“FACES OF AGATA” WINS GRAND PRIX
The documentary directed by Małgorzata Kozera has captivated the jury at the DokuBaku International Documentary Film Festival, taking home the Azerbaijan-based event's Grand Prix.
DokuBaku is an annual, international documentary film festival held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Its mission is to showcase innovative and compelling documentaries from around the globe, with a focus on human rights, social issues, and environmental concerns. The festival serves as a platform for both local and international filmmakers, enabling them to engage with a broad audience. Beyond film screenings, DokuBaku offers workshops, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with directors, fostering dialogue on contemporary social issues.
The victorious Faces of Agata by Małgorzata Kozera tells the story of an artist who, at sixteen, was told she would likely bleed to death within two years. That day, Agata di Masternak was reborn. Two decades later, she has undergone over 30 facial surgeries, resides in London, and is an artist who has transformed her battle with a deadly disease into art. The illness and its associated pain persist, but increasingly promising treatment options keep appearing. For Agata, however, creativity remains the most crucial therapy. Her face, along with recurring haemangiomas, undergoes successive deformations, which becomes one of the primary themes the protagonist explores in her art.
You can read more about the festival on its official website.