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Polish Festival

at the Seattle Center

 


October 2018


Oct 29   Basia in Concert at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Oct 28   Seattle Polish FF: Polish Community Anniversary Special at SIFF Film Center
Oct 26-28   Seattle Polish FF: Second Weekend at SIFF Film Center
Oct 24-25   Seattle Polish FF: Free Movies at the Polish Cultural Center
Oct 21   Seattle Polish FF: A Klezmer Music Special at SIFF Cinema Uptown
Oct 20   1960's to 90's Dance Party at the Polish Cultural Center
Oct 19-21   Seattle Polish FF: First Weekend at SIFF Cinema Uptown
  Skate America with a Polish Dance Pair in Everett
Oct 18   SPFF : Vodka and a Drop of Art Party at the Polish Cultural Center
Oct 13-15   Polish Music at the Oregon Symphony in Portland
Oct 10   Movie The Promised Land by A. Wajda at the UW
Oct 7   Open House at the Scout Troop Kaszuby at the Polish Cultural Center
Oct 6   SPF Volunteer Appreciation Party at the Polish Cultural Center
Oct 2   Meet the Autor with Olga Tokarczuk in Portland

Polish Film Festival

Celebrating

the Polish Community centennial


Oct 29, 7:30: Basia in Concert at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley

Basia Trzetrzelewska

Basia Trzetrzelewska, an accomplished and beloved jazz-pop singer born in Poland and based in UK comes back to Seattle, this time to Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. She started with Matt Bianco group to switch to a solo career as a jazz vocalist with such albums as Time and Tide (1988) or London, Warsaw, New York (1990) that went platinum in the US. This international tour promotes her last album Butterflies (2018), created with pianist and keyboardist Danny White.

 

Where: Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle; tickets $36.50;

More: Basia at Jazz Alley & bio Basia's site,

Oct 28, 3:10 pm: SPFF: Polish Community Anniversary Special at SIFF Film Center

Polish Home

in 1920

The Seattle Polish Film Festival presents the special: Passing the Torch: Celebrating 100 Years of the Seattle Polish Community, with the screening of three 2018 documentaries:

    A Piece of Poland in Seattle / Kawałek Polski w Seattle25 min, by Monika Meleń,

    Bronka, Lady of the Mountain / Kobieta Skała, 18 min, also by director Meleń and

    Passing the Torch: 100 Years of the Polish Home Association35 min,

        by Michal Pietrzyk & Ryszard Kott.

 

Q&A with special guests: for Passing the Torch director Michal Pietrzyk, co-director and executive producer Ryszard Kott, writer & editor Nils Cowan; also present will be Bronka Sundstrom, the hero of of the Bronka movie.

Having different perspective, these three movies together create a vivid portrait of the local Polish community with its rich history and active cultural programs as it celebrates its centennial. Please come to cheer our anniversary at the movies!

 
Where: SIFF Film Center in Seattle; free admission

More:  Passing the Torch movie trailer, SPFF description of the three movies, Seattle Polish Film Festival,

Oct 26-28: SPFF: The Second Weekend at SIFF Film Center

2018 poster by

Marcin Wawrzaszek

This is the second weekend of the 26th Seattle Polish Film Festival; all these movies are screened at SIFF Film Center with English subtitles if needed.

 
Friday, October 26
  
6:30 pm  Strawberry Days, 2017 drama, 93 min, dir. Wiktor Ericsson
           Q&Q with actor Stanislaw Cywka

   8:30 pm  Mug / Twarz, 2017 drama, 91 min, dir. Małgorzata Szumowska
 

Saturday, October 27
    1:30 pm  Beyond words / Pomiędzy słowami, 2017 drama, 85 min, dir. Urszula Antoniak
    3:30 pm  Shorts and Independents: double ticket

           Volte / Volta, 2018 short, 14 min, dir. Monika Kotecka, Karolina Poryzała

           Over the Limit, 2018 documentary, 74 min, dir. Marta Prus

           Q&A with director Prus

    5:30 pm  Spoor / Pokot, 2017 eco-thriller, 130 min, dir. Agnieszka Holland, Kasia Adamik

    8:15 pm  Squadron 303 / Dywizjon 303. Historia prawdziwa, 2018 drama, 100 min,

                 dir. Denis Delic

           Q&A with actor Anna Prus

 
Sunday, October 28
 
 12:00 pm  Nights And Days / Noce i dnie, 1975 drama, 170 min, dir. Jerzy Antczak

     3:10 pm  Celebrating 100 Years of the Seattle Polish Community, free admission

            A Piece of Poland in Seattle / Kawałek Polski w Seattle, 25 min, dir. Monika Meleń

            Bronka, Lady of the Mountain / Kobieta Skała, 13 min, dir. Monika Meleń

            Passing the Torch: 100 Years of Polish Home Association, 28 min,

                  dir. Michał Pietrzyk & Ryszard Kott

      5:00 pm  Man of Marble / Człowiek z marmuru, 1976 drama, 160 min, dir. Jerzy Wajda

      8:00 pm  Panic Attack / Atak paniki, 2017 comedy, 100 min, dir. Paweł Maślona
 

Where: at SIFF Film Center in Seattle; passes and tickets available, some movies are free

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival, SGSCA

Oct 24-25: SPFF: Free Movies at the Polish Cultural Center

2018 poster by

Marcin Wawrzaszek

These two movies are screened at the Polish Cultural Center on Capitol Hill and are free of charge.

