CHILD OF DUST RECEIVES SPECIAL MENTION, “LIFT LADY” WINS AUDIENCE AWARD IN THESSALONIKI
The documentary directed by Weronika Mliczewska received a special mention from the documentary competition jury, whilst Marcin Modzelewski's film captivated Greek audiences, which gave it their own award at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.
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 international documentary productions. Equally important to them are debates and presentations concerning the future of the industry and emerging technologies. The industry section forms an integral part of the event. The festival enjoys the patronage of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
Child of Dust, the awarded documentary by Weronika Mliczewska follows, follows Sang. The boy is one of countless children left behind by American soldiers after the Vietnam War – unwanted, discriminated against, and scarred by a conflict that had taken away more than just his father. When Sang unexpectedly locates his gravely ill father in the United States, he decides to meet him, despite the hefty price. The only way to fulfil this wish is to relocate permanently to the USA, meaning he must leave behind his beloved wife, daughter, and grandson. In this foreign land, he struggles to find his place – not only in a society which views him as an outsider but also within his American family that never knew he existed. Cultural barriers collide as the past unexpectedly intertwines with the present.
Brutalist architecture, a paid lift service, and a surreal environment is the daily reality of Mzia, the protagonist of the documentary that captivated the festival audience. A former sniper, she now oversees the only such vertical transport system of its kind in the world. The grotesque nature of the housing estate and the foibles of its residents paint a tragicomic portrait of contemporary Georgia, which Marcin Modzelewski has captured in Lift Lady.
You can find the list of all awarded titles here.