"BAD BOY – HIGH SECURITY CELL" AND "ROGALIK" NOMINATED FOR THE IDFA AWARDS

On 21 November, the jury of the 25th edition of the International Documentary Film Festival IDFA announced the list of the films nominated for the awards in eight categories. Among the nominated films, there are "Bad Boy – high security cell" by Janusz Mrozowski and "Rogalik" by Paweł Ziemilski.

Taking place in Amsterdam, the International Documentary Film Festival IDFA is considered one of the most important events of this sort on the world. Yesterday, the jury of the eight competitive sections of the festival selected the candidates for the awards from among all films taking part in the competition - three from every section. Since then, only these films have a chance of getting the prestigious IDFA award. This year, there are two Polish films among the nominees.

 The first of them is the Polish-French co-production "Bad boy – high security cell" by Janusz Mrozowski, nominated for the Full-Length Documentary Competition Award by the jury including: Susan Froemke (USA), Michael Glawogger (Austria), Maria Goos (the Netherlands), Jørgen Leth (Denmark)and Kenneth Turan (USA). The film by Janusz Mrozowski will compete for the festival’s main award, which amounts to 12 500 Euro.

 The documentary by Mrozowski is a story of Damian, an inmate of Tarnów penitentiary. Damian is 28 years old. For armed assault on a bank, he has to do his time, 10 years of imprisonment. Alone. The camera accompanies Damian, who was classified as "dangerous," for two weeks. How does he manage to survive in total isolation? How does he tolerate being observed day and night? What is he afraid of? Does he regret something? Does he hope for something? How does he see his future? A sincere conversation with himself and the camera uncovers his difficult, convoluted inner world, doubts, but also sensitivity and understanding. In his tattooed hands, Damian holds a mirror in which we see ourselves and our society.

 The jury of the Student's Documentary Competition including: Arto Halonen (Finland), Vanja Kaludjercic (Italy) and Herman de Wit (the Netherlands) also nominated a Polish production for the award. This is "Rogalik" by Paweł Ziemilski, a student of the Leon Schiller National Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre in Łódź.

 The film by Ziemilski takes the viewer on a journey to a mysterious world of people and objects which allows us to get acquainted with a world usually pushed to the margins as unattractive. The journey has something of a dream in it. Who are the people, observed like in a great aquarium? And what is our status towards them?

 The award ceremony will take place during the official closing of the festival, that is on Friday, 23 November.

 More information about the films nominated for IDFA awards on the festival's official website.