Polish cinemas are still struggling to bounce back from the decline in attendance caused by the pandemic. The sold out screenings and crowded corridors of the mBank New Horizons International Film Festival venues were therefore an uplifting sight. The festival was able to attract a young generation to its curated arthouse program, which might also be a good omen for the upcoming months of regular screenings in the theatres.

The festival jury, made up of directors Mark Jenkin (Bait [+lire aussi :
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interview : Mark Jenkin
fiche film]), Dane Komljen (Afterwater [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]), Jennifer Reeder (Perpetrator [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]), Aga Woszczyńska (Silent Land [+lire aussi :
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interview : Aga Woszczyńska
fiche film]) and Berlinale programmer Sergio Fant, decided to award Argentinian filmmaker Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents [+lire aussi :
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interview : Rodrigo Moreno
fiche film] with the Grand Prix and the €10,000 prize for, as they put it “a film about a search for freedom in both form and content that takes us on an extraordinary journey, shapeshifting through multiple genres, tracing a playful, surreal, imposing love letter to cinema.” The film is a co-production between Argentina, Brazil, Luxembourg and Chile and had its premiere this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The special mention went to After [+lire aussi :
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interview : Anthony Lapia
fiche film], directed by Antony Lapia (France), which charmed the jury with its “intense and immersive observation of a community and intimate portrayal of characters that leads us to consider contemporary issues that finally resonate even louder than techno music.” Additionally, the audience picked Elene Naverani’s Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry [+lire aussi :
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interview : Elene Naveriani
fiche film] (Georgia, Switzerland) as their favourite film. Damian Kosowski’s The Creature (Poland) triumphed in the Shortlist short film competition.

The 23^rd mBank New Horizons International Film Festival was held in Wrocław, Poland, from 20 to 30 July, while its online edition started on 20 July and will conclude on 6 August.

The full list of winners:

Grand Prix
Rodrigo Moreno – The Delinquents [+lire aussi :
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interview : Rodrigo Moreno
fiche film] (Argentina/Brazil/Luxembourg/Chile)

Special Mention
Antony Lapia – After [+lire aussi :
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interview : Anthony Lapia
fiche film] (France)

Audience Award
Elene Naverani - Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry [+lire aussi :
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interview : Elene Naveriani
fiche film] (Georgia/Switzerland)

Shortlist Award
Damian Kosowski - The Creature (Poland)