The festival kicks off on April 8 with a grand opening featuring "The Martyrdom of Joan of Arc," a 1929 cinematic masterpiece, accompanied by a symphony from Stefan Wesołowski, performed live by the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir.
Designed as a homage to the film classics and timeless productions, the Timeless Film Festival Warsaw aims to breathe new life into legendary films, leveraging modern technology for digital restoration.
"There are many undiscovered gems or timeless films that deserve a comeback. We wanted to give these classics a 'second life' by showcasing digitally restored versions," Patrycja Mucha and Sebastian Smoliński, the festival's artistic directors, told Polish Radio.
Highlighting its global appeal, the festival boasts an impressive lineup from 31 countries, with a special focus on Japanese cinema. "The program is especially rich in Japanese films, featuring both the iconic 'Seven Samurai' and 'Godzilla' from 1954, and animations from the legendary Studio Ghibli," Smoliński noted.
The festival concludes on April 15 with a grand finale at the National Philharmonic, where Paweł Mykietyn's music for Jerzy Skolimowski's "Io" will be performed by Sinfonia Varsovia. The diverse program also includes tributes to British cinema duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, comedies by Elaine May, historical dramas by Luchin Visconti, and modernist films by Stanisław Różewicz.
Music lovers have more to anticipate with film concerts featuring Belgian composer Wim Mertens, Japanese multi-instrumentalist Eiko Ishibashi, cellist Dobrawa Czocher, Dutch lute player Jozef Van Wissem, and ensembles Małe Instrumenty and XYLOS.
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Source: Polskie Radio