This year’s, twelfth edition of the festival was held between 28th November and 2nd December in Whistler (British Columbia). From among 800 entries the selection committee had chosen 42 features and 34 short films that made the competitive lineup of the festival. During five festival days the audience had been watching films in four cinemas of Whistler – one of the top ski resorts in North America. This year the juries chose the best films in eight competitive categories – among them also the International ShortWork competition where “Drawn from memory” by Bortkiewicz proved the best film and was awarded International Shortwork Award.
On delivering the verdict the jury stated the following: “Drawn From Memory” is a Polish film that sensitively portrays a grandson’s devotion to his grandmother and her dreams. The power of cinema is revealed through the grandson’s use of a video-camera. Turning the camera on her, and allowing her to play a vamp AND a vampire, we witness the grandmother’s descent into dementia through the lens and his eyes. This powerful film by Marcin Bortkiewicz portrays an intimate, and universal, family story."
The award of the Whistler Film Festival is the first international recognition for the film that this year was screened among others in a prestigious Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes. Film was produced by Munk Studio operating within the frame of Polish Filmmakers Association.
More on the festival to be found at its official website