- Occupation
Producer - Country
Poland
Ślesicka Katarzyna
Losing Sonia
„Losing Sonia“ shows how a seemingly rigid monastery can be a place full of life, beauty and artistic expression. Sonia, a young nun, paints icons at night and then sleeps until noon. She has a dog, cats, exotic birds, and a body that rebelled against the strict rigour of the monks. Trying to understand her and the meaning of her life choices, we come to Sonia’s family, marked with the history of Russia. At the same time, the film is a journey inside the Orthodox church, showing that the deep spirituality of the nation is being reborn. „Losing Sonia“ tells the story of an unusual woman who, within the walls of the monastery, is trying to rebuild the values, that Russian society has lost under successive political regimes.
Andrzej Wajda: Let's shoot!
A record of a few months of struggle on the set, showing an atmosphere of work and a picture of immense film machinery, and at same time presenting the truest and intimate portrait of the Master of Polish Cinema, the Oscar winner. In 1957 Andrzej Wajda won the Silver Palm in Cannes for his film 'Canal', along with 'Seventh seal' by Ingmar Bergman. We meet him 50 years later, as the author of many important films, such as 'Ashes and Diamonds', 'Man of Marble' or 'Danton', now directing one the most important films in his career, 'Katyn', about the massacre in which thousands of Polish officers, including Wajda's father, were murdered by the Soviets, during World War II - a tragedy left unspoken for decades. During the shooting of the film, 4 young documentary filmmakers - his former students had a chance to get closer and see how their Master works on his most intimate story. Extraordinary for his sensitivity, immeasurable passion, the feeling of mission and great diligence. But also in moments of tiredness, joy, failures, in conversations with people. Perhaps it is only on the set where one can see what Andrzej Wajda really is like.
Beautiful Misunderstanding
A funny story about three contact-improvisation dancers: Danya from Israel, Renata from Poland and Marcus from Germany who arrive to Jerusalem wanting to express their views on the most important issues by dancing. They perform anywhere - in the streets, in parks and gardens. Will the inhabitants of this multicultural and colorful city appreciate their efforts? Do they need them? The dancers will learn this - but only if they learn to communicate between themselves.
Gadjo
Music becomes a reason for the meeting of Gypsy boy and old Silesian man. Rebellious hip hop texts contrast with idyllic songs played on the old man's guitar. The confrontation of those two distinct worlds leads to the surprising and close relation between them.
A Woman Sought
The film is a portrait of people searching for love. A French aristocrat hires a professional matchmaker to help him find a wife from Poland. Meetings with successive candidates reveal the women’s fears, expectations and concealable wishes. Will the search end successfully?
Little Bride
There is about 2.5 million Turkish minority members in Germany. Every year there is at least a dozen of Turkish women beaten to death by their husbands or other family members. The actual scale of those crimes in Germany, where law and order are so highly valued, is unknown — according to the official data, in Turkey there are committed more than 300 so-called honor killings annually and 40% of wives are violence victims. A Turkish girl was sent to Germany and forced to marry when she was 13 years old. Soon after that, her hell has begun; she was beaten and abused in different ways. After several years she managed to run away; she has been hiding until now – only because of that she is able to tell us her life story.
The Dog Hill
A story about three men of different age who spend six months each year working as shepherds, away from their families and civilization. They have a lot of time to talk about the most important and leaving aspects of life. The highlander’s philosophy in short.
Getting On
A film about a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. 90-year-old Nina and her single daughter Alice live together in a cramped flat. Between their beds is a black piano – a symbol of Alice’s unfulfilled music career. Nowadays they run a dancing group for seniors and their life is focused mainly on this. It seems that work makes up for them the lack of men in their life, but is it really true?
Interrogation
‘Interrogation’ is a very moving story about a soldier of Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) convicted during the Stalinist regime in Poland. He is reminiscing maltreatment, never-ending tortures and humiliation that he has suffered from the Polish secret police. Extraordinary in its form, the film deals with subjects of the cruelty of totalitarian system and incrediblewill of life that tries to oppose it.
Oh God, Dear God
Julia Popławska’s film is a picture of a quiet, charming and almost idyllic Polish village. The Możejkos spend time on the porch of their wooden house, slowly conversing on what surrounds them and directly affects their lives – the weather, flowers and vegetables growing in their backyard garden. The view from the porch is their only outlook onto the world – this is where they observe the changing nature or any special events in the neighbourhood. One day their peace is shattered by the arrival of some very noisy visitors.
Viva Maria!
