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The Polish Netflix hit Colors of Evil: Red features a robust ensemble cast. The leads of the movie are Jakub Gierszal, Maja Ostaszewska, Zofia Jastrzbska. Some of the most prominent English-language projects featuring the cast are Schindler's List, The Pianist, and Dracula Untold.

Colors of Evil: Red features a Polish cast that includes up-and-comers as well as faces that may be familiar from some English-language projects. The crime thriller movie, which is a hit on Netflix, was directed by Werewolf's Adrian Panek from a screenplay that Panek co-wrote with The Getaway King's ukasz M. Maciejewski. While it bears elements reminiscent of true crime, it is based on the fictional 2019 novel of the same name (originally published in Polish as Kolory Za: Czerwie) by Magorzata Oliwia Sobczak.

The novels seem to be inspired by the Three Colours trilogy, movies from the mid-1990s made by director Krzysztof Kielowski. The trio,...

Polish Days is the industry event for the Wroclaw-based New Horizons International Film Festival (August 12-22).

Anna Jadowska’s Woman On The Roof was the winner of the third annual Screen International Best Pitch Award presented at this year’s Polish Days, the industry event for the Wroclaw-based New Horizons International Film Festival (August 12-22).

The €1.4m production, by Warsaw-based Donten & Lacroix Films with Paris-based Blick Productions and Sweden’s Garagefilm, is Jadowska’s latest feature film after Touch Me (2003), It’s Me (2005) and Wild Roses (2017).

She directed the Netflix series Ultraviolet 2.0. The Bear and a segment of its mini-series Erotica 2022,...

Polish director Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi” was the biggest surprise of this year’s Oscar nominees in the Best International Feature Film category, slipping into the final five over a number of better-known films with its nuanced and electric portrait of a young ex-con masquerading as a priest at a rural church.

And now, a little more than five months after “Corpus Christi” lost to “Parasite” and debuted in theaters, Komasa is back with “The Hater.” Like the Oscar-nominated film, “The Hater” is about a feral, charismatic young man engaged in elaborate deceptions – but in this case, it’s set in a more modern and urban world of dance clubs and social media, where it’s harder for the film to have the same kind of impact as “Corpus Christi.”

The film was an early casualty of the coronavirus: Its early-March theatrical release in Poland ended prematurely because of the pandemic,...

Reteaming provocative Polish director Jan Komasa with screenwriter Mateusz Pacewicz, “The Hater” hits Netflix mere months after the duo’s acclaimed impostor-priest drama “Corpus Christi” was nominated for the Oscars’ newly rechristened international feature award. Timing wise, that’s a savvy acquisition of a youth-targeted thriller that deals with such topics as ethics, elections and online obsession, further boosted by the movie’s recent win at the Tribeca Film Festival — the event may have been canceled by the coronavirus, but the jury still voted, picking “The Hater” as the best of its international competition.

Such bona fides may inspire the streams for this . But Netflix has oddly omitted one key detail: “The Hater” is a sequel to Komasa’s 2011 button-pusher “Suicide Room.”

In that film, a game of truth or dare inspires a popular high school kid to kiss another guy, an act that’s caught on camera and shared online,...

Netflix has taken world rights to Polish director Jan Komasa’s The Hater, which won Best International Narrative Feature at this year’s digital Tribeca Film Festival.

Komasa is the director of the 2020 Oscar-nominated Polish feature Corpus Christi. His previous projects include Suicide Room, Warsaw Uprising and Warsaw 44.

His latest feature, written by Mateusz Pacewicz, follows a disgraced law student who desperately tries to get the attention of childhood friend and the respect of her progressive family. Taking a job at a high-profile but amoral PR company to impress her, he soon finds that he excels at the dirty political games that he is asked to orchestrate on social media, but there’s a human price to his meddling.

Netflix will release online in July, aside from Poland where it will hold until March 2021 due to the required theatrical window following its local cinema release via distributor Kino Swiat.

Though Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi” was a dark horse in the best international feature film category at this year’s Academy Awards, it should have come as no surprise to see a Polish director walking the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9. “Corpus Christi” was the country’s third Oscar nomination in the past six years for what was formerly known as the foreign-language film, joining Paweł Pawlikowski’s 2019 nominee “Cold War” and Pawlikowski’s 2015 winner “Ida.”

If these are heady times for the Polish film industry, however, the international kudos only tell part of the story. Poland continued its torrid stretch at the box office in 2019, as Europe’s sixth-largest theatrical market broke records for the sixth year running, with total box office and admissions hitting all-time highs.

More tellingly, Polish films held their own against Hollywood mega-franchises, with four local productions appearing with the likes...

Poland’s Oscar® 2019 Entry for Best International Feature ‘Corpus Christi’The third feature of the fast-rising young Polish director Jan Komasa was shot in Poland, known as the Bible Belt of Europe. It shines a different light on the subject of religion and spirituality. Shot in the “Bible Belt of the Bible Belt”, the small conservative Catholic villages were set against allowing this film to shoot and the edict against it spread from town to town. But, it is a national hit and the Church has changed its stance.

