Here we come again with the 14th edition of the Polish Film Festival in Houston.Who would ever think that we come to this  point, 14 years and still going strong.

Here is the best film selection we have ever had and there are many great films we could not have gotten because there are shown at other festivals. These facts reflect the growth of Polish cinematography in recent years and opportunities that have been created for young and also for mature (older) directors to present their view of Poland, people and life, then and now, during the war, decades of communism and in democratic, aspiring, free society of today’s Poland.

There is a noticeable trend in Polish cinema, the older generation of film makers tackle the issues of the past that were purposefully neglected and censored but had such an impact on that generation life. The younger film directors on the other hand look at the problems and issues of the young generation for whom even the “Solidarity Union” not to mention communism era are history.

Agnieszka Holland’s new film “In Darkness” based on Robert Marschall’s book with Robert Wiȩckiewicz as Leopold Socha a Catholic sewer worker in Lwow, who saves a group of Jews from certain death, will represent Poland for the nomination in the Foreign Film category for an Oscar award in 2012. The film has not been released for distribution yet and Sony Pictures, the film’s distributor plans to release film to American theaters in February 2012.

14th Polish Film Festival in Houston is hosting a distinguish guest, one of the Polish most accomplished film directors Mr. Feliks Falk, who will host screening of two of his recent films: “Case Unknown” (“Enen”) and “Joanna”.

Na zdjeciu obok Feliks Falk i Urszula Grabowska “Joanna”

Krzysztof Kopczynski, film director and producer of a documentary “Stone Silence” (“Kamienna cisza”) will host the screening of two extraordinary documentary films “Stone Silence” which follows an investigation to a stoning of young woman in a small village in Afghanistan and “Violated Letters” (“Cudze listy”) by Maciej Drygas where based on the authentic archive records the document uncovers the work of specialized censorship units in communist Poland which examined millions of ordinary letters to study sentiments of people towards the regime.

Maciek Sokalski aspiring young actor from Houston will represent the makers of film “The Winner” (“Wygrany”) by Wieslaw Saniewski and will host screening of this film as well as screening of a short film with Maciek in a leading role.

The Festival will close with presentation of the first Polish 3D films “City of Ruins” short computer animation of the post WWII devastation of Warsaw followed by a new production by Jerzy Hoffman “1920 – World’s Most Important Battle” (“Bitwa Warszawska -1920”). Richard Kuipers, Variety film critic eloquently writes about the success of Hoffman’s film after seeing it in Chicago.

We sincerely hope that you will find this edition of the Polish Film Festival in Houston both interesting and pleasurable experience for everyone. The festival has earned recognition by the Polish Filmmakers Association (Stowarzyszenie Filmowców Polskich) celebrating 45th anniversary, Polish Film Institute and Filmoteka Polska. We are wholeheartedly grateful for their support.

Special thanks to the Society for Arts and Krzysztof Kamyszew in Chicago whose example and dedication to Polish culture promotion in America has been a inspiration for us.

We would like to thank the Polish Consul General in Los Angeles Joanna Kozińska-Frybes and Consul for Culture and Polish Community Małgorzata Cup for their support in promoting Polish films in Houston and Austin Texas.

We thank the General Manager and the staff of the AMC Studio-30 at Dunvale in Houston for housing the 14th Polish Film Festival in Houston and their professional service.

In a special way we would like to recognize Adam Gołuński for his continuous contribution in organizing Polish Film Festival in Houston, for designing and editing this program-book. Ania Berry for her enthusiasm in public relations and successful efforts in promoting the festival (while being a mom to two small boys). Ania Witas for her persistent and tireless work administering www.forum-polonia-houston.com and newly started www.forum-polonia-toronto.com an information source for Polonia.

Finally we wish to than you, the audience of the Annual Polish Film Festival in Houston for your continuous support and encouragement which motivates and inspires us in our quest for ways to benefit the local Polish-American community and the Polish film.

Dr. Zbigniew & Grażyna Wojciechowski

Polish Film Festival in Houston

Houston, October 2011