Mateusz Pietrak is a first-year student of film and television directing and has received the TËNK award of the FIPADOC Festival for his film BASIA: THREE SHORT STORIES  (filmpolski.pl), produced by the Wajda Studio. Editing: Olga Bejm, editing student.

On the film on the festival website: fipadoc.com/en/laureat/prix-tenk-2024

Complete list of winners: fipadoc.com/fr/actualites/palmares-2024

Our cinematography graduates, Joanna Roj and Sandro Wysocki, presented the project of the film THE FIRST SWALLOW (produced by Glib Lukianets, Gogol Film) at Industry Days FIPADOC Pro and won the Bio to B award.

The film is in the development stage with co-financing from the Polish Film Institute.

What will the film be about?

In the small village of Becho in the Svaneti Mountains, the oldest and highest part of Georgia, lives Nino. The 15-year-old girl is, at first glance, an ordinary teenager. The harsh nature and daily physical work on her parents' farm have hardened her. Here, there is no time for reflection and self-pity. This attitude proved useful in her passion for boxing, and Nino has been training since she was 11 years old. In this still analogue world, the girl hears about Mike Tyson in anecdotes told to her. Although the classes are conducted in spartan conditions in rooms without heating, and insufficient equipment, Nino is successful and wins first prizes. Conflict arises when higher-ranking coaches become interested in the girl and suggest that she follow a professional career as an athlete, to which her family and immediate surroundings react sceptically. Her dreams are not enthusiastically received by the community of the small village, where a patriarchal culture still prevails today. In Mestia, the capital of Svaneti, lives Henry, a retired boxing champion and trainer considered a legend among the locals. Henry has heard about Nino and calls her "the first swallow" - the first female athlete in a sport previously treated as exclusively male. Henry is ready to help the girl develop her potential - he wants to train Nino professionally and give her a chance to become the first champion of the region. He is aware of how stereotypical beliefs and widespread gossip can affect a young person's psyche.

See the trailer vimeo.com

It is also worth mentioning that Joanna Roj's last film UNCLE VAKHO'S DREAM (filmpolski.pl), with cinematography by Sandro Wysocki (produced by the Munk Studio) had a screening in the FIPADOC Short Film section.

Congratulations!

photo 1 – festival press materials
still 2 – BASIA: THREE SHORT STORIES, dir. Mateusz Pietrak (prod. Wajda Studio)
still 3 – THE FIRST SWALLOW, dir. Joanna Roj and Sandro Wysocki (prod. Gogol Film)
photo 4 – Joanna Roj and Sandro Wysoki with the prize, source: festival press materials