The great Polish opera diva Maria Fołtyn created her greatest performance in Stanisław Moniuszko’s „Halka”, with which she toured worldwide – she was applauded by Stalin and admired by Castro. Today, when she is losing her voice she has decided to give way to her successors. The film „Viva Maria” is a tale of passion, sacrifice and devotion, and is an extraordinary story of passing down a voice.
Decrescendo
"Decrescendo" tells the story of the blossoming friendships that take place between the young psychologist Tomek and his patients from a retirement house, each of whom has their own touching and tragic story. Each day Tomek's fascination with beauty and youth clashes not only with the aging and the dying but also with their emphatic will to life. In this context the musical term Decrescendo takes on a new meaning.
Paparazzi
Following the life of a Polish paparazzo who tracks down the rich and the famous, the film depicts a world in which values are confused and rules are flexible. Yet it also shows that there is always a second chance for us to make our minds up about what kind of people we will be tomorrow.
My House Without Me
Two women, one house. An intimate story about a Pole and a German positioned by war on enemy sides, while their parallel lives were accidentally brought together. The film reflects on the concepts of invaders, victims, guilt and forgiveness. It confronts different experiences and their paradoxical similarities. It deals with the controversial subject of the post-war accountings. The visual narration is flowing, guided by memories and archives. Traditional documentation confronts experimental use of archival footage in the cinematic impression about displacement.
„Losing Sonia“ shows how a seemingly rigid monastery can be a place full of life, beauty and artistic expression. Sonia, a young nun, paints icons at night and then sleeps until noon. She has a dog, cats, exotic birds, and a body that rebelled against the strict rigour of the monks. Trying to understand her and the meaning of her life choices, we come to Sonia’s family, marked with the history of Russia. At the same time, the film is a journey inside the Orthodox church, showing that the deep spirituality of the nation is being reborn. „Losing Sonia“ tells the story of an unusual woman who, within the walls of the monastery, is trying to rebuild the values, that Russian society has lost under successive political regimes.
Andrzej Wajda: Let's shoot!
A record of a few months of struggle on the set, showing an atmosphere of work and a picture of immense film machinery, and at same time presenting the truest and intimate portrait of the Master of Polish Cinema, the Oscar winner. In 1957 Andrzej Wajda won the Silver Palm in Cannes for his film 'Canal', along with 'Seventh seal' by Ingmar Bergman. We meet him 50 years later, as the author of many important films, such as 'Ashes and Diamonds', 'Man of Marble' or 'Danton', now directing one the most important films in his career, 'Katyn', about the massacre in which thousands of Polish officers, including Wajda's father, were murdered by the Soviets, during World War II - a tragedy left unspoken for decades. During the shooting of the film, 4 young documentary filmmakers - his former students had a chance to get closer and see how their Master works on his most intimate story. Extraordinary for his sensitivity, immeasurable passion, the feeling of mission and great diligence. But also in moments of tiredness, joy, failures, in conversations with people. Perhaps it is only on the set where one can see what Andrzej Wajda really is like.
Beautiful Misunderstanding
A funny story about three contact-improvisation dancers: Danya from Israel, Renata from Poland and Marcus from Germany who arrive to Jerusalem wanting to express their views on the most important issues by dancing. They perform anywhere - in the streets, in parks and gardens. Will the inhabitants of this multicultural and colorful city appreciate their efforts? Do they need them? The dancers will learn this - but only if they learn to communicate between themselves.
Gadjo
Music becomes a reason for the meeting of Gypsy boy and old Silesian man. Rebellious hip hop texts contrast with idyllic songs played on the old man's guitar. The confrontation of those two distinct worlds leads to the surprising and close relation between them.
A Woman Sought
The film is a portrait of people searching for love. A French aristocrat hires a professional matchmaker to help him find a wife from Poland. Meetings with successive candidates reveal the women’s fears, expectations and concealable wishes. Will the search end successfully?
Little Bride
There is about 2.5 million Turkish minority members in Germany. Every year there is at least a dozen of Turkish women beaten to death by their husbands or other family members. The actual scale of those crimes in Germany, where law and order are so highly valued, is unknown — according to the official data, in Turkey there are committed more than 300 so-called honor killings annually and 40% of wives are violence victims. A Turkish girl was sent to Germany and forced to marry when she was 13 years old. Soon after that, her hell has begun; she was beaten and abused in different ways. After several years she managed to run away; she has been hiding until now – only because of that she is able to tell us her life story.
