Between the 2nd and the 9th of August 2008 Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec nad Wisłą will turn into the picturesque backdrop for the second edition of The Two Riversides Film and Art Festival.
Because last year's edition received outstanding reviews, we decided to present the widest possible range of film-related arts also this year. Literature, photography, video-art, painting, music - all of these fields will be present at Two Riversides. And, luckily, there will be enough room to contain them all on both riversides of the Vistula.
In Kazimierz our events will be held in the following locations: in the spacious mobile cinema hall (more than 900 seats), in the mobile Małe Kino (250 seats), in the Small Marketplace - Mały Rynek (evening outdoor film shows for over 2000 spectators), in the ruins of the old castle in Kazimierz (here the "Kocham Kino" meetings will be taking place), the SARP patio (for meetings with artists and mini-concerts), in Galeria Letnia, Galeria na Plebanii, in the rooms of Kolegium Sztuki (exhibitions), in the seat of Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Kazimierza (exhibitions and meetings with artists), in Cafe "Kocham Kino" and U Fryzjera (the official festival clubs) and in the Król Kazimierz Hotel.
In Janowiec our participants and guests will have the opportunity to get together in some of the impressive chambers of the local castle including Sala Rycerska, as well as the yard (for open-air cinema and smaller concerts), Muzeum Nadwiślańskie (for meetings with artists, exhibitions and small concerts) and Gminny Ośrodek Kultury (for film shows).
Welcome to the official site of the Two Riversides Film and Art Festival in Kazimierz Dolny - Janowiec n/Wisłą.
We are truly happy to inform all of those concerned with the condition of cultural events in Poland, that, due to the remarkable success of the first edition - our festival is back again this year, and is back to stay for good and to be held yearly in our dear hospitable region of Lubelszczyzna. The new idea of the festival with its innovative, non-standard approach to cinematography received a warm welcome among both ; the critics and the spectators. Thus, our festival is becoming more and more popular and is even discussed, though unofficially, during some important international film festivals. We get this kind of information directly from our "researchers", who are present at all interesting events constantly searching for some unique "flavors" to add to our "cinematic feast". And right now we are working really hard to have everything ready for this year's second edition which is coming quite soon, already in August.
The program has been designed under the supervision of Grażyna Torbicka, the art director of the whole event, and it is designed in such a way as to present our audiences not only with the cinema itself but also with the arts that preceded it such as literature, music, fine arts, theater or photography. We want this event to respond to the diverse needs of our audiences, we want it to introduce the elements of education and deep thought, and, last but not least, we want it to harmonize with the unique atmosphere of its surroundings. The attractive program of the festival and its exceptional location is an undisputable advantage, but so is the fact, that, the festival offers to its participants and visitors the opportunity to admire not only the great names and renowned artists, but also the younger, though not least talented beginners. We make no boundaries. But we can guarantee that the list of our guests for this year will take your breath away.
The first outline of this year's program, together with our basic assumptions and goals that we want to achieve will be available by mid-April.
We want this year's offer to be more diversified than the last edition's. We will have 25 permanent locations to present our events in Kazimierz and Janowiec, plus a few additional occasional ones (mainly for happenings and outdoor events). The places that do not have regular movie theaters will be provided with our five professional, fully-equipped cinemas offering total number of 500 seats.
Fulfilling these assumptions of course depends on the amount of money that we have at hand. Luckily Allianz Polska, our last year's general sponsor has decided to be with us also this year. It seems like Zorro and his friends will keep entertaining us before each movie projection. Also other supporters and friends are staying with us: Telewizja Polska with Channel 2, our main media advocate - thank you very much for that! Last year was also the first year of the active help from local authorities, thus, we wish to thank the mayor, the town council and the local government for their generous support. Their enthusiasm affected the people of Kazimierz, who seem to have finally changed their attitude towards us. We know that they did not take to our enterprise in the first place, but later, as our vision developed, they believed in our success, so now we cannot let them down. We also wish to thank the community of Janowiec. Our festival is created on the spot, right here, with the help and participation of all the people who live in the neighborhood and those who are simply enchanted by the magic of this place and, hopefully, the event. Without your contribution we wouldn't be able to achieve what we are striving for. We hope to meet you all in September and celebrate the festival of film and art together with you. You are wholeheartedly invited to be our guests, so see you then!
