The Idea
The 17th edition of the Mastercard OFF CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema is already behind. Throughout the years, the Festival has undergone changes and continued to evolve. From the outset, however, it has always provided information and commentary on the present state of the world. Addressing important current topics, the Festival has dared to go against the grain. It thus became one of the most recognizable events of this type in Central Europe.
Over the years, two competitions have remained the core of the Festival program: the Main Dramatic Competition “Making Way” and the Polish Feature Film Competition. The first of the two sections is a showcase of ten directing debuts and second films from all over the world competing for the Andrzej Wajda Krakow Film Award of USD 25,000. In the Polish Feature Film Competition ten most interesting Polish titles have a chance to win award of PLN 100,000. Other awards include those for Best Actress, Best Actor and Mastercard Rising Star for acting debut. The winners are selected by members of two juries comprised of outstanding international filmmakers and experts.
In 2023, during the 16th edition of the Festival, the Mastercard OFF CAMERA audiences watched films screened in regular, well-known and popular sections: American Indies – dedicated to daring, uncompromising and fascinating American cinema and Best of Fests – showcasing interesting productions awarded at international film festivals, that the Polish audience had great opportunity to see on the silver screen, often for the first time.
There was also multitude of amazing novelties: with four completely fresh film sections, the Festival audience will go on an unforgettable journey through film genres, conventions, phenomena and trends. On top of that, we joined meetings with guests, film directors, special screenings, workshops, discussions and accompanying events.
ARTISTIC CONCEPT 2024
The upcoming 17th edition of the Mastercard OFF CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema gives us a lot of food for thought. It encourages reflection on the merciless passage of time, which filmmakers try to stop for a while and capture on film. It is hard not to think about the world torn by wars and various types of crises, featured in festival films from multiple perspectives. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, or the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border, make us realize that history is not necessarily always the teacher of life. And they pointedly reveal the ubiquitous fear of Otherness in a broad sense. Fear that has become a powerful driver of racial, ethnic, gender, sexual and class hatred, which those who defend the old social and political order feed on.
Hence, we believe even more that cinema, with its unique ability to teach tolerance and empathy and the films presented in the Main Competition “Making Way” and the Polish Film Competition can serve as a kind of antidote for the toxic everyday life. Whereas the productions featured in the new festival sections, which take a closer look at teenage girls and their incredible energy; various kinds of “black sheep” who do not match the general standards and ideas; legal dramas and thrillers about social injustice, and finally – borders and divisions, taken literally or metaphorically, will hopefully provide our viewers not only with valuable lessons on taming the diversity. But they will offer more – exciting film adventures, where differences are celebrated and the Otherness becomes the source of strength.
And we should learn the lessons, if for no other reason than to proceed to a wide-ranging transformation of reality. So that there is no space left for exclusion, hatred, rejection and fear of the unknown.
GRAPHIC IDENTITY 2024
Key Visual Mastercard OFF CAMERA 2024 symbolizes the overlapping circles of life. Our stories, however so different, are indissolubly linked and affect one another. It is up to us alone to decide whether we make a conscious effort to achieve harmony and lightness or, trying to impose our own direction on others, we bring chaos to our link. Many thanks to Maja Ganszyniec for her creative support.
CINEMA IS PASSION. CINEMA IS MISSION.
For 9 years now, and for 6 years as the titular partner, it’s been our great pleasure to support the Mastercard OFF CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema. Every year we remind ourselves anew of the enormous power cinema has and that the magic of cinema can reach far and wide. It intertwines with our lives by telling stories that are off limits to us on an everyday basis. Cinematography is passion, but also, as the reality shows, it is mission.
And it is the face of film art that this year’s 17th edition of the Festival focuses on. Cinema takes on the role of talking about the most difficult themes, presenting stories of individuals whom we do not see on information channels. This is a vital role of taming the diversity, including the excluded, humanizing them. As Mastercard we are convinced that this function of film art is essential, worth supporting and we are proud to be a partner of an event that shows courage in carrying out its mission.