 

Tuesday, October 23

    7:30 pm  A "secret" screening - a surprise movie chosen by the Festivla Director
 
Wednesday, October 24

    7:30 pm  The Pianist / Pianista, 2002 drama, 142 min, dir. Roman Polański
 
Thursday, October 25

    7:30 pm  Shorts & Independents Part 2: Decisive Moments: Stories of Fateful Encounters

                      and Extraordinary Exploits

            On the Web / W sieci,  narrative, 24 min, dir. Katarzyna Babicz

            Ride / Kurs,  narrative, 19 min, dir. Kacper Anuszewski

            Hot and Cold / Ciepło-zimno,  narrative, 35 min, dir. Marta Prus at Q&A

            Euforia,  documentary, 35 min, dir. Natalia Pietsch

 
Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle; free admission

More: SPFF description of the Part 2 movies, Seattle Polish Film Festival

Oct 21, 12:30 pm: SPFF: A Klezmer Music Special at SIFF Cinema Uptown

The Seattle Polish Film Festival presents A Celebration of Klezmer Music with the screening of two documentaries The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozłowski His Life and Music / Ostatni Klezmer: Leopold Kozłowski-Kleinman1994, 84 min, by Yale Strom and A Tickle In the Heart1996, 84 min, by Stefan Schwietert. Poland used to have thriving klezmer music. Kozlowski, b. 1918, a pianist and composer active in Poland is called the last klezmer of Galicia. The second film presents an international tour of klezmer legends Epstein Brothers.


Where: SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle; free admission

More: SPFF description of the klezmer movies, Leopold Kozłowski (PL)

Oct 20, 7 pm - midnight: 1960's to 90's Dance Party at the Polish Cultural Center

The Polish Scouts present the Party of the Decades! Dance and party the night away to your favorite 1960's, 70s, 80s and 90s DJ music and themes. Dress up or down as you wish. Food and bar available, also surprises, prizes and more. This party is a fundraiser for the Polish Scout Troop Kaszuby.

 

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; tickets $20.

More: poster, Reservations [email protected] or text/call 206-229-7559

Oct 19-21: SPFF: The First Weekend at SIFF Cinema Uptown

2018 poster by

Marcin Wawrzaszek

This is the program for the first weekend of the 26th Seattle Polish Film Festival. All first weekend movies below are screened at the SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle and have English subtitles when necessary.
 

Friday, October 19
   6:30 pm  Julius / Juliusz, 2018 comedy, 100 min, dir. Aleksander Pietrzak

            Q&A with director Pietrzak, actress Anna Smolowik & actor Wojciech Mecwaldowski
   8:45 pm  Cold War / Zimna wojna, 2018 drama, 90 min, dir. Paweł Pawlikowski

 
Saturday, October 20
   12:00 pm  Ashes And Diamonds / Popiół i diament, 1958 drama, 97 min, dir. Andrzej Wajda
     2:15 pm  Leave Me Not / Nie zostawiaj mnie, 2018 drama, 80 min, dir. Grzegorz Lewanowski
     4:00 pm  Shorts & Independents p.1: Life Lessons: Stories of Challenge and Transformation
             Poka-Yoke, 15 min, animation, dir. Małgorzata Andrys
             A Short Story About Love, 7 min, narrative, dir. Krzysztof Satola
             Me And My Father / Ja i mój Tata, 30 min, narrative, dir. Aleksander Pietrzak at Q&A
             No Sleeping / Nie ma spania, 6 min, narrative, dir. Emanuel Levy
             60 Kilos of Nothing / 60 kilo niczego, 28 min, narrative, dir. Piotr Domalewski at Q&A
    5:40 pm  A Cat With a Dog / Jak pies z kotem, 2018 dramedy, 100 min, dir. Janusz Kondratiuk
            Q&A with actress Bożena Stachura
    8:00 pm  Silent Night / Cicha noc,
2018 drama, 100 min, dir. Piotr Domalewski

            Q&A with director Domalewski and cinematographer Piotr Sobociński

 
Sunday, October 21
  12:30 pm  
A Klezmer Music Celebration
, double ticket, free admission

             The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozlowski, His Life and Music / Ostatni klezmer: Leopold

                  Kozłowski-Kleinman, 1994 documentary, 84 min, dir. Yale Strom

              A Tickle in the Heart, 1996 documentary, 90 min, dir. Stefan Schwietert
    3:30 pm  Młynarski. The Final Song / Młynarski. Piosenka finałowa, 2017 documentary, 90 min

              dir. Alicja Albrecht

    5:30 pm  Breaking the Limits / Najlepszy, 2017 drama, 110 min, dir. Łukasz Palkowski

