Marcin Markiewicz, selector of the ETIUDA contest, says „what’s up with the students” in this year’s student-made film competition.
 

Still from the film "Kinky", dir.: Tadeusz Chudy

I must admit, there was a time, when I were speaking negatively of the student-made movies. Obviously, I have not seen to omany of them. Now this changed and I know that the best ones – the ones presented in the Etiuda contest – can be very satisfying. For example, Plica Polonica, movie that uses the history for building a narration for contemporary issues. Or Days of the War, where the author looks into the past to express his concern about contemporary conflicts.

The first one is example of documentary cinema, very widely represented this year. This is reflected in the form – cold and minimalistic Eventide, next to hybrid Place to Be, and the content – everyday life in the little village at the Arctic Circle in Without Sun next to music of the ants in Symbiophony. More outstanding pieces – Attak, the story of street fighters using match-making app similar to Tinder, mining archival resources from beginning of digital era Digital Immigrants and an unusual image of motherhood in Regretting Motherhood.

The second one shows that for students intimate situations, clever shortcut, nice metaphor or well-chosen form of film are much more interesting than sensationalism, straightforwardness and moralising and gives an opportunity to tell a story in a strong and inspiring way. That is why they talk about migration crisis in new-wave style (Fedra) or with a harsh sense of humour (Staying with Friends), about depression through the absurd (A Gentle Noise Between the Lines), about social agression in toned-down words (Greetings from Kropsdam), about society issues as in a wacky comedy (The Test), about Hamlet surrounded by garbage (Ham). Only a conflict between son and his mother were placed traditionally in a horror standard (Ma?).

Short movies prove, that students are ambitious (ambition suit students like a cigarette), courageous and have a fresh look at things. From short movies you can also learn whether is it worthwile to get yourself circumcised, what colour of the lipstick works best for Russian man, what leg should you start with when you put on an latex suit and why is it a good idea to sleep on the sunbed when the world falls apart.

What more can you wish for?

Marcin Markiewicz (selector)

tłumaczenie: Angelika Harat

1^st Screening of ETIUDA Competition
22nd November (Wednesday), 04.30 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts – Small Screening Room

2^nd Screening of ETIUDA Competition
22nd November (Wednesday), 08.30 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts –Small Screening Room

3^rd Screening of ETIUDA Competition
23rd November (Thursday), 05.30 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts – Small Screening Room

4^th Screening of ETIUDA Competition
23rd November (Thursday), 09.00 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts – Small Screening Room

5^th Screening of ETIUDA Competition
24th November (Friday), 05.00 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts – Small Screening Room

6^th Screening of ETIUDA Competition
24th November (Friday), 08.15 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts –Small Screening Room

7^th Screening of ETIUDA Competition
25th November (Saturday), 06.00 pm.
Malopolska Garden of Arts – Small Screening Room