POLISH DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Moscow International Film Festival starts on 19th June. This year, the selection committee invited two Polish documentary films to participate in the festival: "Deep Love" by Jan P. Matuszyński will take part in the competitive section, while "Joanna" by Aneta Kopacz will be screened in the non-competitive programme.

This year Moscow International Film Festival will be held from 19th to 26th June and it is going to be its 36th edition. Moscow International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe. It was organised for the first time in 1935, and the great Sergei Eisenstein was the chairman of the jury of the first edition. It is held regularly since 1960s and attracts the greatest names of the world cinema.

This year, the documentary "Deep Love" directed by Jan P. Matuszyński, produced by Otter Films, HBO Europe and Cor Leonis Production, will compete for the Golden George award. The film has recently won the Silver Hobby-Horse at the 54th Krakow Film Festival.

The protagonist of "Deep Love" is a confident sixty-year-old man, Janusz, a very active person, keen diver with outstanding achievements. Janusz suffers a stroke, as a result of which he is paralysed. Thanks to rehabilitation and the help of his partner Asia, he starts to move and to function more and more effectively. However, he still has serious problems with communication, and the only person who understands his speech is Asia, who becomes a translator between him and the world. What excites and motivates him to continue the struggle is his great dream - he wants to dive again, even though it is a serious threat to his health and life. His aim is the journey to the beautiful, but also perilous Blue Hole, which is a challenge even to a healthy diver.

In the non-competitive section "Free Thoughts," the documentary "Joanna" directed by Aneta Kopacz and produced by Wajda Studio will be screened. The film has already been shown and awarded at many film festivals. Joanna, the main protagonist of the film, relishes every moment in spite of being diagnosed with a serious illness. She promised her five-year-old son that she would do anything to be with him as long as possible. She does not give up. For Jaś, she writes a blog in which she describes their everyday life - in a simple and accurate way. The blog itself inspires many readers to attentive, happy life. The film shows fragments from the life of Joanna, her husband Piotr and son Jaś. Played in discrete observations, atmospheric, often humorous.  The film is simple and sensual, it tells about looking on life and about love.

You can find more information about the festival on its website.