For five years, the Council of the Polish Film Institute (PISF) has appointed a committee for the Polish Film Institute Awards. This year, it consisted of 14 representatives of the Polish film industry. They nominated Bolesławiec cinema and the Discussion Film Club operating there separately for the awards.
The Bolesławiec Discussion Film Club defeated two strong rivals from Tarnowskie Góry and Gorzów Wielkopolski. “The statuette and award for running an excellent film club belong to the club’s leader, Iwona Bojko, and to the viewers,” said Ewa Lijewska-Małachowska. “This is an incredible distinction, a major award showing that Bolesławiec has an ambitious and demanding audience: film lovers who want to watch and discuss outstanding films. We provide them with this by bringing precisely such productions to the club,” the director added.
The head of the Federation of Discussion Film Clubs and a member of the awards committee spoke with great respect about clubs in small communities. “I do not hide the fact that setting up a Discussion Film Club in Warsaw, Kraków or Poznań, where there is an audience, is not difficult,” said Maciej Gil. “What is happening in Bolesławiec, this attendance, is exceptional. Bolesławiec should be a model for other clubs, not only in small towns but also in large cities.”
Bolesławiec cinema was also recognized for the film education it has conducted at Forum for eleven years. Maciej Jakubczyk, head of the New Horizons Association, who was presented with a statuette, said that it primarily belonged to cinemas implementing educational programs in their cities.
The PISF Awards are a special distinction in the film industry, recognizing the work of people and institutions not involved in film production. They are the only Polish awards presented in several categories for significant achievements in disseminating and promoting Polish cinema and facilitating access to Polish filmmaking.
“The nominations alone were already an award for me,” says Iwona Bojko, deputy director of BOK-MCC. “Receiving the statuette is something special for me, but I also believe that the award belongs above all to our viewers.”
The ceremonial presentation of the PISF Awards to this year’s winners took place on May 9 during the 37th Gdynia Film Festival. The laureates in each category received a statuette designed by Piotr Michnikowski and a cash prize of PLN 15,000.
The editorial staff of the Istotne Informacje portal and newspaper congratulates the management and employees of BOK-MCC on receiving this prestigious award and will continue to promote Kino Forum and the Discussion Film Club with pleasure.
(information: Grażyna Hanaf)