Jan Komasa studied directing at the Łodź Film School. His short film Nice to See You world-premiered in Cannes Cinefondation competition, where it got the 3rd prize. His feature film debut, Suicide Room, premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale and attracted over 800.000 viewers in Polish cinemas. His second film, a war blockbuster Warsaw ’44, sold over 1.8 mln. tickets. Corpus Christi is his third feature film.

Komasa’s previous films include Suicide Room and Venice Days title Corpus Christi.

Fast-rising young Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa is planning a Rosemary’s Baby-style horror as his next film.

The new English-language project, Sara, is a psychological horror film set in Berlin. The script is completed. The film follows an American couple who fly into Berlin to work on a new startup tech company. The woman is pregnant but has a miscarriage. She can’t accept the loss of the baby and convinces herself the baby was kidnapped. This leads her into the city’s criminal underworld.

“We are now reaching out to actresses.

Religious drama had its world premiere at the Venice Days section this year.

Vertigo Releasing has secured UK and Ireland rights to Jan Komasa’s religious drama Corpus Christi from New Europe Film Sales.

The film, which follows a former young offender who finds redemption through religion, will be released in the UK and Ireland on October 18, a week after opening on October 11 in its native Poland.

Corpus Christi received its world premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival in the Venice Days section, where it won the Edipo Re award and the Europa Cinemas Label award.

It has...

Poland has selected Jan Komasa's gripping religious drama Corpus Christi as its submission for the best international feature film award at the 2020 Oscars.

Like Komasa's previous films (Suicide Room, Warsaw 1944), Corpus Christi does not shy away from controversy.

Pivoting around a plot inspired by a true story, where a young offender poses as a priest after his release from prison, it questions the nature of religious belief and authority and what it is to be a man.

Although some Western audiences may find it a bit heavy-going at times, The Hollywood Reporter's reviewer David Rooney writes that the ...

Poland has selected Jan Komasa's gripping religious drama Corpus Christi as its submission for the best international feature film award at the 2020 Oscars.

Like Komasa's previous films (Suicide Room, Warsaw 1944), Corpus Christi does not shy away from controversy.

Pivoting around a plot inspired by a true story, where a young offender poses as a priest after his release from prison, it questions the nature of religious belief and authority and what it is to be a man.

Although some Western audiences may find it a bit heavy-going at times, The Hollywood Reporter's reviewer David Rooney writes that the ...

Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi,” which screened this week at the Toronto Film Festival, has been selected by Poland to be its official entry in the Best International Feature Film category of the Academy Awards.

The film, which world premiered as part of Venice Days earlier this month, follows 20-year-old Daniel, who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a youth detention center. He wants to become a priest, but this is impossible because of his criminal record.

When he is sent to work at a carpenter’s workshop in a small town, on arrival he dresses up as a priest and accidentally takes over the parish. The arrival of the young, charismatic “preacher” is an opportunity for the community to begin the healing process after a tragedy that happened there.

The film is produced by Leszek Bodzak and Aneta Hickinbotham for Aurum Film. The co-producers are Canal Plus Polska,...

New Europe Film Sales has signed territory deals with a host of distributors on Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi,” which is a possible contender in the International Feature Film Oscar contest.

The Polish film world premiered Monday in Venice Days, an independent section running in parallel with the Venice Film Festival, and makes its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.

New Europe, a boutique agency led by Jan Naszewski, has sealed distribution pacts on the film for France (Bodega), Australia/New Zealand (Palace), Lithuania (Kino Pavasaris) and Norway (Aurora). In Poland, the film will be released by Kino Swiat, which will launch it on 170 prints in October. New Europe will release the pic in the U.K., the second time the company has distributed a film itself.

The movie follows 20-year-old Daniel, who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a youth detention center. He wants to become...

When a young man with a troubled past arrives in a small-town Polish parish, he pulls off an unlikely feat, convincing the villagers that he’s a visiting priest. But not long after he’s welcomed by the community, he learns of a tragic accident whose repercussions have divided the town. Pursued by a dark secret from his own past, he urges the townspeople to search for the forgiveness that can make their community whole again, even as his own future becomes clouded with uncertainty.

Inspired by real-life events, “Corpus Christi” is the third feature film from Polish director Jan Komasa. His short film “Nice to See You” world premiered in the Cannes Cinefondation competition, where it won the third prize. Komasa’s feature debut, “Suicide Room,” premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlin Intl. Film Festival, while his sophomore effort, the World War II epic “Warsaw ’44,” was one...

Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer for Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi,” which has its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and makes its North American premiere at Toronto. New Europe Film Sales is handling world rights.

The film follows 20-year-old Daniel, who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a youth detention center. He wants to become a priest but this is impossible because of his criminal record. When he is sent to work at a carpenter’s workshop in a small town, on arrival he dresses up as a priest and accidentally takes over the local parish. The arrival of the young, charismatic preacher is an opportunity for the local community to begin the healing process after a tragedy that happened there.

