The Silver Lions went to Jan P. Matuszyński’s Leave No Traces, Poland’s contender for an Oscar in the foreign-language film category, and the people’s choice award was claimed by Bartosz Blaschke's Sonata.
A lifetime achievement award, the Platinum Lions, was presented to Agnieszka Holland, a multiple Oscar nominee and a member of the European Film Academy.
Director Agnieszka Holland poses with her Platinum Lions statuette at the awards ceremony in Gdynia on Saturday night. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
A total of 46 films had been submitted to this year's festival, including 16 productions competing for the Golden Lions, among them Jakub Piątek's Prime Time and Kinga Dębska's Soup Out of Nothing (Zupa Nic).
The top award winner, Fears (Wszystkie nasze strachy), is based on real-life events. It tells the story of a gay artist raised in the countryside who is an active member of the Roman Catholic Church and who embarks on a fight against homophobia.
The cast includes Dawid Ogrodnik in the lead role, alongside other noted Polish actors, including Andrzej Chyra, Jacek Poniedziałek and Jowita Budnik.
The drama is inspired by the life of artist Daniel Rycharski.
Most of the films screened at the festival were by young up-and-coming filmmakers, a promising sign for the future of the Polish film industry, organisers said.
Agnieszka Bielawska has this report.
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