Agata Zubel

The Seattle Symphony presents the premiere of Agata Zubel’s brand new orchestral work In the Shade of an Unshed Tear that has been commissioned by the Symphony. Ms. Zubel is a renown Polish-born composer of contemporary music. The evening’s program also includes Piano Concerto No. 3 as well as Symphony No. 2 by Beethoven with Ludovic Morlot directing and Inon Barnatan on piano.

Pre-concert talk presented 1 hour prior to the performance.

Where: M Taper Foundation Auditorium at the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall; tickets enter promo code ZUBEL16 for half price; Thu Oct 27 at 7:30, Sat Oct 29 at 8 pm, with Ask the Artist event to follow the Saturday night concert.

More: Agata Zubel, Concert info

Witold Lutosławski

The Seattle Symphony presents an [Untitled] 1 Concert with works by Polish composers Agata Zubel and Witold Lutosławski. Ms. Zubel will perform her own composition Chapter 13 as a soprano. Zubel’s works are captivating worlds of sound for the 21^st century. The program will start with Chain 1 and Chantefleurs et Chantefables by Lutosławski (1913-1994), Poland’s very innovative and alluring composer famous for his Third Symphony.

This Polish music program will be opened by Consul General of Poland Mariusz Brymora.

Where: Stroum Grand Lobby at the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall; Tickets enter code ZUBEL16 for 20% discount

More: Agata Zubel, Concert info, Witold Lutoslawski,

Agata Zubel

The UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee invites everybody to the presentation Are Lyrics the Music Yet? by Agata Zubel. Dr. Zubel is a composer and vocalist (soprano) based in Wroclaw, Poland where she is on the faculty of the Academy of Music. She is hailed internationally as a one of the more innovative composers of her generation.  Her talk focuses on her own compositions and their vocal aspects.

Where: Thomson Hall Room 101 at the University of Washington campus; admission free, open to the public

More:  Agata Zubel, recent interview from Wysokie obcasy (PL), UW PSEC

The book for the meeting is Stryjeńska. Diabli nadali by Angelika Kuźniak, published by Czarne in 2016. Ms. Kuzniak, 42, is a reporter at Gazeta Wyborcza and has published several books including a biography of Papusza. Her book about Stryjenska has been nominated to the 2016 Nike awards..

This is an open meeting, drop by even if you haven't read the book.

Where: at the Green Lake public library in Seattle 11 am - 12:15 pm; admission free, in Polish

More: about the book, about Kuzniak,  Polish Book Club

by Celeste Caliri

Wow! This year's SPFF is so rich in events that it requires a separate overview of the overall program. Below is a guide to the 2016 edition of the Festival. The program includes events organized by the Seattle International Film Festival, Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski, Northwest Film Forum and 12 Ave Arts, all in collaboration with the SPFF.

The venues below  are: SIFF Cinema Uptown (SIFF CU), SIFF Film Center (SIFF FC), Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski (PCC DP) and Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) & 12 Ave Arts (12 AA) on Capitol Hill.

Where: at different venues; tickets & passes available at the PCC Dom Polski before the Festival.

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival, SGSCA

Geisha

This is the program for the second weekend of the 2016 edition of SPFF. The Festival is running October 12 to October 23 this year. The venues for the movies below is SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle.

Please see our SPFF Event Guide for overview of all festival offerings.

Fri Oct 21 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

   6:30 pm   Generations / Pokolenia (2016 feature/documentary, 104 min), dir. by Janusz Zaorski

   8:40 pm   On the Silver Globe / Na srebrnym globie (1988 sci-fi drama, 166 min),

                          dir. by Andrzej Żuławski

                  The last screening followed by a cocktail hour with guests at Tin Lizzie Lounge

Sat Oct 22 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

 12:00 pm   Premiere of Joanna Polak Workshop Films

                         dir. Joanna Polak and young animators in attendance

 12:45 pm   Piano (2015 documentary, 41 min), dir. by Vita Maria Drygas

                  + 2016 Short Film Award Winner

   2:10 pm   Jarocin: Rock to Freedom / Jarocin: po co wolność (2015 documentary, 109 min),

                         dir. by Leszek Gnoiński, Marek Walczak

   4:15 pm   Happy New York / Szczęśliwego Nowego Jorku (1997 drama, 95 min),

                          dir. by Janusz Zaorski

                    director Janusz Zaorski at the Q&A

   6:15 pm   New World / Nowy świat (2015 drama, 100 min),

                          dir. by Michał Wawrzecki and Elżbieta Benkowska

   8:00 pm   Strange Heaven / Obce niebo (2015 thriler, 106 min),  dir. by Dariusz Gajewski

