ASIFA-East announces ‘THE POLISH SCHOOL OF ANIMATION: Next Generations 2,’ a retrospective of Polish animation from the last 60 years featuring work by Tomasz Bagiński, Anita Kwiatkowska, Jerzy Kucia and many more.
ASIFA-East has announced a retrospective of Polish animation from the last 60 years, THE POLISH SCHOOL OF ANIMATION: Next Generations 2, featuring work by Tomasz Bagiński, Anita Kwiatkowska, Jerzy Kucia and many more.
Join the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA-East) and special guests Wiola Sowa (President of ASIFA-Poland) and Bogusław Zmudziński (artistic director of the International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima) on Friday for a reception at The Kosciuszko Foundation with drinks and Q&A. Free and open to the public. Cash bar and food available at Videology.
Screening #1 and reception...Fri., Oct. 10th, 7pm, at The Kosciuszko Foundation
15 E 65th Street, New York, NY 10065
Polish Animation from 1958-1981
Screening #2...Sat., Oct. 11th, 5pm, at Videology
308 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 11211
Polish Animation from 1991-2004
Screening #3...Sun., Oct. 12th, 5pm, at Videology
308 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 11211
Polish Animation from 2004-2007
Screening #4...Tues., Oct. 14th, 7pm, at The Kosciuszko Foundation
Polish Animation from 2008-2013
The fourth edition of the Polish School of Animation retrospective, which promotes Polish animated films throughout the world, shifts the focus of the program further towards national film production of the first decade of the new century.
This shift is undoubtedly linked to a revival observed in Polish animation within recent years. A revival derived from the increase in the interest in the works of new generations of filmmakers, who are far better versed in the new conditions of the film market than their colleagues who debuted in the 1990s and 2000s.
Although it is difficult to grasp a precise description of the “Polish school of animation” phenomenon, it is simple to point out its basic features, so characteristic for the culture of the nation, which fought for freedom, national identity, social, political and cultural independence for nearly two hundred years. In Lenica and Borowczyk’s films, as well as in the animations of their followers of the first and the second generation, it is pessimism that can be noticed in the foreground. Pessimism accompanies the philosophical reflection, so characteristic for Polish animation of those years, which was humorous, but only with a sarcastic sense of humor, and often full of bitterness. In this connection, the films of Daniel Szczechura, Witold Giersz, and their successors Stefan Schabenbeck and Jerzy Kucia, followed by other young artists, often manifested political inclination and comments expressed in allegorical language.
After 60 years from the very first success of the national “school,” once again Polish animation impresses with an abundance of talents, artistic “rooting,” experimental and searching attitude. Among recognized artists who recently have achieved international success, it is easy to find not only graduates from animation studies, but also artists who are self-taught in the film field, not by profession, but by calling. It is a good sign in the time of the growing importance of independent filmmaking, new possibilities of distributing films, and new ways of using increasingly advanced technology in animation.
The Kosciuszko Foundation (founded in 1925), promotes closer ties between Poland and the United States through educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges.
The International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, organized in Kraków since 1994, is the oldest film festival in Poland which juxtaposes the achievements of students of film and art schools from all over the world, as well as works of fine-art animation films creators: professionals, students, as well as independent producers.
ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’ Animation) was formed in 1960 by an international group of animators to coordinate and increase world-wide visibility of animated film. ASIFA’s membership includes animation professionals and fans from more than 50 countries. ASIFA sponsors animation festivals in Annecy, Ottawa, and Hiroshima.
Source: ASIFA-East
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
