The 11th WAMA Film Festival wrapped up at the Feliks Nowowiejski Warmian-Masurian Philharmonic Hall, where the winners of the Short Film Competition and the International Co-Production Film Competition were revealed. The jury also announced the nominees for the Jan Machulski Awards. The evening ended with a performance by BEAT BACK, playing iconic Beatles hits.
The winner of the International Co-Production Film Competition was chosen by the festival audience. The film that left the strongest impression on viewers in Olsztyn was 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL, directed by Mstyslav Chernov (Ukraine & USA, 2023). The Grand Prix went to the film’s Polish distributor, Watch Docs Distribution.
In the Short Film Competition, two juries evaluated the entries: the Short Film Competition Jury and the Warmia and Mazury Jury. The Short Film Competition Jury, composed of Bartosz M. Kowalski, Dorota Kędzierzawska, and Marcin Wierzchosłowski, awarded the Grand Prix and announced the nominees for the Jan Machulski Awards. After viewing 21 films, they decided as follows:
- Grand Prix of the Short Film Competition and a PLN 10,000 cash prize from the Marshal of the Warmia and Mazury Voivodeship went to BITTER (GORZKO), directed by Marcin Kluczykowski (produced by Studio Munka SFP).
Jury’s statement: For its dramatic and technical coherence, a complete and moving film that tells a socially relevant story with subtlety, originality, and emotional depth.
Nominees for the 20th Jan Machulski Awards:
- Best Director: Marcin Kluczykowski, BITTER (GORZKO)
- Best Screenplay: Wojciech Pokorski, SAUDADE
- Best Cinematography: Daniel Le Hai, I AM NOT HERE (NIE MA MNIE)
- Best Editing: Aleksandra Kasprowicz, BLACK WATER (CZARNA WODA)
- Best Actress: Maja Wolska, SAUDADE
- Best Actor: Michał Jurkowski, FIRST DANCE IN THE CLOUDS (PIERWSZY TANIEC W CHMURACH)
- Best Documentary: BREATHLESS, directed by Marta Socha
The Warmia and Mazury Jury, composed of Michał Morawski, Aleksandra Bielska, and Magdalena Rudnicka, awarded the Anna Wasilewska Award to BITTER (GORZKO) by Marcin Kluczykowski.
Jury’s statement: For a sensitive, insightful, and universal story about the bitter taste of life in a lack of freedom, and how we unconsciously drift away from what is closest to us.
This year, WAMA Film Festival also presented a special award sponsored by CineLine Edelivery, a company offering full post-production and digital distribution services. Founders Tadeusz Król and Mateusz Szulc awarded the CineLine Edelivery Special Prize to BREATHLESS, directed by Marta Socha. The prize includes access to CineLine Edelivery’s studio for image and sound post-production.
The 11th WAMA Film Festival came to a close—see you for the next edition next year!
WAMA Film Festival is organized by the KOSMOPOLIS Institute – Foundation for Science, Culture and Education in Olsztyn.
The festival producer is FILMFORUM Association.
The main patron of the event is the Government of the Warmia and Mazury Voivodeship, with co-organization by the Center for Education and Cultural Initiatives.
The project is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage through the Fund for the Promotion of Culture.
Educational activities accompanying the festival are supported by the European Union and the National Centre for Culture.
The educational program “INTERFILMLAB 8.0 – enhancing competitiveness and export potential of the Polish film industry (8th edition)” was financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage under the program of the Center for the Development of Creative Industries: Development of Creative Sectors.
The festival sponsor is Michelin Polska S.A..
The logistics partner is Fiedorowicz Olsztyn – Authorized Dealer and Service.
The festival industry partner is Crew United Polska.
International partners of this year’s edition include Offener Kanal Magdeburg, Cinemahall INGO, Budapest Cultural Center, and Foundation for Art Development AIA.
Festival partners include MULTIKINO S.A., Feliks Nowowiejski Warmian-Masurian Philharmonic Hall, and VINYL Pub.
Educational partners include Miejski Ośrodek Kultury, Polish-French Center Côtes d’Armor Warmia and Mazury, Eric Mendelsohn State Art High School, Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna, PLANETA 11, and the Foundation for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Poland.
The festival’s technology partner is Beiks Machulski Sp.j..