If I were to ask you to name a Polish director, you’d probably say Roman Polanski. Or you may name my favourite – the late Krzysztof Kieslowski. Andrzej Wajda or Anieszka Holland might also come to mind.
But what about emerging young talent? That may be a tricky one.
Poland continues to produce other talented directors and you’ve got a chance to discover their works for yourself at Ekran – Toronto Polish Film Festival.
The Venue
Toronto’s historic Revue Cinema (at 400 Roncensvalles Ave.) is the primary location for viewing the films. Over 3,000 filmgoers are expected to attend during the run of the festival. There’s also a secondary location at the Runnymede Library. That sidebar program offers Animation, Children’s Cinema as well as older favourites and is free and open to all.
What to See When
A Feature Film Competition takes place October 26th to 28th. This is your chance to see the remaining 12 feature films in the competition. The first film screens at 7pm on the Friday and the award ceremony is on Sunday at 10:30 pm (following the the final screening of the day.)
Here’s just a sample of what you may want to check out this weekend:
Letters to Santa (Saturday, October 27, 12pm @Revue Cinema)
Your pick if you love romantic comedies or are looking for a movie to see with the entire family. This is a heart-warming, Christmas-themed comedy with an ensemble cast of characters who search for love, happiness and meaning in their lives. The screening is followed by a Q&A period with the film’s director, Mitja Okorn.
Women’s Day(Saturday, October 27, 3pm @Revue Cinema)
The story of Halina, a single mother of a teen daughter who works in a supermarket chain. After accepting a job promotion, she learns it comes with a price. She finds herself forced to victimize her colleagues and is distracted from her daughter by the issues at work. When a tragedy at work costs everything she has worked for, Halina’s eyes finally begin to open. (Directed by Maria Sadowska)
Rose(Saturday, October 27, 5pm @Revue Cinema)
A dark and powerful drama about the relationship between a Masurian peasant Roza and a former AK soldier Tadeusz. Both their lives have been altered by the Second World War. Can the feelings they develop for each other overcome their differences in background and survive the harsh, post-war realities of life in Masuria? Directed by Wojciech Smarzowski, this film won numerous awards at the 2012 Polish National Awards.
In the Bedroom (Sunday, October 28, 6:30pm @Revue Cinema)
Tomasz Wasilewski’s debut feature film is a powerful exploration of the complex nature of human relationships. Ewa is a middle-aged woman on the run from her troubled life. Turning to the Internet, she arranges intimate encounters. Under an alias “Edyta”, she drugs the interested parties in order to secure food or money, until she meets a younger man with his own, ambiguous problems.
The Price of Admission
Individual tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. FREE Screenings are also happening at the Runnymede Library.
The 4th Annual Ekran – Toronto Polish Film Festival runs October 25th to 28th. For tickets and more program information, please visit http://ekran.ca/