The National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute invites you to a new cycle

'Without a Mask. A Season That Wasn't' - this is a series of screenings of Polish films from recent years, whose premieres took place during the pandemic.

FINA wants to remind them because they are significant, artistically interesting, and bold, and the pandemic meant they reached a significantly smaller audience. Due to the pandemic, many of them also did not have real premieres. Therefore, FINA invites not only to screenings but also to meetings with the people who created these films – directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, producers, and actors. All those who fought for the quality of cinematic expression and to bring the film to fruition. They are the heroes of this cycle.

Screenings will take place every Tuesday at 6:00 PM, from October 8 to December 10, 2024, at FINA's headquarters at Wałbrzyska 3/5.

After each screening, there will be meetings with the creators, led by Dr. Kaja Klimek and Igor Kierkosz.

The cycle will begin on October 8 with a screening of the film 'Suicide Room. Hejter' directed by Jan Komasa, based on a screenplay by Mateusz Pacewicz. Its premiere took place on March 6, 2020.

A week later, due to the outbreak of the pandemic, all cultural institutions were closed. As Jan Komasa claims, this prevented the film from having a normal dialogue with the audience. After the screening, Jan Komasa, Jerzy Kapuściński, and Vanessa Aleksander will meet with the audience.

The cycle will conclude on December 10 with a screening of the film 'Prime Time.' The film by Jakub Piątek (screenplay and direction) and Łukasz Czapski (screenplay), featuring a striking role by Bartosz Bieleni, entered theaters a year later and was affected by the second wave of COVID.

In the cycle 'Without a Mask. A Season That Wasn't,' viewers will also see 'Hyacinth' by Piotr Domalewski with Tomasz Ziętek and Tomasz Schuchardt, about a police operation hunting homosexuals, as well as 'To Leave No Traces' by Jan P. Matuszyński, inspired by the famous book by Cezary Łazarewicz about the murder of Grzegorz Przemyk, featuring another important role by Tomasz Ziętek.

The film 'Najmro. Loves, Steals, Respects' by Mateusz Rakowicz also returns to the PRL, a comedy inspired by the colorful life of Zdzisław Najmrodzki, with Dawid Ogrodnik, Robert Więckiewicz, and Jakub Gierszał.

'Return to Those Days' by Konrad Aksinowicz is a family portrait from the nineties, featuring Weronika Książkiewicz and Maciej Stuhr as the father-alcoholic.

The cycle will also remind viewers of films dealing with the present day: 'Sweat' by Magnus von Horn with Magdalena Koleśnik and Aleksandra Konieczna, 'Other People' by Aleksandra Terpińska with Jacek Beler and Sonia Bohosiewicz, 'My Wonderful Life' with Agata Buzek and Jacek Braciak. And above all, '25 Years of Innocence' by Jan Holoubek about the case of Tomasz Komenda, featuring a notable role by Piotr Trojan and Agata Kulesza as his mother.

📍FINA, Wałbrzyska 3/5, Warsaw (Służew metro)

🎫Free admission, reservation of seats is required through forms available on our website: https://bit.ly/Bez_maseczki

📧Media accreditation: magdalena.mich@fina.gov.pl

👥The meetings within the cycle will be alternately led by Kaja Klimek and Igor Kierkosz.

👤Kaja Klimek – educator, translator, and film and pop culture critic. She constantly discusses films and series – with viewers whenever the opportunity arises, with creators at festivals, with other critics in the media, with students at the University of Warsaw and SWPS, and most importantly: with kids and youth as part of film education programs. She hosts the program 'Seriaale' on TVN Fabuła and 'Film Workshop' on Red Carpet TV. Every Friday on Dzień Dobry TVN, she talks about films. Online, she operates as Kajutex (YT, FB, IG, TT – as https://kajutex.pl).

👤Igor Kierkosz – literary and film critic. He publishes, among others, in 'Kino,' 'Wizje,' and 'Dwutygodnik.' Winner of the Krzysztof Mętrak Competition (2022) and the Tymoteusz Karpowicz Competition (2021). On Facebook, he sends Conflicting Signals.