              Q&A with cinematographer Piotr Sobociński
    8:00 pm  Autsajder, 2018 drama, 100 min, dir. Adam Sikora
 

Where: at SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle; passes and tickets available, some movies are free

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival

Oct 19-21: Skate America with a Polish Dance Pair in Everett

Kaliszek & Spodyriew

US Figure Skating presents 2018 Skate America tournament that is the first event in the 2018 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series; other tournaments of the series are in Canada, Russia, France, China and Japan. Poland is represented by the dance pair Natalia Kaliszek & Maksym Spodyriew. They will skate on Saturday, October 20 at 7:15 and the main competition in free dance is on October 21 at 11 am. The Skating Spectacular show is on October 21 as well.

 

Where: Angels of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. tickets from $25 individual to $250 for the series.

More: event website, wikipedia on Natalia Kaliszek

Oct 18, 7-11 pm: SPFF: Vodka and a Drop of Art Party at the Polish Cultural Center

The Seattle Polish Film Festival invites everybody to the festival kick-off party at the Polish Home in Seattle. Vodka and a Drop of Art is a showcase of classic Polish poster art, with music, food, red carpet photos, vodka testing and a chance to meet Polish filmmakers coming to this year's SPFF. Come to enjoy the art, the spirits and starting the festival in style.

 

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski, in Seattle, admission free, must be 21+ to attend

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival, event poster

Oct 13-15: Polish Music at the Oregon Symphony in Portland

Karen Gomyo

A Sibelius concert at the Oregon Symphony in Portland by violinist Keren Gomyo includes Witold Lutoslawski's Little Suite and Wojciech Kilar's Orawa. The concert that also includes Dmitri Shostakovich's symphony no.9  is directed by Michał Nesterowicz, the principal guest conductor of Sinfonieorchester of Basel, Switzerland.

  

Where: at the Oregon Symphony in Portland, OR; tickets

More: program notes, Michal Nesterowicz

Oct 10, 6:30 pm: Movie The Promised Land by A. Wajda at the UW

Daniel Olbrychski

The UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee presents the movie The Promised Land / Ziemia obiecana directed by Oscar winner Andrzej Wajda.  This 1975 Oscar nominated drama is a very vivid picture of the 19 c. Łódź, a Polish city that grew overnight into the textile capital of the Russian Empire, with fortunes made and lost on wool and cotton, and of a society in transition from rural and half-feudal to industrial. Based on a novel by a Nobel prize winner W. Reymont, and introduced by Prof. Katarzyna Dziwirek.

 

Where: Thomson 101 on the UW campus in Seattle; in Polish w/ English subtitles; admission free

More: Wajda, Wajda on the movie, UW PSEC.

Oct 7, 12:30 pm: Open House at the Scout Troop Kaszuby at the Polish Cultural Center

The Polish Scout (ZHP) Troop Kaszuby invites everybody interested in scouting to the first meeting of the new season. Children from 4 to 18 years old can sign up in age groups: 4-7 (skrzaty), 7-11 (zuchy), 11+ (harcerze) and 15+ (wędrownicy). The scouts organize camps and trips and provide an excellent way for children to immerse in and learn Polish culture and traditions. The first camp comes on a weekend in October!

 

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; yearly membership is $70.

More: Polish Scouts website (PL), or contact Scout Master Anna Borodenko, tel. (425) 280-4858

Oct 6, 6:30 pm: SPF Volunteer Appreciation Party at the Polish Cultural Center

& Pierogi Fest

The Seattle Polish Foundation cordially invites all the volunteers and their significant others to its Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party in recognition of the extraordinary efforts in support of Polish Festival Seattle and Pierogi Fest. Enjoy food, fun and prizes as we celeberate our volunteers ... and dress for dancing! Music by DJ Filip.

 

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; admission free

More: Polish Festival Seattle

 Oct 2, 7:30 pm: Meet the Author with Olga Tokarczuk in Portland

Olga Tokarczuk

Olga Tokarczuk, the best selling author and one of the most interesting Polish contemporary writers, comes to Portland on the winner's tour promoting her book Flights / Bieguni. The book has won the 2018 Man Booker International Prize, the most important English language book award, with Ms. Tokarczuk being the first Polish writer to receive the honor. The book also won the 2008 Nike award in Poland. Joining the author will be her brilliant translator Jennifer Croft who won the Found in Translation award for her work on the book.

      

Where: LAST MINUTE CHANGE: at Powell's at Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd instead of Powell's Books NW Warehouse, 2729 NW 29th Ave in Portland, OR;

More: Tokarczuk bio, info about the tour, Man Booker site

 
 

© 2018  Ryszard Kott

Photo "Fountain" courtesy Hanna Gil, Photo "Seattle" courtesy Ryszard Kwieciński