– I told Szymon that it was only a matter of time before we saw him on the red carpet in Hollywood. The film “Chess” made by this fourteen-year-old is excellent – said Grzegorz Szczepaniak, director of the Legnica Culture Centre, which organises these workshops, expressing an opinion very aptly shared by other viewers.
During the Festival Gala at the Piast cinema, the clash of the black and white pieces received huge applause. – The jury unanimously decided to award the Grand Prix to “Chess” – revealed Aniela Lubieniecka, a director, set designer and animator who served on the jury of the 22nd LAF. The film’s author himself, who had travelled all the way from Białowieża to attend the workshops in Legnica, looked genuinely surprised.
– I really did not expect this award – said a delighted Szymon Ruczyński. As he said, animation has interested him for some time. Although he is only 14, creating animated shorts on his home computer is something he greatly enjoys. – I make animations at home, for myself. And now I have received an award for a film made at a workshop. This Grand Prix is definitely the most important trophy I have ever received – the friendly teenager smiled.
All participants in the 22nd Legnica Film Academy deserve praise. As many as 45 young filmmakers came from cities across the country. They are often still very young children who worked tirelessly on their films for 10 days. The results of their work were truly touching.
– This is my third time here, and I must admit that the standard of this year’s films was the highest – Marcin Giżycki, a director, film historian and critic and chair of the 22nd LAF jury, told the young filmmakers, adding: – Every one of you is a winner at this festival. The fact that you came up with such interesting films and managed to complete them is a truly great victory.
The LAF Special Award went to the participants of the Caritas Occupational Therapy Workshops in Legnica. For years, they have proved that animation has no limits. They make genuinely good, cheerful films under the guidance of Stanisław Lenartowicz, an outstanding filmmaker and co-creator of the Polish version of “Sesame Street,” who, thanks to his patience and wisdom, has for years been the participants’ favourite instructor at the Legnica Film Academy.
– Every year I think that perhaps I will no longer have the strength to go to Legnica. But then I realise that if I do not go, I will regret it terribly, because it is truly wonderful here! – Mr Stanisław says with a smile.
LCK/UM Legnica/ii