“Cinema is not a circus. It is more like entering a temple. Making a film is an absolutely personal act.” Let the afore-mentioned quotation from Ralitza Petrova, who met with the audience at Tofifest following the screening of “Godless”, become the motto of Tuesday, and perhaps of the entire festival. Our festival press office attended each individual meeting with our guests that took place on Tuesday. Below, you will find accounts and reviews that, we thing, are worthy of your attention.
The highlight of Wednesday will surely be the awarding of the Golden Angel for artistic insolence to the Norwegian film director Erik Poppe, and a meeting with the director following the screening of “Troubled Waters” (8:30 p.m., at the Cultural and Congress Centre Jordanki).
Wednesday also marks a big celebration for fans of Facebook and astronomy. We refer to the project entitled “Evolution of the Stars” created by the B61 Institute creative ensemble. It will be the first implementation of chatbot technology on Facebook for artistic and scientific purposes, in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. Following the screening of films included in the project, there will be a meeting with its creators, at the Cultural and Congress Centre Jordanki. Wednesday will also see the climax of the main topic that constitutes the foundation of Tofifest 2016. After the screening of “Thelma & Louise” by Ridley Scott, at 7:00 p.m., there will be an open panel debate entitled “Thelma & Louise as a manifesto of people’s freedom” (at the Od Nowa Club).
“I was a fool to have waited four long years, before coming here” – Marek Kondrat receives the Golden Angel of Tofifest! “I am very grateful for your thoughts and kindness, which have materialised in this Golden Angel. Memory can fail you, but some things remain for ever. And though I receive this award for my rebellious nature, I believe it is actually the fruit of my absolute humbleness,” commented Marek Kondrat on being awarded the Golden Angel of Tofifest for artistic insolence. The awarding ceremony took place yesterday, during a meeting at the Grand Hall of the Arthus House, conducted by Jaroslaw Jaworski. Marek Kondrat emphasised the fact that it was indeed a special day that saw the end of an era in Polish cinema. It was a reference to Andrzej Wajda, who passed away just a few days ago, and to his funeral ceremony that took place on that very day, during which the entire film community said they farewells. The actors came to Torun directly from that ceremony.
The path from a documentary to a full-feature film. A meeting with Grzegorz Zariczny, Katarzyna Kopec, and Anna Kesek. “A film is not supposed to be pretty and neat, it must be wise,” commented film director Grzegorz Zariczny, during the meeting with the audience after the screening of “Waves”.
Memory hills for each one of us – A review of “All These Sleepless Nights” by Michal Marczak. It is not a generation film, which tells a story of 20-year-olds becoming adults, by all means. More likely, it aims to become a film that carries a universal and timeless message with which both the youngest generation and a generation of 30- and 40-year-olds could identify with, today. Some film critics insist on interpreting the film from the angle of what has already come to pass in international cinema, i.e. the French New Wave, or “Innocent Sorcerers” by Andrzej Wajda, but they are on the wrong track, as this film made by a popular author of documentaries defends itself.
Mulholland Drive, Abba, and a crisis in Bulgaria A conversation with Ralitza Petrova after the screening of “Godless”. “There are many of those, who actually know the history of Bulgaria. We are going through a huge crises and great many have already left. We lack stability,” said Ralitza Petrova, commenting on the situation in her home country, during the meeting with the audience that followed the screening of “Godless”. The film has stirred up a lot of controversy in Bulgaria. “We are spinning wheels here. Years go by, the system is changing, but locals still listen to Abba,” added the director.
All These Sleepless Nights with Krzysztof Baginski and Michal Huszcz – A meeting with the leading characters in the film by Michal Marczak. The first step in making the film was a meeting between the film director and two young men, during a party in Warsaw. It all started with small talks and casual conversations about youth and the things that define the contemporary generation of 20-year-olds. Then, it was transformed into a serious film project, which is timeless manifesto of the contemporary generation.