Ekran Polish Film Festival in Toronto returns for its 4th annual edition from October 25th to the 28th, 2012, and is expected to draw an audience of over 3000 film-goers from across the GTA to its primary location at the historic Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles Ave.
“Although we are still a relatively small venture on Toronto’s vibrant film festival scene, we are very proud of what we have accomplished thus far,” says Marta Pozniakowski, the Director of both Ekran Polish Film Association and the Ekran Polish Film Festival. “Canada is home to over a million Polish-Canadians, of which approximately a quarter reside right here in the GTA, and our festival is currently the only local public forum through which this extensive community can partake in Poland’s annual cinematic output. The fact that we have tripled our attendance numbers in the first three years of our existence gives us reason to believe that our initiative is both welcomed and needed, and motivates us in our efforts to further strengthen and expand our festival platform. Our mandate was from the beginning oriented toward opening the world of contemporary Polish film not only to Polish-Canadians, but to film lovers of all backgrounds and affiliations, and I am very happy to say that the 2012 edition of Ekran Polish Film Festival takes some significant steps in this direction.”
Details:
OPENING RECEPTION: Your chance to eat, drink and mingle with the festival’s patrons and guests; includes an in-competition feature film screening of Barbara Białowąs’ Big Love (2012) and a live music performance by the ZimZum Jazz Band.
October 25, 6:30-11 PM @ Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue, University of Toronto;
***Tickets: $20 in advance/$25 at the door; included with purchase of Festival Pass***
FEATURE FILM COMPETITION: Your chance to see the remaining twelve feature films in competition for the Ekran Film Awards at the historic Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave).
***Tickets: $12 in advance/$15 at the door; included with purchase of Festival Pass**
October 26:
7:00 PM Jan Komasa’s Suicide Room (2011);
9:00 PM Anca Damian’s Crulic. The Path to Beyond (2011);
followed by Q&A with the film’s producer, Arkadiusz Wojnarowski.
October 27:
12:00 PM Mitja Okorn’s Letters to Santa (2011);
followed by Q&A with the film’s director.
3:00 PM Maria Sadowska’s Women’s Day (2012);
5:00 PM Wojciech Smarzowski’s Rose (2011);
7:00 PM Bartosz Konopka’s Fear of Falling (2011);
9:00 PM Przemysław Wojcieszek’s Secret (2012).
October 28:
12:00 PM Tom Sokalski’s Tourist (2012);
followed by Q&A with lead actor, Marek Birner;
2:00 PM Leszek Dawid’s My Name is Ki (2011);
4:00 PM Anna Plutecka-Mesjasz’s Lose to Win (2012);
6:30 PM Tomasz Wasilewski’s In the Bedroom (2011);
9:00 PM The Fourth Dimension (2011 Grolsch/Vice production)
with Jan Kwieciński’s “Fawns”.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS @ The Runnymede Library, 2178 Bloor St. West
***These events are free and open to the public***
October 26:
12:00 PM Older Favourites: Ryszard Brylski’s The White Soup (2003)
followed by Q&A with lead actress, Katarzyna Figura.
2:00 PM Michał Maryniarczyk Retrospective; with “The Foreigner” (1986), “A Varsovian’s Trip to Italy” (1984), “Generation 63” (1982), and “Track 13” (1976).
3:00 PM Children’s Cinema: Andrzej Maleszka’s The Magic Tree (2009).
October 27:
12:00 PM Short Film Show: Screenings of short, documentary, and independent films in competition for the Michał Maryniarczyk Award.
2:15 PM Animation Screening: a compilation of animated films by Platige Image, Poland.
AWARD CEREMONY/CLOSING RECEPTION: Your chance to find out the winners of the Ekran Film Awards and the Michal Maryniarczyk Award, and to wind down in the company of fellow festival attendees, with the accompaniment of food, drinks, and music at a secret location…
October 28, 10:30 PM @ the Revue Cinema (following final screening of the day)
***This event is free and open to all festival attendees with proof of ticket purchase***
OTHER AFFILIATED EVENTS:
Exhibition: “Roman Polański: Actor and Director.”
September 10 – October 5 @ L-Space Gallery, Humber College Lakeshore Campus;
***This event is free and open to the public***
Lecture by Prof. Marek Haltof: “Polish Film and the Holocaust: Politics and Memory.”
October 24, 6-8PM @ Charbonnel Lounge, Elmsley Hall, 81 St. Mary’s St., U of Toronto;
***This event is free and open to the public***
Film Workshop: a three day intensive studio seminar and a chance to create a short film, lead
by director Rafal Sokolowski of Blind Dog Films.
October 19– 21 @ The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, 1137 Dupont St;
***Registration deadline: Oct. 15; Workshop Fee: $125***
TICKET/FESTIVAL PASS SALES: Festival passes and individual screening tickets are available for advance purchase starting on October 4th at all locations of Pegaz Bookstores, Piast Travel and Polimex Travel stores, as well as online @ www.ekran.ca; Festival Passes: $85 (includes entry to Opening Reception and all film screenings; non-transferrable; seating cannot be guaranteed if pass holders arrive within 15 minutes of the screening); Individual Tickets: $12 in advance/$15 at the door;