Film Festival to screen Polish history

Wellington Polish Film Festival to screen Polish history in Film Masterpieces to Celebrate 100 years of Poland’s Regained Independence.

15 March 2018

The third edition of the Wellington Polish Film Festival (WPFF) will be screening seven masterpieces of Polish cinema in early April at the Roxy cinema in Wellington, as part of a worldwide celebration to commemorate Poland’s centennial of its regained independence.

This international showcase event, also showing throughout Europe, North America and Asia, will premiere in New Zealand, running from 5th to 8th April 2018.

The carefully selected films offer audiences around the world both a wide thematic spectrum and a diversity of aesthetics. The films show various historical periods, from Poland under the Partitions in The Promised Land and Nights and Days, via the Second World War in The Pianist and Volhynia, and the Warsaw Uprising in Warsaw 44, to the post-war fight against the communist authorities in Ashes and Diamonds and Man of Marble. These films are from the viewpoint of several generations, ranging from Andrzej Wajda, now a classic figure of Polish cinema, to Jan Komasa, a representative of Poland’s youngest filmmakers.

WPFF’s Principal Partner, the Polish Filmmakers Association has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the Polish Film Institute and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute to make these screenings available to film audiences around the world. The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is patron of this year-long event.

Polish Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Zbigniew Gniatkowski, a founding supporter of the Wellington Polish Film Festival, said the year-long celebration of the centenary of Poland’s regained independence will also be an opportunity to showcase the best of Polish art and culture.

"In 2018, there will be plenty of opportunities for New Zealanders to sample Polish art and culture and together with the Polish Community we will be organising a series of Chopin piano concerts, exhibitions and other events to celebrate the centennial", he said.

"The Wellington Polish Film Festival is an opportunity for New Zealanders to see some masterpieces of Polish cinematography, which under communism was one of the unique ways to express Polish people’s aspirations and dreams of freedom.”

Festival Director and Founder, Wanda Lepionka, said this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see visually stunning masterpieces of Polish cinema through the ages.

“Polish cinema has a richness to its storytelling and filmmaking, in part because of its history, but also its long tradition of filmmaking in the heart of Europe.

“We’re honoured together with the Polish Filmmakers Association, to have the opportunity of inviting New Zealand filmgoers to an encounter with Polish cinema which still flourishes today”, she said.

For more information for films, ticketing and schedule, please visit www.wpff.nz

WPFF 2018, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, Wellington: Thursday 5 April – Sunday 8 April 2018

ENDS

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