                  The closing reception after the last screening at Ten Mercer Bar nearby

Sun Oct 23 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

  12:00 pm   In Search of Lost Landscape / W poszukiwaniu utraconego krajobrazu

                           (2014 documentary, 40 min), dir. by Leo Kantor

                    Alfred Schreyer of Drohobycz / Alfred Schreyer z Drohobycza

                           (2010 documentary, 45 min), dir. by Marcin Giżycki

     1:45 pm   Raise the Roof (2016 documentary, 85 min),  dir. by Yari Wolinsky

     3:30 pm   Righteous / Sprawiedliwy (2016 drama, 94 min), dir. by Michał Szczerbic

     7:45 pm   Geisha / Gejsza (2015 thriller, 90 min), dir. by Radosław Markiewicz

The Festival looks for volunteers - if you would like to help, please contact volunteer@polishfilms.org

Where: at SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle; tickets $10/$5 & passes $80

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival, SGSCA

The Seattle Sundance Cinema presents the movie Demon directed by Marcin Wrona. This 2015 film is a contemporary ghost story about a man who seems to be possessed by a spirit from the past at his own wedding. The movie had very good reviews and was shown at the Seattle International Film Festival this year.

Where: Sundance Cinema in Seattle; tickets and show times

More: the movie at SIFF

Lines of Dreams

Lavender Braid

This is the Independent & Short Film Showcase program of the 2016 edition of SPFF. The venues for the movies below is Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle.

Please see our SPFF Event Guide for overview of all festival offerings.

Wed Oct 19 - the Polish Cultural Center

   7:30 pm   Drawn From Life: Portraits and Artist Rendering, total time 80 min

                        Girls and Boys (13 min), dir. by Tomasz Gubernat

                        Uncle Paul / Wujek Paweł (6 min), dir. Agata Zych present at Q&A

                        The Bus Trip (14 min), dir. by Sarah Gampei

                        Draught / Susza (6 min), dir. by Sara Divjak

                        Testimony (9 min), dir. by Kamila Dydyna

                        The Gentle Giant / Olbrzym (11 min), dir. by Marcin Podolec

                        Iron Alibi / Żelazne alibi (16 min), dir. by Martin Rath

                        Object / Obiekt (15 min), dir. by Paulina Skibińska

Thu Oct 20 - the Polish Cultural Center

   7:30 pm   Wayward Travelers: Stories of Life's Unexpected Journeys, total time 90 min

                        Lines of Dreams (1 min), dir. by Ziemowit Darski

                        First / Pierwsze (19 min), dir. Monika Majorek present at Q&A

                        Everything Will Be Fine /  Wszystko będzie fajnie (9 min), dir. by Jan Kutrzeba

                        Toast (20 min), dir. by Philip Hillesland, present at Q&A

                        Lavender Braid (35 min), dir. Magdalena Hill present at Q&A

                        Grandma's Day / Dzień Babci (30 min), dir. Miłosz Sakowski present at Q&A

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; tickets $10/$5 & passes $80

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival,

The Seattle Polish Film Festival and Northwest Film Forum present an animation movie program Ghosts, Spirits and Miracles on a Summer Night with short films directed by Joanna Polak, with the director at the screening. Ms. Polak is an acclaimed Polish animator who created over 100 films and received multiple international awards. The program includes fourteen shorts suitable for all ages, with total run of 46 minutes.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski, in Seattle, tickets $5 at the door only

More: Program description at NWFF site

Seattle International Film Festival and the Seattle Polish Film Festival present Krzysztof Kieślowski's masterpiece Dekalog, a newly restored, ten-part mini-series based on the Ten Commandments. Written by Kieslowski and his long time collaborator Krzysztof Piesiewicz and shot in Poland, the cycle was released as TV mini-series in 1989. The contemporary life is confronted with the eternal moral dilemmas

Where: at SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle;

More: Dekalog at SIFF Cinema, about Kieslowski, available on Blue-ray (see the box cover on the left)

The Seattle Polish Film Festival and the Northwest Film Forum present an animation workshop Seattle: Nature vs. Nurture - Animation with Joanna Polak. Ms. Polak is an acclaimed Polish animator who created over 100 films and received multiple international awards. The classic stop-motion work is available for ages 10+, and level from beginners to advanced.

Where: at the 12 Ave Arts building on Capitol Hill in Seattle, $50 per person, click here to sign up, only 12 person each day

More: info on the workshop, her website (PL),  Seattle Polish Film Festival

Chemo

The Double Life of Véronique

This is the program for the first weekend of the 2016 edition of SPFF. The Festival is running October 12 to October 23 this year. The venues for the movies below is SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle, except for Gattaca that screens at SIFF Film Center.

Please see our SPFF Event Guide for overview of the festival offerings.

