Jerzy Kucia. The master

Retrospective session of the outstanding Polish animation filmmaker and professor Jerzy Kucia (1942).This creator will share the working process of his unique films and the cinematographic language he has developed over the decades. In addition, this program of short films is completed with the seminar that Kucia will offer during the weekend within the framework of the festival. 

Jerzy Kucia graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and has worked as a painter, director, screenwriter and graphic designer. He debuted in 1972 with his short film Return. Winner of international awards (such as the Annecy Honorary Crystal in 2013) and a filmmaker present at prestigious festivals, Kucia was a professor and director of the Animation Film Studio in Krakow and has taught at several global institutions. He is a member of the American Film Academy and the Polish Film Academy. For his artistic achievements, his contribution to the development of animated film and for his pedagogical work, retrospectives of him have been held around the world. The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris or the MoMA in New York are just some of the venues that have recognized his talent, programming his films. ANIMARIO hosts what will be his 100th retrospective with the most outstanding films of this celebrated filmmaker. This program has been made possible thanks to the collaboration with the Polish Institute of Culture and the National Film Archive - Audiovisual Institute of Poland. 

> Session with the author's presence.

.Program:

POWRÓT (THE RETURN, 1972, 10')
A man on the train becomes lost in a daydream in which he goes back to his childhood. When the train stops and dreams disappear, a tired hunched man walks slowly onto the platform.

SZLABAN (THE BARRIER, 1977, 6')
A falling barrier stops the traffic before the level crossing. People, whose routine activities have been interrupted, begin to muse, think back about the past and daydream. After the train departure the barrier goes up again and the traffic is resumed.

REFLEKSY (REFLECTIONS, 1979, 6')
After much effort an insect comes out of the cocoon. Suddenly it is attacked by another insect. Life-or-death fight ensues. The insects, in a deadly clinch, fall into a puddle. A man is approaching them. When he has walked away the trampled insects will be lying in a shoe track.

PARADA (THE PARADE, 1986, 14')
The term "harvest" evokes the time that has passed as well as reflections and memories. The sequence of events has been replaced in this film by the sequence of memories.

STROJENIE INSTRUMENTÓW (TUNING INSTRUMENTS, 2000, 16')
Contemplative cinema where existential reflection is more important than traditional action. On this occasion reflection concerns everything that is irreversibly gone, the past time.

FUGA NA WIOLONCZELĘ, TRĄBKĘ I PEJZAŻ (FUGUE FOR CELLO, TRUMPET AND LANDSCAPE, 2014, 18')
Jerzy Kucia is back after thirteen years of silence with this meditative story in the form of a poetic film based on a relationship between images and music. The film shows the process of evoking feelings and searching for landscape specificity by recounting events which have taken place in the scenery.

> Not recommended under 16 years old.