Komasa says the film is “about the mystery of spiritual experiences, both in the sacred and the profane […] Although the main character feels a calling,...

“Charlatan”

Director: Agnieszka Holland

Producers: Marlene Film Production, Film & Music Entertainment, Madants

Logline: Inspired by the real-life figure of Jan Mikolášek, Holland’s latest follows an herbalist who devotes his life to care for the sick, despite the challenges.

Sales: Films Boutique

“The Coldest Game”

Director: Lukasz Kosmicki

Producer: Watchout Studio, K5 Intl.

Logline: Bill Pullman stars in this spy thriller, set against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis, as an American chess master whisked off to Warsaw to square off against a Russian champion.

Sales: Hyde Park Entertainment

“Corpus Christi”

Director: Jan Komasa

Producers: Aurum Film, Les Contes Modernes

Logline: Inspired by real events, the third feature from Komasa (Berlin player “Suicide Room”) follows a teenage delinquent who dreams of becoming a priest, only to find himself mistakenly taking over a village parish and transforming the local community.

Sales: New Europe Film Sales

“Fools”

Director: Tomasz Wasilewski

Producers: Extreme Emotions,...

Retrospective to include films from Danis Tanovic, Cristi Puiu, Mira Fornay and more.

A total of 50 films are to make up the retrospective Eastern Promises: Autobiography of Eastern Europe at the 62nd San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 19-27).

The line-up includes movies produced since 2000 in the countries that lived under Soviet influence after the Second World War and include some that were never released theatrically in Spain.

Several directors of films in the retrospective will attend the festival to present their works including Sarunas Bartas (Lithuania), Kristina Buožytė (Lithuania), Marian Crisan (Romania), Mira Fornay (Slovakia), Bohdan Sláma (Czech Republic), Malgorzata Szumowska (Poland) and Anna Viduleja (Latvia).

A book will be published to accompany the retrospective with contributions from journalists and critics across Europe.

The titles are:

Kruh In Mleko / Bread And Milk

Jan Cvitkovic (Slovenia) 2001

A modern classic of Slovenian cinema, the tale of a man who went out for bread and milk and lost himself to alcohol...

For info about tonight's films, read Part One of Chale's preview.

This weekend the Austin Polish Film Festival continues with a variety of events, starting Saturday with a selection of children's films (1-3 pm). Then a workshop led by Austin artist Mig Kokinda will celebrate world-famous Polish poster designs, followed by a return screening of Marcin Latałło's illuminating documentary The Other Side of the Poster (2010).

Saturday evening showcases three gems of contemporary Polish cinema. Jan Komasa's 2010 movie Suicide Room (Sala samobójców) is a brilliant, harrowing portrait of a teenager who descends into a dark world. Dominik seems happy enough in high school, but a suggestion that he may be gay leads to merciless cyber-bullying and the boy's withdrawal from society. His parents, wealthy, well connected, and both engaged in extramarital affairs, seem oblivious to the boy's growing depression.

Finding a website called The Suicide Room, Dominik becomes immersed in...

Wolfe Releasing will distributed Jan Komasa's Suicide Room (Sala samobójców) techno thriller in the U.S. The film screened at Berlin's Panorama section. Variety reports that Suicide Room has grossed $4.6 million at the Polish box office. The story follows a high-achieving teen who retreats into a sinister online world after faced with humiliation at his school. Jan Komasa directed and wrote the film which was produced by Jerzy Kapuscinski and Wojciech Kabarowski for Film Studio Kadr. Jakub Gierzal, Roma Gasiorowska, Agata Kulesza, Krzysztof Pieczynski and Bartosz Gelner star in Suicide Room.

Wolfe Releasing will distributed Jan Komasa's Suicide Room (Sala samobójców) techno thriller in the U.S. The film screened at Berlin's Panorama section. Variety reports that Suicide Room has grossed $4.6 million at the Polish box office. The story follows a high-achieving teen who retreats into a sinister online world after faced with humiliation at his school. Jan Komasa directed and wrote the film which was produced by Jerzy Kapuscinski and Wojciech Kabarowski for Film Studio Kadr. Jakub Gierzal, Roma Gasiorowska, Agata Kulesza, Krzysztof Pieczynski and Bartosz Gelner star in Suicide Room.

Wolfe Releasing will distributed Jan Komasa's Suicide Room (Sala samobójców) techno thriller in the U.S. The film screened at Berlin's Panorama section. Variety reports that Suicide Room has grossed $4.6 million at the Polish box office. The story follows a high-achieving teen who retreats into a sinister online world after faced with humiliation at his school. Jan Komasa directed and wrote the film which was produced by Jerzy Kapuscinski and Wojciech Kabarowski for Film Studio Kadr. Jakub Gierzal, Roma Gasiorowska, Agata Kulesza, Krzysztof Pieczynski and Bartosz Gelner star in Suicide Room.