The annual festival, renowned for its focus on innovative cinema, showcases global cinematic talents and offers a platform for exploring profound cultural and existential themes through film. It will run until July 28, with selected films available online through August 4.
The opening night spotlighted three prominent films, including Yorgos Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness, which competed for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Lanthimos, a Greek director known for his distinctive narrative style, has created what is described as a surreal dream paced by the Eurythmics' song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." The film stars Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Jesse Plemons in a story that delves into themes of authority and delusion.
Also showing on opening night was Rose Glass's Love Lies Bleeding, a body horror film that made its debut at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals.
The film stars Kristen Stewart as a gym manager whose romantic involvement with an ambitious bodybuilder leads to violent local gang reactions. The cast includes Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone and Ed Harris.
The third feature of the evening, Minghun by Jan P. Matuszyński, explores the emotional and metaphysical journey of characters seeking an eternal partner for a deceased loved one through a traditional Chinese "ghost marriage."
The film features Marcin Dorociński and Daxing Zhang in leading roles.
Polish cinema is well represented at the festival. Michał Szcześniak's debut feature film Between Us addresses themes of neighborly conflict and reconciliation, while Adrian Panek's Simona Kossak reflects on the life of the famed biologist and environmentalist, emphasizing our deep-seated connection with nature.
Among the international films featured are Quentin Dupieux’s Second Act, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, Matteo Garrone's I, Captain, and Payal Kapadia’s All the Shades of the World.
The festival’s competition section will feature 12 films, including Yorgos Zois' Arcadia and Constance Tsang's Blue Sun Palace, with the winner decided by a jury that includes last year's Grand Prix winner Rodrigo Moreno and actress-director Kasia Smutniak.
The festival will feature comprehensive retrospectives that delve into the careers of several distinguished directors. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the creative contributions of Yvonne Rainer, a pioneer in dance and film and a figure of the counterculture movement, with special events including performative lectures at the Wrocław Museum of Architecture.
There will also be a spotlight on Nagisa Ōshima, a renowned Japanese director known for his rebellious spirit and intellectual depth, and Alain Tanner, a Swiss filmmaker who challenges social norms. Bertrand Bonello will present his new film The Beast and conduct a masterclass.
The festival will also embrace global cinematic movements, exploring the influence of the African New Waves and the cinematic landscapes of the Far North through the Oslo/Reykjavik section.
The Third Eye section will introduce audiences to cinematic "monsteresses," featuring films like the Locarno award-winning Animal by Sofia Exarchou and Touched by Claudia Rorarius. The Shortlist will showcase the season's standout short films, and the Lost Lost Lost section will rediscover films that have made unique impacts on the festival circuit. Midnight Madness will offer some of the most unconventional cinematic experiences.
The festival will also highlight contributions from partner festivals in the Smart7 section and focus extensively on Romanian cinema in the Romania: Mirror Games section, while Young Horizons will cater to the youngest viewers.
For details of screenings, go to nowehoryzonty.pl.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, nowehoryzonty.pl