Panel Discussion
'Breaking the Taboo - or the Art of Conformity'

During this year's festival in Berlin, a discussion panel 'Breaking the Taboo - or the Art of Conformity' took place. The debate was arranged by the Andrzej Wajda School, the Nordrhein Westphalia Film Foundation (Filmstiftung NRW) and the Polish Institute in Duesseldorf.

The discussion was opened by Michael Schmid-Ospach, the manager of  the Nordrhein Westphalia Film Foundation and by Andrzej Wajda, the founder of the Master School of Film Directing, whose newest film 'Tatarak [Sweet Rush]' has been awarded at this year's Berlinale.

The German side of the discussion podium was represented by: Hans-Christian Schmid, director and producer ('Storm', 'And Along Come Tourists', 'Distant Lights'), Marie Bäumer, actress ('The Counterfeiters') and Jan Bonny ('Counterparts'). From the Polish side there were: Michał Kwieciński, producer and director ('Katyń', 'Tatarak', 'Statyści') and young directors: Agnieszka Smoczyńska ('Aria Diva' -  Cannes 2008 Short Film Corner), Filip Marczewski ('Melodramat [Melodrama]' – nominated to student Oscar Prize 2006, Maciej Sobieszczański, scriptwriter.

The power of the young cinema often lies in an uncompromising description of socially and morally important phenomena – usually painful and concealed – in the courage to raise subjects which are generally considered as difficult. The discussion focused on taboos in German and Polish contemporary film. Participants of the conversation have tried to answer the question if the young cinema has enough courage to raise controversial subjects and whether it conforms too much to the commercial film market.

The meeting was translated into Polish and German and was moderated by Tomasz Raczek – an eminent film critic and publicist.

The event was held under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin. 

 

(January 2009)