “The Maid” – a film directed by Rafał Bryll, a documentary with animation, which is a testimony to real events.
– “Irene’s Vow” – a feature film by Louise Archambault, inspired by true events, the story of teenage Irena Gut, who risked her life during World War II to hide and save a dozen people of Jewish origin from the Holocaust. The main roles are played by international cinema stars: Sophie Nélisse and Dougray Scott. The cast of the Polish-Canadian co-production also includes Andrzej Seweryn, Filip Kosior, Rafał Mohr, and Eliza Rycembel.
In addition, this section will also feature a screening of the film “Motór” by Wiesław Paluch, set in Biłgoraj.
The cooperation between the City of Lublin and the Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec was initiated as part of the idea implemented by Lublin, as part of the bid for the European Capital of Culture 2029. This is one of the activities that aims to create a regional network of cities, communes, and counties. The main goal is to develop and promote the culture of the Lublin region.
