A Polish-British co-production has received the most prestigious film award in the world: the American Academy Award in the short animated film category. Andrzej Wajda’s “Katyń", although appreciated by film critics and Academy members, did not win. Both films were subsidized by the Polish Film Institute. “It is an award for all those, who have worked to make this, unfeasible as it seemed at the time, dream to come true", said film’s director Suzie Templeton. “To us this award is like a fairy tale, only real", added cinematographer Hugh Gordon. “Peter and the Wolf" is an animated version of a classic work by Sergei Prokofiev directed by Suzie Templeton. The film, subsidized by the Polish Film Institute, was produced by the legendary Se-ma-for Studio and Breakthru Films. It is a frame-by-frame puppet animation and the biggest Polish-British co-production so far. “Peter and the Wolf" is the crowning achievement in 60 years of studio’s history, but at the same time a new stage in its development. We are no longer a local Polish studio; now we’ll go European and international. Co-productions such as “Peter and the Wolf" are our future. We are very happy that we have made such a great film in cooperation with the British", said Zbigniew Żmudzki from the Se-ma-for Studio. In 1983 another film produced in the Se-ma-for Studio, Zbigniew Rybczyński’s “Tango", was awarded with Oscar. Films nominated in the Best Animated Short Film category: 1. “I Met the Walrus" , 2. “"Madame Tutli-Putli" 3. “Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" 4. “My Love (Moya Lyubov)" 5. “Peter & the Wolf" "Katyń", directed by the Academy Award winner from 2000 Andrzej Wajda, nominated in the best foreign language film, has not been selected. The film is a story Polish officers murdered during the World War II. “I am very happy that a film considered uninteresting for the Academy Members was met with their interest and appreciation. I would like to thank the Polish Film Institute for supporting my project", Andrzej Wajda said at a press conference in January. “Already the nomination is a very prestigious achievement. This film bears witness to history. “Katyń" makes a great impression on viewers abroad; it helps them to learn the history of Poland. It is an important issue and for that reason I am very happy the world will see it", said Agnieszka Odorowicz, general director of the Polish Film Institute, after the nomination had been announced. This year over 90 films from all over the world were competing for the nomination for the best foreign language film. The winner is the Austrian film “Counterfeiters" by Stefan Ruzowitzky. Wajda has already been nominated three times for Academy Awards in the best foreign film category for films “The Maids of Wilko", “The Promised Land" and the “Man of Iron". Also this year, Janusz Kamiński was nominated in the cinematography category for his work in Julian Schnabel’s “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It is a forth nomination for Kamiński, currently considered one of the best cinematographers in the world. He has already been awarded twice with Oscar for his cooperation with Steven Spielberg on the “Schindler’s List" and “Saving Private Ryan". This year, however, he did not receive the award. Canadian animated short film “Madame Tutli-Putli" inspired by works of Witkacy was also nominated in this category. The film was co-directed by Maciek Szczerbowski.

Polish Film Institute.