This year, the International Film Festival Rotterdam will be held for the forty-ninth time. The official selection of the Dutch festival has already chosen 500 productions from 50 countries, which will be presented to the audience. Among them, there is also “My Heart” by Damian Kocur.
The Rotterdam Festival, operating incessantly since 1972, has been included among the most important European film culture events for years. It focuses on experimental cinema and on searching for and promoting new, talented film-makers. The Rotterdam festival is also known for its impressive market, as well as the Hubert Bals Fund, supporting film-makers from Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East.
The competition “Voices Short,” in which “My Heart” is included, is one of the newest sections of the Rotterdam festival, added in 2018. It concentrates on the less experimental productions, on the films in which the main focus is on the plot. In the case of this competition, it is the audience that grants the award, using voting cards. All short films compete for the cash prize amounting to 2 500 euros.
“My Heart” tells the story of Rozalia, who is an actress. Her professional situation forces her to move from Warsaw to Wałbrzych, together with her seven-year-old son Kazik. For her, the new place means a full-time job in the local theatre, and for her son – a new school. As they settle in, Rozalia begins to get involved in a relationship with Darek, the new teacher of Kazik. However, problems start to appear at the new school. Unexpectedly, the events from Rozalia’s life intertwine with her role on stage.
This year’s Rotterdam Festival is held from the 22nd of January to the 2nd of February. The full list of qualified films can be found on its official website.