Program
The program of this edition of Two Riversides festival will include films selected from among the contestants of this year's festivals in San Sebastian, Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes and Koszalin, as well as those which are completely new productions and which have been recommended to us by our friends from Germany, Hungary, Italy, England, Turkey, Ireland, Spain and Czech Republic. They will be mostly the films representing artistic auteur and independent cinema, with the emphasis on young European cinematography. 40 years ago in 1968 Europe experienced the series of events which are now known as the Revolution of 68'. What happened then in France, Italy, Spain, America or Poland has become an inspiration for many artists. We are hoping to present you with some of the films inspired by those events, as well as to offer you a series of meetings entitled "The Revolution of 68' - what was it all about?". There will also be a contest "Cannes and Two Riversides" related to the fact, that 40 years ago the Cannes festival was interrupted due to the May events and student protest and so there was no verdict and no winner. On our website you will find a list of films which were nominated in 1968 and you will vote to chose the three of them that, in your opinion, were most likely to be the winners in Cannes in 1968. We hope we will be able to show you the films that get the most votes. We are also working on a retrospective review of films directed by one of the most renowned independent cinematographer responsible for films such as "Drugstore Cowboy", "Mala Noche" or "Gerry" - Gus Van Sant. We will also show his latest production "Paranoid Park".
A separate section will include documentaries. To be more specific - those documentaries that are trying to capture the contemporary "citizen of the world". The films which are trying to answer questions about his pursuits, interests and values. Just like we did last year, also this year we will organize a series of meetings with artists. It will be called "Talk to them" and I hope you will enjoy it and find in it a precious opportunity to ask crucial questions and learn some interesting things, like you did last year.
"Cinema class - confession of a cinematographer" is yet another series of meetings that we started in 2007 and are willing to continue this year. It is sort of a story of how an artist discovers the passion for creation and later works hard to fulfill this passion. The story is illustrated with some of the artist's works. Last year this event was devoted to life and work of Bob Rafelson - the American independent cinematographer.
"Cinema class - confession of a cinematographer" is yet another series of meetings that we started in 2007 and are willing to continue this year. It is sort of a story of how an artist discovers the passion for creation and later works hard to fulfill this passion. The story is illustrated with some of the artist's works. Last year this event was devoted to life and work of Bob Rafelson - the American independent cinematographer.
Both Kazimierz and Janowiec are just perfect for any experience of music. And what we have for you is not just any experience but an exceptional, a remarkable one. On the opening night (02.08) you will hear the greatest fado singer Carlos du Carmo from Portugal. He is an outstanding personality and an undisputable hero of the music genre of fado. He also stars in the latest production of Carlos Saura, which is entitled "Fados". The film will have its premiere in Kazimierz and the director himself for the time being seems to be interested in showing up in Kazimierz. "Fados" will open the new series presenting films about music and musicians. "Music my love" will introduce you to films such as "Cafe de los Maestros", "Rolling Stones- Shine a Light" or "Patti Smith - Dream of Life".
To conclude the festival we will invite you to a concert of one of the most interesting contemporary composers writing for the cinema, and a great pianist - Wlodek Pawlik. His concert will include music from many well-known, widely admired films. We also have a novelty this year - the retrospective review of the most important roles of the greatest actors. Because, what would a director be without a talented actor, who is necessary to make his visions come true? "And God created an Actor" will be a series of meetings to be opened this year by Janusz Gajos. We will present you with the great talent and fascinating personality of this renowned Polish actor through his best film performances and an exhibition of his photographs in which he is the creator, not the object. There will be also meetings with the directors that worked with Gajos ; Wajda, Kolski, Marczewski, Morgenstern and others.
We also have a novelty this year - the retrospective review of the most important roles of the greatest actors. Because, what would a director be without a talented actor, who is necessary to make his visions come true? "And God created an Actor" will be a series of meetings to be opened this year by Janusz Gajos. We will present you with the great talent and fascinating personality of this renowned Polish actor through his best film performances and an exhibition of his photographs in which he is the creator, not the object. There will be also meetings with the directors that worked with Gajos ; Wajda, Kolski, Marczewski, Morgenstern and others.
"The year of Polish animated film". The year 2008 has been pronounced the year of Polish animated film by the Polish Society of Cinematographers. It is the 60th anniversary of the great Polish animated film, which has been our trademark for years on international culture market. Renowned artists such as Borowczyk, Lenica, Giersz, Szczechura and later Dumała, Bagiński and Skrobiecki have received many awards at international festivals. Two Riversides will present those most important of Polish animated films as well as the productions of the youngest artists representing the genre - productions of those who are still students at art academies but are already continuing this noble art. All of them; students as well as Dumała, Szczechura and Kuzia will be present at Two Riversides.
Last year each film presented at our festival was preceded by a short film, just like it used to be at cinemas many years ago. We will continue this tradition this year, because we believe that short films should be back at cinemas for good. The participants of Two Riversides will have the opportunity to take part in many interesting workshops and events, hosted by renowned artists.
Many guests from Italy, France and Germany have already agreed to come to Kazimierz and participate in Two Riversides. One of those respectable guests that we are looking forward to is Mr. Klaus Eder, the secretary of the International Association of Film Critics FIPRESCI.
Films that we present at Two Riversides festival undergo the most severe process of evaluation and assessment - they are judged by you - our audiences. And it is you who will decide which film gets this year's Two Riversides award.
Grażyna Torbicka - Two Riversides' Art Directorback