Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz wrote:
"Everything that happens in Poland reflects itself in Zakopane".
For more than one hundred years
Zakopane plays a major role in polish culture. Its probably because
of Zakopane uniqness that Art Films Review appeared there in 1968.
Grzegorz Dubowski and Władysław Hasior were its initiators. First
Review was held in march 1968. It accompanied the 2
nd
February Salon 68 (dedicated to graphics nationwide) and 3rd
March Salon 68 where nine of the most prominent polish painters, from
Brzozowski, Nowosielski, Gierowski, Stajuda, to Bereźnicki, Bucki,
Hałas and Waloch were exhibited. This was an art film works
exposition as much as a spark of new inspiration among the community.
Zakopane Reviews gathered artists, critiques, art historians,
journalists, notable painters, sculpturers, graphic artists and
gallery and museum courators. It was also a place of heated
discoussions. The fate of the Review, however, was much convoluted.
At first it was held annualy for groups of genre enthusiasts. From
1976 it was held once every two years. Even proclaming martial law
have not prevented the XII Art Films Review in 1982. The final
edition was held in 1988. This was the end of certain age in history
of our culture.
"For years
the Review was distinctly present on cultural map of Poland, with
large groups of friends and supporters. This was a true arena of
notable artistic events, provocations and scandals. It was created
when most of events like this were scrapped due to liquidation trend.
The main reason was, of course, lack of money..."
This is an excerpt of "In search
of lost formula" article by Jarzy Armata from november issue of
"Journal of Polish Authors Association in Cracov",
published due to Zakopane Artistic Presentation in 1991. This was a
one-time attempt to reactivate the Review, again with Grzegorz
Dubowski's participation. Andrzej Dziuk with his Witkacy Theater
Troupe took the management. The catchphrase of the event was "The
end of the century". Władysław Hasior has founded the main
prize as one of his banners. For the period of six days the audience
watched more than fifty films participating in contest and viewed on
retrospective showings. The showings were supported by theatrical
performances, painting exhibitions and neverending disputes over "End
of century" art. Unfortunately, this was it for the Art Film
Review. For four years nothing happened. And when the event was
basicaly buried, the Review has risen like a phoenix – as was put
by one of the Zakopane journalists. It was TV Polonia which restored
the idea of fillm review in 1995-1996. For two months, two times a
week, TV Polonia broadcasted around thirty current films and those
known from earlier Reviews. Thanks to TV broadcasts and audience
votes for the winner, the Review stopped being a closed event and
became public. The finals were held in Zakopane, in accordance with
tradition. Public shows were located in Władysław Hasior's Gallery
and in Giewont cinema. While TV Polonia transmitted broad reports
over events, it also showed Grand Prix award ceremony. Art films are
still created, but are mostly unnoticed since they are only shown on
educational programs and somewhat niche TVP Kultura. Film about art
is an rather difficult genre. Profesor Jacoby points out that it
should:
"connect presented artist's
creation with director and cameraman's invention
"
It can be surely said that Review
positively influences films and TV programs. It fought stereotypes
and proposed new perspectives. This is why Art Films Review should be
resored and continued. For creators, critics, art historians,
journalists nad most important – main characters of films to
return every year under Giewont. Zakopane shouldn't only be a place,
a scenography for Art Films Review. It should actively participate,
enriching it with exhibitions, concerts and discusions. After twenty
years of pause, in 2016, Zakopane Cultural Center revived the
legendary Art Film Review.
Right under Giewont, for the span of
three days, the audience saw films about Zakopane artists like
Władysław Hasior, Tadeusz Brzozowski, Antoni Kenar and Grzegorz
Pecuch. Lech Majewski, as a special guest of the event, showed his
film "Młyn i krzyż" and anwered questions on meeting
casted by Jerzy Armata. This film itself was very unique, thanks to
its innovatory techniques. He worked on it for three years and said
that:
"This work might be compared to
tailoring enormous, digital tapestry made of multilayer perspectives,
weather conditions and people
".
Young enthusiast of tenth muse could
grasp the secrets of camera operation at film workshops. This went
under the watchful eyes of film operators and Art Film School
lecturers, Zbigniew Wichłacz and Józef Romasz. The event was ended
with film music concert by Krzesimir Dębski. The last year special
edition of Art Films Review in Zakopane was dedicated to Andrzej
Wajda (in memoriam) and polish animation which was celebrating its
seventy years anniversary. The event was inaugurated by viewing
"Powidoki", the last movie of late Andrzej Wajda. Polish
animation was represented by Mariusz Wilczyński, Daniel Szczechura
and Witold Giersz. At the end the special showing 70 YEARS OF POLISH
ANIMATION – TOP 10 by JERZY ARMATA took place. On the last day
there was Andrzej Wajda works presentation with title LESSER KNOWN
WAJDA. Everyone who expected more feature films from Wajda might feel
a little disapointed. It seems that the director also produced films
about art itself. Every film viewing was preceded by preface by
excellent movie critic, Jerzy Armata. According to tradition, the
organizators announced next edition for spring 2018 with return of
contest formula. The jury will choose the best film and the audience
will familiarise themselves with new productions of the genre. As
Witkacy once said:
"Zakopane will last..."
so the Art Films Review shall last and
let it be this way!
Dobra
Legenda
