POLISH DOCUMENTARY FILMS TRIUMPH IN PÄRNU

Polish documentary cinema conquered the Estonian Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival. Among the award-winners, there are four Polish films: "Abu Haraz," "Leaders," "Father and Son," and "Father and Son on a Journey."

The 28th edition of International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival in the Estonian city of Pärnu ended last Sunday, 27th July. It brought Polish filmmakers a real downpour of awards. Out of eight films awarded at the festival, four are Polish: "Abu Haraz," "Leaders," "Father and Son," and "Father and Son on a Journey."

"Abu Haraz," made and produced by Maciej Drygas, won the Prize for the Best Film on Survival of Indigenous Peoples. The eponymous "Abu Haraz" is a small village located among the deserts of northern Sudan. Building a large dam on the Nile is in conflict with the ancient, natural rhythm of life of the local population. The filmmakers spent many years with the inhabitants of Abu Haraz, observing their urgent attempts to reverse the course of history.

The Best Self-Portrayal award went to the documentaries "Father and son" by Paweł Łoziński and "Father and son on a journey" by Marcel Łoziński - films which are in dialogue with each other. The films' directors, outstanding documentary filmmmakers, and at the same time - father and son - Marcel and Paweł Łoziński, set out for a car journey around Europe. For the father, it is the return to his place of birth, for the son - an attempt to settle the common past. Both try and record this difficult dialogue on the camera.

The film "Leaders" by Paweł Ferdek won the Best Film for Kids Award. The documentary by Ferdek is a children's political thriller. Primary school pupils are candidates for the student council. Their struggle for power awakens huge emotions. In the election campaign, just like in a false mirror, the world of great politics is reflected. We follow the election campaign of four protagonists. They are different in everything - social status, fighting style, motivation. Marcel, Kais, Helena and Filip have the same aim - power and the place of the top of school hierarchy. What initially seems only like fun, quickly turns into a serious social game.

The full list of the award-winning films can be found here.