“BEING MIKOŁAJ” SET FOR INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE IN THESSALONIKI
The documentary directed by Aurelia Frydrych-Zdanowska and produced by Michał Sadowski is set to have its international premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, which begins on 6th March.
The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival was established in 1991. This international event is dedicated to documentary filmmaking, with the organisers' primary aim being to showcase and promote the most significant documentary productions from around the globe. Debates and presentations concerning the future of the industry and emerging technologies hold an equally important spot in the event's programme. The industry section also forms an integral part of the festival. The festival is held under the patronage of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
Shot over five years, this coming-of-age film sees Mikołaj enter adulthood and begin fighting for his future… but to do so, he must first reconcile with his father, Piotr. Are they going to find common ground and adapt to their new reality together? At the same time Mikołaj faces typical challenges of adolescence – first job, first love, first parties – but also the necessity of confronting a Kafkaesque judicial system that refuses to recognise his gender identity.
In Thessaloniki, at one of Europe's leading documentary film festivals, Being Mikołaj will be competing for the Audience Award and the Mermaid Award for the best LGBTQI+ themed film. Aurelia Frydrych-Zdanowska's documentary will be shown to audiences in the Open Horizons section. The world premiere took place last November in Warsaw at the WATCH DOCS festival, where the documentary was named by the Jury as the best entry in the New Polish Film Competition.
The film was independently produced by Michał Sadowski (King House) in co-production with Njupixel, Frydrych & Zdanowski, Meme Studio, and Studio Fonograf. Director Aurelia Frydrych-Zdanowska also co-wrote the screenplay. Cinematographer Paweł Zdanowski, co-writer, along with Michał Sadowski were responsible for editing. Marta Weronika Werońska was the sound recordist on set, while Radosław Ochnio handled the sound mixing and post-production. Festival promotion and distribution is being managed by Michał Hudzikowski (Hudzik Film).
Press release
The audience at the Greek festival is also going to have more polish films, as we have reported previously here.