The Dog Hill
A story about three men of different age who spend six months each year working as shepherds, away from their families and civilization. They have a lot of time to talk about the most important and leaving aspects of life. The highlander’s philosophy in short.
Getting On
A film about a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. 90-year-old Nina and her single daughter Alice live together in a cramped flat. Between their beds is a black piano – a symbol of Alice’s unfulfilled music career. Nowadays they run a dancing group for seniors and their life is focused mainly on this. It seems that work makes up for them the lack of men in their life, but is it really true?
Interrogation
‘Interrogation’ is a very moving story about a soldier of Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) convicted during the Stalinist regime in Poland. He is reminiscing maltreatment, never-ending tortures and humiliation that he has suffered from the Polish secret police. Extraordinary in its form, the film deals with subjects of the cruelty of totalitarian system and incrediblewill of life that tries to oppose it.
Oh God, Dear God
Julia Popławska’s film is a picture of a quiet, charming and almost idyllic Polish village. The Możejkos spend time on the porch of their wooden house, slowly conversing on what surrounds them and directly affects their lives – the weather, flowers and vegetables growing in their backyard garden. The view from the porch is their only outlook onto the world – this is where they observe the changing nature or any special events in the neighbourhood. One day their peace is shattered by the arrival of some very noisy visitors.
Viva Maria!
The great Polish opera diva Maria Fołtyn created her greatest performance in Stanisław Moniuszko’s „Halka”, with which she toured worldwide – she was applauded by Stalin and admired by Castro. Today, when she is losing her voice she has decided to give way to her successors. The film „Viva Maria” is a tale of passion, sacrifice and devotion, and is an extraordinary story of passing down a voice.
Decrescendo
"Decrescendo" tells the story of the blossoming friendships that take place between the young psychologist Tomek and his patients from a retirement house, each of whom has their own touching and tragic story. Each day Tomek's fascination with beauty and youth clashes not only with the aging and the dying but also with their emphatic will to life. In this context the musical term Decrescendo takes on a new meaning.
Paparazzi
Following the life of a Polish paparazzo who tracks down the rich and the famous, the film depicts a world in which values are confused and rules are flexible. Yet it also shows that there is always a second chance for us to make our minds up about what kind of people we will be tomorrow.
My House Without Me
Two women, one house. An intimate story about a Pole and a German positioned by war on enemy sides, while their parallel lives were accidentally brought together. The film reflects on the concepts of invaders, victims, guilt and forgiveness. It confronts different experiences and their paradoxical similarities. It deals with the controversial subject of the post-war accountings. The visual narration is flowing, guided by memories and archives. Traditional documentation confronts experimental use of archival footage in the cinematic impression about displacement.
Rings of Burma
Having fled from junta-governed Burma Madzi and Lame hoped for freedom and better life in Thailand. But the fear for their daughters, who stayed behind, is overwhelming. With determination and strenght they fight to keep their family intact. Madzi and Lame belong to Karen people - minority that is prosecuted in junta ruled Burma. In search of safty they flee to Thailand, where together with other Karens they live in a tourist heritage park. But having escaped from one slavery they get trapped in another - in order to survive Madzi needs to act as a local attraction. Karen women, known as "giraffe women", attract tourist to their long forgotten tradition of wearing rings. For thease women, it is the only way of making money, apart from prostitution. Madzi puts the rings at the age of 60; Lame wanders around, because there in no real work for men. Real life is left behind in Burma. They also left their daughter with 5 grandchildren there. although the Karen part of Burma is safer now, lifein the border areas is baset with regular war activity, looting and raping. The mother tries to communicate with her daughter but she cannot get through. At last they manage to talk. They make a decision - the daughter will move to Thailand. Her mother will help bribe soldiers at checkpoints and pay for travel expenses. It will not be easy - the road through the junge is dangerous and they can turn her back at the border. Madzi passes the money through someone and the daughter, with her five children, sets out on her way. Only she does not arrive. The phone is silent. Her mother sends a boat every dat for her, but it returns empty. Madzi is alone in all this - She listens in for messages from Burma, she listens to music. For hours she can sit and stare at the radio. Her husband cannot tear his eyes away from TV series, and their son keeps on excercising. There is a growing confession, he says he does not want his daughter to come as he has no strength to take care of her (they will need to help her build a house, feed the children). after a pause he adds he has never loved madzi. He only married because his parents told him to. Their son looses his first bozing tournament.
