A Short Film About Women

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

Part of the Polish School of Animation project curated by Katarzyna Surmacz, this collection presents some of the most prominent, established and emerging Polish animation directors. Wiola Sowa, Anita Kwiatkowska Naqvi, Marta Pajek, Karolina Specht, Weronika Szyma and Paulina Ziółkowska are some of the names whose films have traveled internationally – including Tallinn. Now we have the chance to see their most exemplary work together in a single thread. Women animate films about women: puberty, sexual experiences, pregnancy and aging are some of the topics covered with sensitivity, powerful visual signature, and a direct (even if symbolic) approach to their subject matter. Our era is the one that still needs those things to be voiced as clearly as they can – but let's also enjoy their artistry in doing so.

Screenings

Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening122201 / Lühike film naistest
Screening duration
Trailer

Films

Estonian premiere

Refrains

Local title
Refräänid
Original title
Refreny
Director
Wiola Sowa
Country
Poland
Year
2007
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

It is a sophisticated story about female experiences in three generations of women. The letter, left by the grandmother to the granddaughter, begins series of memories, emotions, experiences, which are expressed in a poetical impression of images and sounds. Everything is interlaced alike experiences of characters.

Director
Wiola Sowa
Runtime

Estonian premiere

Ab Ovo

Local title
Ab ovo
Original title
Ab Ovo
Director
Anita Kwiatkowska Naqvi
Country
Poland
Year
2012
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

A film originating from the unique experience of femininity. The power of fertility becomes the source of both distressing and beautiful experience. A visually convincing perception of the surprising and uncontrollable transformations of a woman’s body.

Director
Anita Kwiatkowska Naqvi
Runtime

Estonian premiere

The Incredibly Elastic Man

Local title
Uskumatult paindlik mees
Original title
Nieprawdopodobnie elastyczny człowiek
Director
Karolina Specht
Country
Poland
Year
2013
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

The story of a man born without shape. Constant deformations and being crammed into other people’s molds make him feel rebellious. Can one live completely detached from others, from reality? Who and what decides who we ultimately are?

Director
Karolina Specht
Runtime

Estonian premiere

Pussy

Local title
Tuss
Original title
Cipka
Director
Renata Gąsiorowska
Country
Poland
Year
2016
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

A young girl spends the evening alone at home. She decides to have some sweet solo pleasure session, but not everything goes according to plan.

Director
Renata Gąsiorowska
Runtime

Estonian premiere

III

Local title
III
Original title
III
Director
Marta Pajek
Country
Poland
Year
2018
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

A Man and a Woman meet in a waiting room and immediately get closer to each other. They commence a game that gradually gets more and more ferocious.Their faces resemble masks while shapes slowly lose their integrity. Bodies are formed like clay, embracing each other until the limits of impossibility. III is a portrait of a woman in an exhausting relationship with a man, which allures and repulses at the same time. The film is the third part of the triptych Impossible Figures and other stories.

Director
Marta Pajek
Runtime

Estonian premiere

I'm Here

Local title
Olen siin
Original title
Jestem tutaj
Director
Julia Orlik
Country
Poland
Year
2020
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

An elderly man is looking after his paralyzed wife. Despite his old age and health problems he’s doing his best to relieve her suffering, which is getting worse day by day. His daughter helps him, trying to balance care with her work in the hospital and family life. Everyone has a different view on how to properly care for the sick, which often causes arguments.

Director
Julia Orlik
Runtime
Language
Polish
Subtitles
English

Estonian premiere

Lushfulness

Local title
Keha
Original title
Ciałość
Director
Weronika Szyma
Country
Poland
Year
2020
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

When a girl meets her mirror reflection, unexpectedly her fears and insecurities about her body turn into a passionate and free self-exploration. Her fantasies come to life. But there’s also a darker side of this game. Is it possible to become united with your own self?

Director
Weronika Szyma
Runtime
Trailer

Estonian premiere

3 geNARRATIONS

Local title
3 põlve
Original title
3 geNARRACJE
Director
Paulina Ziółkowska
Country
Poland
Year
2021
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Panorama

A child is born. A daughter becomes a mother. The mother becomes a grandmother. The grand-mother .... she just wants to die. A generation change. The family members have to try walking in someone else’s shoes, assume new roles. But is it really so? Is it just a step to take or an invitation to a strange dance of generations? One step forward, two steps back so as not to turn into your own mother.

Director
Paulina Ziółkowska
Runtime