Eleven débuts from all around the world will be featured in the main competition of Tofifest 2016
We will go all the way from Egyptian streets, when street riots break out, to a small flat in Croatia, occupied by an abusive family. These are 11 different stories contained in 11 débuts and sophomore films from various countries. It is now time we have revealed the films included in the On Air competition of the Tofifest IFF 2016.
All competitors included in the Tofifest On Air competition will compete for the Golden Angel Award. All the films featured in the competition have been selected by Kafka Jaworska, director of the festival, herself. The selection is a clear demonstration of the “rebellious” perspective on the modern world and modern people, which is in line with the motto of the festival. The majority of the films in this competition will have their cinema premières in Torun. Now, let me introduce the “gold eleven”.
Tahrir Square and a cabaret in Paris
This year, we have three films based on actual events.
“This film could change the way the Western world sees democracy and the politics implemented by the Near East,” director Mohamed Diab read in a text message sent to his telephone, much to his surprise. The surprise resulted from the fact that the author of the message was Tom Hanks, who thanked the director for the opportunity of watching his latest film, “Clash” (Eshtebak). The first Egyptian film in the history of Tofifest will take its audience right in the middle of violent riots that took place in Cairo, in 2013. The screening in Torun will be the Polish première of the film.
"I, Olga Hepnarova" – a début film made by a Czech duo of Petr Kazda and Tomas Weireb – is another film in the competitons that is based on actual events. Olga was the last woman in former Czechoslovakia to have been executed. The main protagonist was portrayed by Michalina Olszanska – a rising star in Polish cinema.
The third of the films to have their Polish première during Tofifest is the French film entitled “The Dancer” (La Danseuse). The story filmed by Stéphanie Di Giusto is dedicated to Loïe Fuller – a long-forgotten pioneer of modern dance. Although she was a dazzling performer adored by the greatest of artists – Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Lumière brothers, or François-Auguste-René Rodin, to name a few – she was dethroned by Isadora Duncan, at the peak of her career. As a result, she was broken by her personal drama and diminished, and remains largely forgotten, to this day. The director cast Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of Johnny Deep and Vanessa Paradise, to play Isadora Duncan.
In a somewhat satirical way
The next two films are “tragicomic films that keep a distance”.
“Toni Erdmann” directed by Maren Ade was a major film event, during this year's festival in Cannes. Film critics see it as a favourite for the Academy Awards in 2017, in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The film received highest marks in the critics ratings published in “Screen International”. It is a bitter-sweet story about a father, who pretends to be an imaginary Toni Erdmann, i.e. his mad and eccentric alter-ego, in order to re-establish contact with his adult daughter.
The Russian “Zoology” (Zoologiya) takes one step further, as far as absurdity is concerned. In the film, director Ivan I. Tverdovsky tells a story about Natasha, a middle-aged woman, who works at a zoo. Since her life is very simple and monotonous, the woman does not expect any abrupt changes, when, one day... she grows a tail. Natasha decides to use this opportunity to redefine herself, both as a person and a woman.
Morphine and Ink
The next two films will take us on a journey into the real world of modern man.
“Godless” (Bezbog) by Ralitza Petrova is the winner of TIFF 2016, and it will have its Polish première right here, in Torun. The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for making “a grimly compelling viewing.” It is a touching story of a social care worker Gana, who is a thief, drug addicts, and has absolutely no restraints to kill, if that would help her avoid getting caught.
One more Polish première during Tofifest will be a screening of “Her Composition”, an American-French co-production. In his début film, director Stephan Littger tells a story about a young composer, who decides to make a surprising move and get involved in an escort agency, when faced with a lack of perspective for further professional development.
As for “Taste of Ink” (Compte tes blessures) by Morgan Simon, it is a story about a twenty-something Vincent, who has only two interests: tattoos and singing in a band. He seems to have no other skills or passions. Perhaps that is the reason why his life is so miserable. The film will introduce us to a completely different face of Paris, according to critics. The Paris in the film is alternative and seen from the perspective of sub-cultures, “written” in tattoos and filled with deafening music. The film will have its Polish première during Tofifest.
Far from the sandy beaches of Croatia
This year, the competition features two début films from Croatia. And although both are set in Croatia, we will not see any beaches by the Adriatic Sea.
The début film “Quit Staring at My Plate” (Ne gledaj mi u pijat) by Hana Jušić is a brutal reminder that even our own family can become our prison. But it is also a story about becoming liberated from it, by doing something utterly unexpected. Like having casual sex, for example.
One première during Tofifest will be “Trampoline” by Katarina Zrinka Matijević. The main protagonists in the film are three women in various stages of their lives: Lina is a small girl, who starts to understand the way the world works; Nika is a teenager, who is becoming a woman, while Nikolina a woman, who is to become a mother. All the three women have experienced domestic violence and each of them fears they could repeat the pattern in their own lives.
Sirens from Polish waters
Finally, the competition also features one of the craziest Polish début in recent years, i.e. “Córki dancingu” (Lure). It was made by Agnieszka Smoczynska, who won awards for her first film works – “3 love” and “Kapelusz” – at Tofifest 2004. More than that, Agnieszka was once a member of our jury.
The 14th edition of the Tofifest International Film Festival will take place in Torun, from 15th October to 23rd October, 2016. The main topic of this year’s edition will be a discussion about the rebellion of women and struggle for human dignity with reference to “Thelma & Louise” by Ridley Scott, which has its 25th anniversary this year. The festival will be opened with a concert by Steve Nash & Film Orchestra with guest appearances of Tomasz Organek and Natalia Nykiel. The Closing Ceremony will be accompanied by the “Tribute to David Bowie” concert featuring Brodka, Skubas, Natalia Przybysz, Tomek Makowiecki, and Tymon Tymanski singing selected songs of the Master. Ticktes for both concerts are already available on www.bilety24.pl.
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Tofifest IFF 2016: The ON AIR Main Competition dedicated to début and sophomore full-feature films
- Córki dancingu (Lure), dir. by Agnieszka Smoczynska; Poland 2015, 92 mins.
- Godless (Bezbog), dir. by Ralitza Petrova; Bulgaria, Denmark, France 2016, 99 mins.
- Her Composition, dir. by Stephan Littger; USA, Germany 2015, 93 mins.
- I, Olga Hepnarova, dir. by Petr Kazda, Tomáš Weinreb; Czech Republic, France, Poland, Slovakia 2016, 105 mins.
- Quit Staring at My Plate (Ne gledaj mi u pijat), dir. by Hana Jušić; Croatia, Denmark 2016, 105 mins.
- Taste of Ink (Compte tes blessures), dir. by Morgan Simon; Francje 2016, 80 mins.
- The Clash (Esterbak), dir. by Mohamed Diab, Egypt, France 2016, 97 mins.
- The Dancer (La Danseuse), dir. by Stéphanie Di Giusto; France, Belgium 2016, 108 mins.
- Toni Erdmann, dir. by Maren Ade; Germany, Austria 2016, 162 mins.
- Trampoline, dir. by Katarina Zrinka Matijević; Croatia 2016, 82 mins.
- Zoology (Zoologiya), dir. by Ivan I. Tverdovsky; Russia, France, Germany 2016, 87 mins.
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