A major UK-wide film tour celebrating legendary Polish director Andrzej Wajda is set to bring his most iconic works to audiences far beyond London. The Polish Cultural Institute in London, supported by the Polish Film Institute, DI Factory and WFDiF – Documentary and Feature Film Studio is launching Kinoteka on Tour, a nationwide programme of screenings running from March to August, marking the 100th anniversary of Wajda’s birth.
The season builds on a landmark retrospective at BFI Southbank, ICA and Cine Lumière, now expanding across the UK to reach new audiences.
Wajda, one of Europe’s most influential filmmakers, is known for powerful films exploring history, identity and political change, including Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Iron, Man of Marble and Wałęsa: Man of Hope.
Screenings will take place in: Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Lancaster, Oxford, Stoke-on-Trent, Sheffield, Bristol, Leicester, Chester, Leeds, Derby and Chichester, with more cities to be announced. Films in the programme include: Ashes and Diamonds, Innocent Sorcerers, Man of Marble, Man of Iron, The Maids of Wilko, Katyn and Afterimage.
Anna Tryc-Bromley, Director of the Polish Cultural Institute in London, said: “Kinoteka on Tour creates opportunities to engage with one of the most important European film directors as Wajda, who’s films speak not only about Poland’s history, but ask universal questions of freedom, political and social change, identity. This outreach program is very important for us, bringing the narratives about Solidarity movement and Polish history not only to major cities.”
Maggi Hurt, Curator of Kinoteka on Tour, said: “It’s been great to see such a positive response from independent cinemas across the UK to this opportunity to focus on Andrzej Wajda’s work in their programmes in this, his centenary year. As a result, a new generation of cinema goers outside the capital has opportunity to appreciate his films on the big screen. He was known for valuing audiences and understanding the role of cinema in engaging with society and debate: his works remain relevant across borders today.”
Kinoteka on Tour Webpage: https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme/strands/kinoteka-on-tour
Webpage Polish Cultural Institute in London: https://instytutpolski.pl/london/
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