The Opening Gala of the 24th BellaTOFIFEST International Film Festival has come to a close. That evening, we honoured outstanding figures of Polish cinema: Agata Kulesza, Dorota Stalińska, Agata Turkot, Magdalena Czerwińska, and Tomasz Schuchardt.
The gathered guests were welcomed by the Festival Director, Kafka Jaworska, and Producer Dorota Płoska-Grzybowska.
We meet on a day that crowns our year-round work – not only ours, of course, but that of the entire team. There have been countless creative conversations, easier and more difficult moments, but we are very happy to have reached this point and to be able to welcome all of you here. The turnout is wonderful! – Kafka Jaworska
We are very happy that, once again, we were able to work hard so that you could be here with us at BellaTOFIFEST. All the more so because this year we are celebrating a small anniversary of our own: this is our tenth festival together. – Dorota Płoska-Grzybowska
The Pola Negri Honorary Film Award of Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship was presented to the outstanding Polish actress Magdalena Czerwińska. The award was presented by Zbigniew Ostrowski, Deputy Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Pola Negri and I definitely do not share a Hollywood career. But as I read more about her life, I noticed certain traits of character that we share. Apparently, she valued punctuality, demanded a great deal of herself, and could not stand lateness, mediocrity, sloppiness or a lack of professionalism on a film set. And now, on a more personal note: exactly here, 35 years ago, I used to come for PE lessons. I remember my teacher cheering me on and shouting: ‘Run, run!’ And I feel that, in a way, I am still running. Sometimes I stumble, sometimes I fall, but I get up and keep running. Today, I am very grateful that, thanks to this award, I have been seen by you. That I can stand here and say how important it is for every person to feel seen. – Magdalena Czerwińska
Agata Turkot was honoured with The Bella Woman Golden Angel for a European Actress. The statuette was presented by Katarzyna Czachowska, a representative of the Management Board of TZMO SA.
I would like to thank every person who accompanied me on what was probably the greatest journey of my life: “Home Sweet Home”. It is thanks to you that this experience was so wonderful, despite all the difficulty it involved. Magdalena Czerwińska spoke about seeing another person. I hope that, since today you see me and my face, our film can also be seen anew because of that. I hope that the subject we speak about – domestic violence – can once again come to the forefront. That we will see another person, that we will not turn away from them, that we will not pretend not to see their suffering. That we will simply feel for one another. – Agata Turkot
Dorota Stalińska received The Golden Angel for a Lady of Polish Cinema, greeted with long applause from the audience. The award was presented by Katarzyna Suwała, Vice-President of the Management Board of PGE Energia Ciepła.
I am deeply moved. This is an extraordinary moment also because this year marks the 50th anniversary of my artistic work. It has made me realise just how much has happened over all these years. This is the 24th edition of your festival, so in 26 years’ time you will be celebrating its 50th edition. I hope I will be invited, because in 26 years I will only just be turning 100! I think the driving force in my life has always been positive thinking and positive action. In every person’s life there are moments like this one – extraordinary and moving. But there are also difficult, painful moments. And perhaps life is all about throwing those bad moments, which happen to everyone – and which we, as filmmakers, often speak about in films – out of our hearts and minds as quickly as possible. So that what we keep within us, above all, are the good, important and beautiful moments. – Dorota Stalińska
Tomasz Schuchardt and Agata Kulesza received the Golden Angels for Artistic Insolence. The actor received his award from Kafka Jaworska and Dorota Płoska-Grzybowska, while the statuette for Agata Kulesza was presented by Paweł Gulewski, Mayor of Toruń.
The Golden Angel – it is quite a subversive distinction, because history, or perhaps mythology, does know of an angel who was rebellious. His name was ‘the devil’. To be honest, that seems a little more fitting for the rotten side of my character. So, I will allow myself to rechristen this angel as a devil – in that form, he will feel a little closer to me. And so that you do not worry that you gave me the Angel and I did not accept it as it is, let me just say that I have had my own angel for almost 19 years. She is my wife. I love her very much. Thank you all – for this award, for all the adventures so far, and I hope there will be more to come very soon. – Tomasz Schuchardt.
Thank you very much for this distinction. I have been thinking about it and came to the conclusion that perhaps it is an award for consistency. For knowing very well what I like and what I do not, and for trying to remain honest with myself. I believe acting requires great courage – looking into places that are comfortable and uncomfortable alike, because later you have to be able to use them in your work on a role. I am not afraid of myself, and I am very glad of that. I also remembered the words of Dorota Stalińska, who once, after “Rose” at the festival in Gdynia, said to me: ‘Agata, remember, you have to make sure it is not just five minutes.’ Dorota, I listened to you. I would also like to thank my professor, Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak, who is no longer with us, and who showed me how to practise this profession on one’s own terms – how to be an artist of insolence, while remaining deeply honest with oneself. – Agata Kulesza
The Opening Gala concluded with a performance by Emilio Piano and his band, creating a musical finale to the evening that was met with great appreciation from the audience.
