ABOUT THE EVENT

The Polish Film Festival Miami, in collaboration with the Podkarpackie Film Commission invites you to discover and explore the south-east part of our country through the camera lenses of two directors: Katarzyna Mazurkiewicz and Rafał Gużkowski. 

The Podkarpackie Film Commission was established in 2016 with the goal of supporting filmmaking at all stages: location scouting, film permits, production services and staffing as well as funding. 

These four documentaries are FREE to stream until November 18^th. Sign up at PFFM Virtual Movie Theater and enjoy the show!

PROGRAM

OPEN RANGE (Wypasiony raj),
Directed by Rafał Gużkowski, 2017

THE RESIDENTS OF MOCZARY (Moczarowi mieszkancy),
Directed by Rafał Gużkowski, 2016

MASTER AND APPRENTICE (Mistrz i uczen),
Directed by Katarzyna Mazurkiewicz, 2020

THE ARMORER MUST BE A MUSICIAN (Płatnerz musi być muzykiem),
Directed by Katarzyna Mazurkiewicz, 2017

Now - november 18

A colorful folktale about Zbigniew Łagosz, the last shepherd-loner in the Beskidy Mountains. Polany Surowiczne is a place hidden in the mountains and trees, with meadows providing cattle feed and open space for horses to roam around. For the film's protagonist, it is his perfect retreat where he can "jabber to himself.” Zbigniew lives in a wooden hut that resembles a trailer. His legs are aching from "roaming the mountains" and his chronic cough is caused by "ciggies." His dog Łemek is a trusted companion.

This film was co-financed by the Podkarpackie Film Commission’s Film Chronicle program from the resources of Voivodeship House of Culture and the budget of Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

The documentary shows everyday life of the elderly residents of a Care Home in Moczary (Bieszczady Mountains). A story about humble people, whose lives have not been easy, and in their last years life brings them to the deepest wilderness in the Bieszczady Mountains. This is a picture of people often forgotten in our society, people who teach us cheerfulness and hope, and show us a different approach towards pain and suffering.

The story takes place during a few July days, when several hundred young musicians come to Łańcut. There, under the guidance of world-famous violins, they practice their craft. One of the students is a 24-year-old Michał, who faces an unusual challenge—he wants to perform all 24 Niccolò Paganini's Caprices during one concert. Entering the musical world of feelings and illusions, at the same time he is looking for the truth about himself. In this challenge he has the help of a charismatic professor.

This film was co-financed by the Podkarpackie Film Commission’s Film Chronicle program from the resources of Voivodeship House of Culture and the budget of Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

For over 40 years, hidden in a small forge and a backyard workshop, Krzysztof Panas has been making from scratch an enormous variety of white weapons: from small knives to samurai swords and hussar sabers. Each item is a unique and entirely hand-made masterpiece, which the armour master creates using traditional blacksmith techniques—the methods he has been exploring by himself for nearly 20 years .Through this slowly disappearing craft, we get to meet a person with exceptional charisma and character, a man who from early youth devoted himself to a passion. Today, his clients and enthusiasts come from all over the world. Krzysztof Panas humbly and simply comments on his impressive skills: “The only thing you need is desire. The rest just follows.”

This film was co-financed by the Podkarpackie Film Commission’s Film Chronicle program from the resources of Voivodeship House of Culture and the budget of Podkarpackie Voivodeship.