Believe in the End of the World
BELIEVE IN THE END OF THE WORLD is a documentary on people preparing for the Apocalypse that is meant to happen in December 2012. There are millions of such people, thousands of which have made advanced preparations - all over the world, most of them in the USA but also in Europe, mainly in Scandinavia. Of course there are “believers” in Poland too. However, for the director Monika Pawluczuk the end of the world predicted in the Mayan calendar is only a pretext to take a closer look at how we deal with fear of “the end” in general. Since it is only in the extreme situations that we can genuinely ask ourselves the question of “what is it that gives us strength?” - for when the end is near, we suddenly get the opportunity to notice everything more intensely, see things clearer and name them honestly.
Having fled from junta-governed Burma Madzi and Lame hoped for freedom and better life in Thailand. But the fear for their daughters, who stayed behind, is overwhelming. With determination and strenght they fight to keep their family intact. Madzi and Lame belong to Karen people - minority that is prosecuted in junta ruled Burma. In search of safty they flee to Thailand, where together with other Karens they live in a tourist heritage park. But having escaped from one slavery they get trapped in another - in order to survive Madzi needs to act as a local attraction. Karen women, known as "giraffe women", attract tourist to their long forgotten tradition of wearing rings. For thease women, it is the only way of making money, apart from prostitution. Madzi puts the rings at the age of 60; Lame wanders around, because there in no real work for men. Real life is left behind in Burma. They also left their daughter with 5 grandchildren there. although the Karen part of Burma is safer now, lifein the border areas is baset with regular war activity, looting and raping. The mother tries to communicate with her daughter but she cannot get through. At last they manage to talk. They make a decision - the daughter will move to Thailand. Her mother will help bribe soldiers at checkpoints and pay for travel expenses. It will not be easy - the road through the junge is dangerous and they can turn her back at the border. Madzi passes the money through someone and the daughter, with her five children, sets out on her way. Only she does not arrive. The phone is silent. Her mother sends a boat every dat for her, but it returns empty. Madzi is alone in all this - She listens in for messages from Burma, she listens to music. For hours she can sit and stare at the radio. Her husband cannot tear his eyes away from TV series, and their son keeps on excercising. There is a growing confession, he says he does not want his daughter to come as he has no strength to take care of her (they will need to help her build a house, feed the children). after a pause he adds he has never loved madzi. He only married because his parents told him to. Their son looses his first bozing tournament.
Believe in the End of the World
BELIEVE IN THE END OF THE WORLD is a documentary on people preparing for the Apocalypse that is meant to happen in December 2012. There are millions of such people, thousands of which have made advanced preparations - all over the world, most of them in the USA but also in Europe, mainly in Scandinavia. Of course there are “believers” in Poland too. However, for the director Monika Pawluczuk the end of the world predicted in the Mayan calendar is only a pretext to take a closer look at how we deal with fear of “the end” in general. Since it is only in the extreme situations that we can genuinely ask ourselves the question of “what is it that gives us strength?” - for when the end is near, we suddenly get the opportunity to notice everything more intensely, see things clearer and name them honestly.
Executive Director and Board Member of The Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing, also a producer/executive producer of the films produced by the School, such as “North of Calabria” by Marcin Sauter (documentary, 73’) „Andrzej Wajda: Let’s shoot” by Paladino Film Group, (documentary, 52’), „Destination: Iceland” by Kalina Alabrudzińska (documentary, 26’) „Aria Diva” by Agnieszka Smoczyńska, (fiction, 30’), „What it’s Like Being My Mother” by Norah McGettigan (fiction, 30’).
“Aria Diva”, fiction, 30’, dir. Agnieszka Smoczynska, Poland 2007, Executive Producer
“What It’s Like to Be My Mother”, fiction, 30’, dir. Norah Mc Gettigan, Poland –Ireland 2007, co- executive Producer
“The Journey”, fiction, 30’, dir. Dariusz Glazer, Poland 2006, Executive Producer
“The Inner Road”, fiction, 30’, dir. Dorota Lamparska, Poland 2006, Executive Producer
“Three for the Taking”, fiction, 30’, dir. Bartek Konopka, Poland 2006, Executive Producer
“Reflection”, documentary, various directors, 90’, Poland-Germany 2005, Producer
“At the datcha”, documentary, 26’, dir. Thierry Paladino, 2006, Producer
“Cupboard”, documentary, 26’, dir. Jacob Dammas, Poland-Denmark 2007, Executive Producer
Wajda School
ul. Chelmska 21 bud. 24
00-724 Warsaw
ul. Chelmska 21 bud. 24
00-724 Warsaw
Wajda Studio
ul. Chełmska 21
00-724 Warszawa
ul. Chełmska 21
00-724 Warszawa