The International Festival-Workshop of Film Schools “Kinoproba” is organised in Yekaterinburg for 15 years. What is unique about the Russian festival are not only the screenings or competitions but also the workshops, which are as important as the films shown at the festival. “Kinoproba” is also a platform for sharing experiences between young film-makers, film and art schools and the older generation of directors who are invited, among others, to give their own masterclasses. In the programme of the festival, there is no lack of the latest short films, competition and non-competing sections, there is also the place for the classics of the international cinema, children’s films, animated films and experimental works.
As many as ten Polish productions are invited to this extremely rich programme. The following animated films will have their screenings there: “Incarnation” by Barbara Rupik, “Bless You!” by Paulina Ziółkowska and “Three Women on a Bench” by Karolina Borgiasz. From among feature-films, the organisers selected “Tremors” by Dawid Bodzak, “On the Road” by Bartosz Nowacki, “Let Me In” by Dominika Gnatek, “Arrival” by Justyna Pelc and “Spitsbergen” by Michał Szcześniak.
For the awards at this year’s International Festival-Workshop of Film Schools “Kinoproba,” two Polish films will compete – the feature-film “Casting” by Katarzyna Iskra and the animated film “Fish Shop” by Maria Kulpa.
“Casting” tells the story of Zofia. The girl is a beginner actress and a young mother. She lives in a small town where, together with Kuba, she raises her little daughter, who is several months old. When she gets a chance to play a role alongside a famous actress Marta, she goes to the casting. There, she has to choose the role of her life.
In turn, “Fish Shop” is an animated film inspired by B films in the genres of horror and comedy. The film is set in a fish shop. On its doorstep, a little girl appears, and the ubiquitous suffering of the fish awakens her compassion. In spite of the adults’ indifference, the girl decides to change the sad fate of the fish. She attempts to give them back their freedom, but the real nature of these creatures is revealed, and the roles of victims and oppressors are reversed…
You can find more information about the festival here.