"JOANNA" AWARDED IN EGYPT

The run of luck at the festivals for Aneta Kopacz continues - the film "Joanna," made by her, won yet another award. The documentary was appreciated by the jury of Egyptian festival Ismailia, who decided to give it the main award in the short documentary film competition.

The 17th edition of the Ismailia International Film Festival For Documentaries and Shorts, that ended on June 8th, was very successful for Polish cinema. The jury of the Short Documentary Competition, consisting of Mike Lerner, Hauvick Habechian and Mariane Khoury‚ decided to give the main award of the competition, the Golden Tablet, to the film "Joanna" by Aneta Kopacz. The moving portrait of a woman, who in spite of being diagnosed with a serious illness tries to stay with her family as long as possible and live her life to the fullest, was appreciated by the jury for "the film's subtle treatment of a personal tragedy and the sensitivity of capturing a moment of crisis."

"Joanna" slowly grows to be the festival favourite. In June this film, produced by Wajda Studio, won the Small Gate of Freedom at Gdańsk DocFilm Festival and Special Mention at the festival Docs Barcelona. Earlier this year, "Joanna" was awarded by the jury and the audience at the Ukrainian festival Docudays UA, Creteil International Women's Film Festival as well as the audience at the European Medium-Length Film Meetings in the French Brive.

It is worth adding that the main award in the short fiction films competition at the festival Ismailia went to another Polish film - "Flora and Fauna" by Piotr Litwin, for whom it was the first foreign award.

The full list of award-winning films can be found on the festival's website.