Editor

World famous Polish filmmaker will be the president of the “Making Way” competition, with the prize of $100.000.


Jerzy Skolimowski, the recent victor of the Polish Film Academy Awards the Eagles 2011 for “Essential Killing” is the president of the Jury in the Main Competition “Making Way” of the International Festival of Independent Cinema.

“Since the beginnings of the Off Plus Camera film festival, our main goal was to make the president of the main Jury a Pole. Until now, the post was filled by Zbigniew Preisner. This year however, the seat will be taken by a Polish artist of international appreciation – Jerzy Skolimowski. The choice seems to be obvious given Mr Skolimowski's achievements and his artistic sensitivity. He was awarded and recognised internationally (Venice, Polish Eagles). He's an artist who is open-minded and interested in world trends in the cinema. Long years of experience as well as his presence in many circuits and an eye for detail will surely enable us spotting a new young talent in the cinema.” - says Anna Trzebiatowska the Programming Director of the Off Plus Camera film festival.

The Main Competition “Making Way” is the clue of the Off Plus Camera film festival programme. It is organised with the filmmakers in mind, especially those at the beginning of their careers. It has an international vibe and is aimed at first or second features of a given director. The Kraków Film Award granted to the director of the winning film is $100.000. Every year there are new talents born, ready to influence the cinematic reality, to inspire, to risk and to challenge. Their cradle is the Sundance Film Festival, and OFF PLUS CAMERA continues its idea in Poland. The Kraków Film Award is an amount allowing for the start of a new creative project.

Among this year's competition films are:
“Erratum” - a feature debut by Marek Lechki, who previously made a television production “My Town” (2002) as part of the “Generation 2000” project. It is an unpretending story of a man (Tomasz Kot) who, a few days before his son's First Communion, has to pay a visit to his home town on his boss's request – to pick up a car ordered by him from the US. Some things get complicated and an immediate return is not possible. Wandering about the town he meets the forgotten people, visits forgotten places. An unplanned confrontation with his past may appear a true catharsis.

“Pure”, Lisa Langseth's feature debut is a hypnotic and tragic story of a process of coming of age of a twenty year old woman. Katarina (Alicia Vikander) lives with her alcoholic mother. Her only escape from the grey and gloomy reality is classical music. Everything in her life gets turned upside down when she goes to the local opera to experience Mozart's “Requiem”. She falls in love with the orchestra conductor, who is a middle aged married man. The emotions are not only abrupt and sudden but will also bring pain and suffering to Katarina's life.