Chacinski spoke to reporter Nick Hodge on the revival in Polish cinema, a radical shake-up in the competition itself and the decision to award a Lifetime Achievement gong to Roman Polanski.
NH - There has been a lot of talk in Polish film circles over the last two years of a revival in Polish cinema. Do you feel that this is reflected in the 12 films in this year's main competition?
Michal Chacinski - I think it is. The films in the Main Competition were not selected according to any other criterion than their artistic merit. And yet, as it turned out, each of the 12 films is completely different than the rest. Polish cinema as seen in this dozen does not have one specific voice, does not consider one subject, and does not communicate with the viewer in a unified language. You will find radical formal experiments, classic storytelling, metaphysical subjects, costume dramas, as well as films on current events. There used to be a problem of Polish cinema in the past that suddenly film-makers were influenced by a specific idiom or a specific topic. It seems that in recent years we are becoming more diverse. I think that is good.
What do you think the main reasons are for this revival? Is it only because their is more funding than there was between 1990-2005 (several of the directors in the main competition are old hands) or do you feel that there are a lot of new talents coming to the fore?
Funding is the first step, of course. You have no cinema if you have no production mechanisms, and they need money. But when the money seizes to be a problem (relatively, of course - there is never enough money for everyone), another step is the question of whether there are enough interesting projects to finance. I think this is the step we need to take now. After we have reached the level of 45-50 films produced annually, let's make sure the screenplays are as good as possible, before we start shooting.
As to new talent - it seems we have a new generation coming in. This year's Main Competition includes 12 titles, out of which 5 are first films. The Panorama offers another 9 titles, including 5 first films. If nearly half of the best Polish films of the year are first films you have the best sign possible - you have a new generation of film-makers with good enough projects. Let's hope this is not a one-off year but the beginning of a longer trend.
Have their been any objections from within the industry to the fact that only 12 films were chosen for this year's Main Competition?
Yes. A move like that must stir some controversy and cause discussions. Traditionally, the festival in Gdynia was a review of our annual production and almost all of the newly produced films were shown, most of them in the Main Competition. Back then we simply did not have enough films for an honest selection. The situation is quite the opposite now - we have too many films to show all of them during a five-day festival. I think this changes the function of the festival. It should become a window onto the best Polish films of the year. This year we will present over 25 new Polish feature films and 30 short works produced since last year. It is a lot - more than anyone can see. I believe that on average, after my selection, the festival will simply offer higher quality films than it used to. I think the main discussion in the industry now is whether this is the right move.
Of course, there is an ongoing discussion whether 12 is too little. I had not assumed beforehand that it would be a dozen films. The only assumption was that the Main Competition is reserved for the films which I would consider good or very good, i.e. films whose authors were successful in achieving what they planned. The result turned out to be twelve films. Had Małgorzata Szumowska and Agnieszka Holland applied with their films, the number would be higher, but you can only play with the cards you are given.
It's quite a diverse selection this year, ranging from a film about an 18th century self-proclaimed Messiah to modern-day schoolkids sucked into cyber portals. Is there anything that unites the 12 directors chosen?
Strangely, I cannot see anything that would unite those films and I think it's great. The only element that could be in any way considered common is the fact that none of these titles will leave you cold. Some of them will shake you, some will baffle, some will entertain and I'm sure that some will irritate. You will want to discuss the topic, the method, the narrative, the approach. They all deserve discussion and, of course, I consider all of them successful in their own way.
The festival has chosen to award one of the Platinum Lions for Lifetime Achievement to Roman Polanski, though he announced late last week that he will be unable to attend. Does the Polish film industry feel that he has been loyal to Poland? Naturally, owing to the indictment affair, the decision has sparked some controversy.
Polanski was a member of the most important post-war generation of Polish film-makers. He directed only one Polish film back then (Knife in the Water, which remains one of the best Polish films ever), but he co-operated with many directors, screenwriters etc. during their work on their own films. He remains the best-known director from Poland next to Wajda and Kieslowski. His loyalty to Polish crew members is also well known. He has many life-long friends in Poland and the industry has always been very open and loyal to him. I do not think there is any controversy considering his artistic achievements. The controversy results from his private/public life, but that is not what the festival is in any way interested in. (pg)