Fri Oct 14 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

   6:30 pm   Persona Non Grata (2015 historical drama, 140 min), dir. by Cellin Gluck

                    director Cellin Gluck at the Q&A

   8:00 pm   Gattaca (1997 sci-fi, 106 min), dir. by Andrew Niccol - this movie at SIFF Film Center

                    cinematographer Sławomir Idziak at the Q&A

   9:15 pm   United States of Love / Zjednoczone stany miłości (2016 drama, 104 min),

                          dir. by Tomasz Wasilewski

                          actress Marta Nieradkiewicz at the Q&A

                    The last screening followed by a cocktail hour with guests at Tin Lizzie Lounge

Sat Oct 15 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

   1:15 pm   Kamper (2016 drama, 89 min), dir. by Łukasz Grzegorzek

                          actress Marta Nieradkiewicz at the Q&A

   3:15 pm   A Short Film About Killing / Krótki film o zabijaniu (1988 drama, 84 min),

                         dir. by Krzysztof Kieślowski

                    cinematographer Sławomir Idziak at the Q&A

   4:50 pm   Discussion Panel on Producing films internationally

   5:45 pm   11 Minutes / 11 minut (2015 thriller, 81 min), dir. by Jerzy Skolimowski

                          actor Dawid Ogrodnik at the Q&A

   7:30 pm   Planet Single / Planeta Singli (2016 rom-com., 129 min),  dir. by Mitja Okorn

                     director Mitja Okorn and writers Sam Akina & Jules Jones at the Q&A

                  The opening weekend reception after the last screening at Ten Mercer Bar nearby

                   Free and open to the public

Sun Oct 16 - SIFF Cinema Uptown

    1:00 pm   Our Kasprowy / Nasz Kasprowy (2012 documentary, 42 min), dir. by Janusz Sus

    2:00 pm   Call Me Marianna / Mów mi Marianna (2015 drama, 75 min),

                           dir. by Karolina Bielawska

                            producer Zbigniew Domagalski at the Q&A

   3:45 pm   Chemo / Chemia (2015 drama, 104 min), dir. by Bartosz Prokopowicz

                            actress Agnieszka Zulewska at the Q&A

    5:50 pm   The Double Life of Véronique / Podwójne życie Weroniki, (1991 drama, 98 min),

                            dir. by Krzysztof Kieślowski

                       cinematographer Sławomir Idziak at the Q&A

    7:20 pm   Discussion Idziak on Kieślowski

    8:00 pm   These Daughters of Mine / Moje córki krowy (2014 comedy, 88 min min),

                         dir. by Kinga Dębska

                        dirctor Kinga Dębska & producer Zbigniew Domagalski at the Q&A

The Festival looks for volunteers - if you would like to help, please contact volunteer@polishfilms.org

Where: at SIFF Cinema Uptown and SIFF Film Center in Seattle; tickets $10/$5 & passes $80 available at PCC Dom Polski on Friday Oct 7.

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival, SGSCA

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. This event is also part of the Capitol Hill Art Walk. 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

More: Seattle Polish Film Festival

The Seattle Polish Film Festival and the Northwest Film Forum present movie Mr. Blot's Academy / Akademia Pana Kleksa with a music score performed live at the theatre by Sub-Pop Records artists Chris Cheveyo  & Garrett Moore. This 1983 film dir. by Krzysztof Gadowski is a great adaptation of a beloved classic children book by J. Brzechwa about adventures of young Adaś at the magic academy of irrepressible teacher and wizard, Mr. Blot.

Where: at the Northwest Film Forum on Capitol Hill in Seattle, tickets $15 due to live music

More: movie info,  Seattle Polish Film Festival

& Pierogi Fest

The Seattle Polish Foundation cordially invites all the volunteers and their significant others to a volunteer appreciation party. Everybody who contributed their time, treasure or talent to Polish Festival Seattle or Pierogi Fest is invited to join in the celebration. The event includes: toasts, raffle, DJ music and more.  Please come to hear the praise, and to eat, drink, share stories and be merry together! 

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

More: for more info contact volunteer coordinator Aneta Kalicka or Festival Director Alisa Lahti.

The Polish Cultural Center presents actor Stanisław Górka in a program in Polish One i my. Mr. Górka is a movie, TV and theatre actor, known from a very popular TV series about life of a Polish parish called Plebania. His program on the American tour is a monodrama with songs, with Jerzy Derfel on piano. The restaurant will be open from 5 pm.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski, in Seattle, tickets $20 advanced, $25 at the door; call Asia Jeziorska 425-417-9548, Barbara Strutynska 425-746-3037, Lucyna Blonska 206-992-6821

The same performance in Portland is on Oct 2, at 1 pm

More: facebook page about this program