Aneta Kopacz, director of film “Joanna”, cannot complain in the recent days on lack of reasons to rejoice. First, “Joanna” was honored by the jury in Jihlava, which decided to award the film with the Silver Eye prize for the best medium-length documentary film taking part in East Silver Market, and now the film has been awarded at one of the most important documentary film festivals in the world – German DOK.Leipzig. The screening of “Joanna” in the International Documentary Film Competition of Leipzig festival was its international premiere. The film won The Prize of the Youth Jury.
This is how the jury has justified the verdict: “With a wide cadres, the camera takes us into an intimate situation which takes place between the characters, and at the same time doesn’t violate the boundaries of privacy. The film moved us very strongly, we will remember it for a long time. It teaches to never give up and fight no matter how dire the circumstances.”
“Joanna” is a film portrayal of Joanna Sałyga, author of the blog “Chustka” (“A Scarf”). The doctor’s diagnosis is for her like a sentence – cancer, three months to live. She promises her 5-year-old son, Jaś, that she will do her best to survive for as long as possible. She fights. For Jaś she writes a blog, which describes her daily life honestly and accurately. For many people, Joanna has become an icon of a thoughtful and joyful life. The documentary shows the everyday existence of Joanna, her husband Piotr, and little Jaś. It is as discreet as it is moving. Through few well-chosen words and observations it manages to be both essential and sensuous. A story of thoughtfulness in death, life and love.
Twelve Polish films took part in this year’s edition of DOK.Leipzig festival – seven documentaries and five animation films. Beside “Joanna”, in documentary competitive sections “A Diary of a journey” by Piotr Stasik, “When I am a bird” by Monika Pawluczuk and ”Deep Love” by Jan P. Matuszyński were screened. In the non-competitive screening such films as “The love equation of Henry Fast” by Agnieszka Elbanowska, “Father and Son” by Paweł Łoziński and “Mother 24/7” by Marcin Janos Krawczyk were shown. Among animated films, four titles received invitations to participate in the competition– “Ziegenort” by Tomek Popakul, “Lost Senses” by Marcin Wasilewski and also debuting in Germany – “Baths” by Tomek Ducki and also German-Polish “Darling” by Izabela Plucińska. In the non-competitive programme “Ab ovo” by Anita Kwiatkowska- Naqvi was presented.
A full list of awards can be found here.