The Tofifest International Film Festival is a film festival of independent cinema that takes place annually in Toruń, Poland. The festival combines Polish and European dimensions in the context of an adventurous and defiant breadth of content, including auteur cinema, and premieres of films presented in Cannes, Berlin, and Rotterdam, building a bridge between high and popular art. “It is a festival of cinema eaters who take part in our festival feast. So chew Tofi!”
The 20th edition of the festival has taken place this year and selected participants have been awarded the Golden Angel awards for their impressive artistic achievements. Aleksandra Popławska and Robert Więckiewicz were given the awards for their Artistic Insolence. A film director Filip Bajon received the Golden Angel for Lifetime Achievement. Maria Dębska got the Golden Angel Award for a Promising European Actress. Moreover, two films were distinguished by the jury – the ‘Olga’ film and the film début ‘Chrzciny’ (English: ‘Baptism’).
Check the trailer of the awarded Swiss-French-Ukrainian co-production ‘Olga’.
About the film:
The film is a story about a 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast, who is extremely passionate about her favourite discipline. While at a training camp in Switzerland, she does her best to fit into the national team. In the meantime, the Euromaidan social revolt is unfolding in Kiev, and suddenly everybody Olga cares about is involved in it. As the young girl is getting ready for the European Championship, a revolution breaks into her life devouring everything standing in its path.
The trailer of the début film ‘Chrzciny’ that was distinguished with an award in the “From Poland” Competition.
About the film:
Marianna, a zealous Catholic, decides to use the family celebration – the baptism of the youngest grandson, to reconcile her children who have been quarreling for years. General Jaruzelski, who declares martial law that day, will unexpectedly prevent her from doing so. Wanting to bring the family reconciliation to an end, Marianna decides to hide the truth about the situation in the country from her children. This seemingly small lie will trigger an avalanche of unexpected events that will be difficult to stop.