Held from May 2-7 the Polish Film Festival celebrated its 13th year honoring the distinguished film director Andrezej Wajda and the Wajda School which he established with Wojciech Marczewski in 2002. Numerous productions from graduates of that school as well as the opening film of the festival Afterimage introduced by Marten Scorcese and Ashes and Diamonds by A.Wajda were important parts of the festival program.  Wajda , who passed away in October 201...

  After a five-year hiatus, veteran Polish film director Jerzy Skolimowski is back on the scene. At the age of 77, Skolimowski seems more energized than ever. His latest film, 11 Minutes, an Irish/Polish co-production, wowed audiences in September when it debuted at the 72nd Venice Film Festival and received a special commendation from the festival's Youth Jury. The film also enjoyed packed screenings and favorable buzz at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival, where it was fe...

 Wednesday, June 11-------Although they are both part of the European continent, Poland seems as far away from Portugal as one can imagine. I’ve now been to both places, and while it is a cliché and an exaggeration that Poland is always rather cloudy, gloomy and weighed down by its difficult history, the Polish sensibility (and humor) are decidedly dark. It is intriguing to have that sober mood contrast with the lightness and sparkle of Portugal in early June, but that is exactly the contras...