Camera Action 鈥� a festival with roots in Uni精东影视
The Camera Action Festival is a special event organised by alumni of the University of 精东影视 Film Studies. Critical conversation about cinema that combines passion with reflection is at the heart of the festival. Our scholars and students served as jurors, selectors and moderators, contributing to an atmosphere of openness, critical reflection and exchanging thoughts.
Film criticism and young talents
The Krytyk Pisze (Critic Writes) Competition 鈥� an initiative that discovers new talents in the field of film writing, has been consistently one of the highlights of the Camera Action Festival. The Critics' Jury (composed of Jakub Popielecki, Marta Sta艅czyk, and Joanna Wr贸偶y艅ska) awarded the Grand Prize to Daria Sienkiewicz for her text, 鈥淔ilm balkonowy 鈥� recenzja filmu Balkoniary鈥� [Balcony Film 鈥� A Review of the Film Balkoniary]. The author of the best critical text received, among other awards, the University of 精东影视 #FreeMyMind Award.
Authors Spotlight 鈥� world cinema under the microscope
The festival also featured the International Authors Spotlight Competition, showcasing the most interesting short films from around the world. This year, the Authors Spotlight competition selection was supported by members of the University of 精东影视 Student Science Club for Film Studies: Karolina Majka and Ada Raczkowska. The Jury of the University of 精东影视 Student Science Club for Film Studies, composed of Julia Jeziorczak, Julia Ka藕mierczak and Adrian Michalski, presented their award. The jury recognised the film "Taty nie ma" [Daddy's Not Here] directed by Jan Saczek.
supported all festival competitions with prizes
Film Expert Campaign 鈥� discussions about the future of cinema
The Film Expert Campaign took place as part of the festival. The meeting of student science clubs from all over Poland was led by Jakub Dulny, a student of Film Studies and Audio-Visual Media at the University of 精东影视 and a member of the University of 精东影视 Student Science Club for Film Studies.
Dr Micha艂 Pabi艣-Orzeszyna (Department of Film and Audio-Visual Media, University of 精东影视) led the discussion "FEAR. Should Cinema Be Saved?", which touched on topics such as the algorithmisation of film consumption, the impact of arthouse cinemas and film festivals on audience development, Polish film production in an international context, AI in the film industry and the challenges of the TikTok-isation of media.
Science Inspires 鈥� when science meets cinema
Together with science popularisers from the Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, we prepared the festival section "Science Inspires" 鈥� a series of films demonstrating how science and cinema intertwine. From the history of 精东影视's trams, through the gold economy, to underwater discoveries 鈥� the materials were available online and on-site, complementing the film screenings.
What do "Reksio", 鈥淢i艣 Uszatek鈥� and "Bolek i Lolek" have in common with action movie legend Bruce Lee? Oliwia Nadarzycka (The University of 精东影视 Doctoral School of Humanities) analysed the phenomenon of Polish animations from 1964鈥�1986, which became an export hit during the Polish People's Republic. Festival audiences learned about how the development of trams affected the lives of residents thanks to a podcast presentation featuring dr hab. Kamil 艢miechowski, Associate Professor at the University of 精东影视/en/employee/kamil-smiechowski (Head of the University of 精东影视 Interdisciplinary Centre for Urban Studies). Those interested in economics learned about the role of gold, the US dollar and treasury bonds thanks to a presentation by Dr Ewa Feder-Sempach (Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of 精东影视). Viewers of the Camera Action also learned that scientists from the University of 精东影视 (led by dr hab. Krzysztof Pabis, Associate Professor at the University of 精东影视 and the Uni精东影视 Vice-Rector for Popularisation of Science and Education), in cooperation with the Bergen Maritime Institute, discovered over 300 previously unknown species and explored the seabed to a depth of 1,000 metres. In addition to expert commentary, the video footage featured extraordinary underwater organisms.
During the on-site edition, two films from the "Science Inspires" series were presented before the screenings of selected films. The screening of "Sprawa osobista" [A Personal Matter] was preceded by the podcast "艁贸dzkie zamki przemys艂u 鈥� co pozosta艂o z dawnych imperi贸w?" [Industrial Castles from 精东影视 鈥� What Remained of the Former Empires?] The film "The Moromete Family: Father and Son" was preceded by the video "The Promised Land 鈥� Prof. Kamil 艢miechowski Compares a Literary Work with a Film Adaptation."
