The 18th Annual Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles will be held in various venues around town from October 18-26, 2017. The Opening Gala at the Egyptian Theatre takes place Oct. 18 at 6 p.m., featuring a screening of THE ART OF LOVING. STORY OF MICHALINA WISLOCKA [Sztuka kochania. Historia Michaliny Wislockiej] by Maria Sadowska. In addition, the following honor will be given to the outstanding composer of the Festival: Adam Bratcher Music Debut Award: TOMASZ LUC. The film LITTLE JAKUB [Maly Jakub], featuring Tomasz Luc’s debut score, will be screened on October 22 with the composer present.
As always, this year’s Polish Film Festival is a collaboration of many entities across the arts in Los Angeles. One of the highlights of such combined efforts is the two-day conference “Man of Cinema: Wajda for the 21st Century” (Oct 19-20), commemorating the life and work of Andrzej Wajda, organized by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at USC. The conference will open on Thursday with a screening of Wajda’s classic DANTON (1983, starring Gérard Depardieu) and a conversation with actor Andrzej Seweryn. On Friday there will be academic panels; a screening of Justine Raczkiewicz’s short film WASTE (2016) and a conversation about the conditions for Polish filmmakers today with the director herself; and a screening of Miro Kepinski‘s NIGHT SHIFT (2016) that will be accompanied by a special musical performance by Kepinski himself on the piano, with USC Thornton School of Music students violinist Alexander Knecht and cellist Allan Hon. The concert will be followed by a Q&A with the director and composer. The conference will conclude with a musical performance featuring another Thornton student, Polish guitarist Tomasz Fechner, and a reception catered by Polka Polish Restaurant.
All Festival screenings are held at the Laemmle’s NoHo 7 Theatre and Laemmle’s Monica Film Center, as well as the Armer Theatre at Cal State Northridge, the Anthony Gilardi Acting Studio in Santa Monica, and the University of Southern California in Downtown LA. Nearly every screening during this annual “Holiday of Polish Cinema” features a lively talk and Q&A with special guests related to each film.
The musical highlights of the 2017 Polish Film Festival are listed below:
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 | 6:00 pm
2017 Polish Film Festival Opening Gala – feat. THE ART OF LOVING. STORY OF MICHALINA WISLOCKA – dir. by Maria Sadowska (in person); music by Radzimir Debski
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
By invitation only
Thursday & Friday, October 19-20, 2017 | Thu: 5 – 8 pm, Fri: 10 am – 6 pm
Man of Cinema: Wajda for the 21st Century Conference
Thu: USC Montgomery Ross Fisher Bldg (MRF), Rm 340, 669 W. 34th St., L.A. CA 90089
Fri: USC Max Kade Institute, 2714 S. Hoover St., L.A. CA 90007
Info: dornsife.usc.edu/sll
Friday, October 20, 2017 | 9:00 pm
THE ERLPRINCE [Krolewicz Olch] – dir. by Kuba Czekaj; music by Bartek Gliniak (in person); Winner of “Best Cinematography” & “Best Score at 2017” Koszalin Film Festival
Laemmle’s NoHo7 Theatre
5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com/theaters/23
Saturday, October 21, 2017 | 3:00 pm
THE TOWER – an opera dir. by Karolina Bregula; music by Ela Orleans; Winner of “’Mlodzi i Film’—Best Screenplay” Award at 2017 Koszalin Film Festival
Laemmle’s NoHo7 Theatre
5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com/theaters/23
Sunday, October 22, 2017 | 7:00 pm
LITTLE JAKUB [Maly Jakub] – dir. by Mariusz Bielinski; music by Tomasz Luc (in person)
Laemmle’s NoHo7 Theatre
5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com/theaters/23
Sunday, October 22, 2017 | 9:00 pm
THE RECONCILIATION [Zgoda] – dir. by Maciej Sobieszczanski; music by Bartek Gliniak (in person)
Laemmle’s Monica Film Center
1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com/theaters/3
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 | 7:00 pm
HAVE NO FEAR – dir. by Beata Calinska & Sarah Jacobson; exploring music/dance as a way to counteract police brutality
Laemmle’s Monica Film Center
1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com/theaters/3
For a full listing of all screenings, visit www.polishfilmla.org or bit.ly/PFFLA18_Schedule.
[Sources: press release, polishfilmla.org, facebook.com, dornsife.usc.edu]