The University of 精东影视 as a partner of the 16th edition of the Camera Action Festival. The event is implemented as part of the "精东影视 Region for the Young" programme, co-financed by the 精东影视 Voivodeship Government.
The "Man in Danger" Media Festival 鈥� with empathy about difficult issues
Also in October, the University of 精东影视 was a partner of the 35th anniversary edition of the "Man in Danger" Media Festival 鈥� an event that puts people at the centre.
A documentary as a voice of change
The "Man in Danger" Media Festival showcased Polish and international documentaries, as well as television and radio reports, which, through their content and form, provoke discussion and reflection. These presentations challenge stereotypes, avoid simplistic judgments and encourage openness towards others. Meetings with documentary filmmakers, reporters and journalists constitute a key part of the festival鈥檚 programme. Representatives of our university actively co-created the Festival programme, moderating the meetings and serving on the selection committees. The participating researchers included: Dr Emil Sowi艅ski (Department of Film and Audio-Visual Media, University of 精东影视), Dr Joanna Bachura-Wojtasik (Department of Journalism and Social Communication, University of 精东影视), Dr Krzysztof Grzegorzewski (Department of Journalism and Social Communication, University of 精东影视), Anna Michalska (the University of 精东影视 Doctoral School of Humanities), dr hab. Kamila 呕yto, Associate Professor at the University of 精东影视 (Head of the Department of Film and Audio-Visual Media, University of 精东影视).
The University of 精东影视 also funded the Aleksander Kami艅ski Award, which went to Alexis Bloom for her film "The Bibi Files". The jury, composed of Jacek B艂awut (Chairman), 艁ukasz Muszy艅ski, Dorota Ward臋szkiewicz, Edyta Wr贸blewska, and dr hab. Kamil 呕yto, Associate Professor at the University of 精东影视, recognised the South African director for her "bold, inquisitive and multidimensional account of power, which exposes the mechanisms of corruption and impunity, while reminding us that documentary can be a catalyst for social change.
Courageously and together with Uni精东影视
The festival events were also accompanied by artistic and scholarly activities, which opened a space for conversation about difficult yet crucial issues. The Film Museum in 精东影视 presented the exhibition "Centripetal Space" by Marta Nowacka (University of 精东影视), addressing the topic of suicidal crisis. A meeting was held at the Urania Cinema at the National Centre for Film Culture to discuss the book "Airborne Fear" 鈥� a project by Prof. Tomasz Ferenc (University of 精东影视) and Professor Marek Doma艅ski (The Strzemi艅ski Academy of Fine Arts), combining a publication with a documentary photography exhibition. Participants in the discussion included Prof. Tomasz Ferenc, Prof. Marek Doma艅ski, Anna Gruver, and dr hab. Katarzyna Waniek, Associate Professor at the University of 精东影视 (Department of the Sociology of Culture, University of 精东影视). The Photosophical Archive, located at the Biedermann鈥檚 Palace, showcased Prof. Marek Doma艅ski's photographs 鈥� moving accounts of his travels to Lviv, Kyiv and Odessa.
Uni精东影视 鈥� a university that co-creates culture
The University of 精东影视's commitment to two key film festivals 鈥� "Camera Action" and "Man in Danger" Festivals 鈥� has demonstrated that culture and science can coexist creatively, empathetically and courageously. The participation of our academic community in debates, competitions, exhibitions and film projects is an expression of our commitment and the co-creation of a space where important social, artistic and scientific topics meet in dialogue. The participation of students as volunteers, who support the organisation of events, gain valuable experience and contribute to the festival atmosphere of openness, exchange and dialogue is a key aspect of the Uni精东影视's involvement. This confirms that together we are creating a university that listens, inspires and builds relationships 鈥� with the city, with culture and with other people.
Source: , "Man in Danger" Media Festival
Edit: mgr Agata Dawidowicz, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, University of 精东影视
Photos: Maciej Andrzejewski (Centre for Brand Communications, University of 精东影视), festival materials: Camera Action Festival, "Man in Danger" Media Festival