FESTIVAL HISTORY

From Romania to Poland

One gets the impression that an unexpected coincidence was at the root of the initiation of the prison film festival. Pure coincidence, or perhaps fate, as one prefers. However, there is no doubt that it would be too easy and unfair to throw everything at fate and pretendto have no influence on events.

In July 2012, Włodzimierz Kobus, chaplain of the Olsztyn Detention Center, who has been conducting not only pastoral, but also rehabilitation, sports, cultural and educational activities at the unit since 1990, began preparations to produce a film for the MultiArt Festival organized by the National Prison Administration in Romania. The festival was an endeavor to be held in stages and consisted of theater, music, photography and film.

The resulting film was “Tomorrow brings hope” about the participation of inmates in rehabilitation projects. It turned out that he organizers abandoned the film part of the festival due to lack of interest.

That’s when the idea was born to create a film project open to various circles related to the prison system, which could bring the public closer to the operation of the penitentiary system not only in Poland. Włodzimierz Kobus already had experience in the realization of sports and cultural events of international scope, so he saw an opportunity to initiate a new project in the field of film art. Thus, he decided to build a project that was unique and unprecedented not only in Poland, but perhaps even in the world.

Prison's Rock

In late October/early November 2012, the chaplain wrote the Festival Regulations, which he named: International Film Festival in Olsztyn “Prison’s Rock”. He shared his idea with, among others, Joanna Wańkowska-Sobiesiak – journalist, Plenipotentiary of the Governor for National and Ethnic Minorities, prof Zbigniew Chojnowski – linguist, professor of humanities, academic teacher at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Janusz Ciepliński – musician, Director of the District Music School of the First Degree in Dywity, and Konrad Lenkiewicz -film expert, film critic, whom he proposed to chair the Jury of the Festival.

From words to deed

The design of statuette, the festival’s main prize, was to be handled by Ewald Kornek, deputy director of the Olsztyn State High School of Arts. Ewald Kornek proposed that both the design of the statuette and the poster be made under his direction by a student of the High School.

The person he chose was Anna Byglewska. Vladimir Kobus named the statuette „ Good Villain “. The enthusiastic attitude of artistic community in Olsztyn to the project of a new event on the cultural map of Poland encouraged.

Green light

In January 2013, a meeting was held at the Regional lnspectorate of the Prison Service in Olsztyn, attended

  • by the Regional Director of the Prison Service in Olsztyn,
    Col. Andrzej Bartkiewicz
  • Spokesman for the Regional Director of the Prison Service in Olsztyn, Capt. Jarosław Witek
  • the originator of the Festival, the chaplain of the Olsztyn Detention Center Włodzimierz Kobus.

The author of the project informed about the activities made and the possibilities of financing the Festival, including the very important information about the possibility of organizing the Final Gala free of charge in the Auditorium of the Provincial Office in Olsztyn.

The District Director gave the green light to the initiative, and the formed Organizing Committee beg an official preparations for the Festival.

The Organizing Committee consisted:

  • of Joanna Wańkowska-Sobiesiak representing the Olsztyn Provincial Office
  • Capt. Jarosław Witek representing the District lnspectorate of Prison Service in Olsztyn
  • Capt. Marta Klimas Penitentiary Manager at the Olsztyn Detention Center representing the Olsztyn Detention Center
  • Festival Director Włodzimierz Kobus – Chairman of the Festival Organizing Committee.
Fot. Robert Robaszewski/Gazeta Wyborcza

Jury of the Penitentiary Film Festival

On March 4 of the same year, Konrad Lenkiewicz, already officially chairman of the Festival Jury, proposed a name change to: International Film Festival in Olsztyn “Prison’s Movie”.
Since 2014, the name of the Festival is: International Film Festival in Olsztyn “Prison Movie”.

In April 2013, the patronage of the Festival was assumed by the Director General of the Prison Service, General Jacek Włodarski. The patronage was also accepted by the Governor of Warmia and Mazury Marian Podziewski.

17 films were submitted for the first edition of the Festival, including two foreign (USA and Latvia) and two professional films.

The Festival Jury consisted of:

  • Konrad Lenkiewicz – chairman of the Jury,
  • Prof Dr. Elżbieta Łuczak Head of the Department of Resocialization Pedagogy at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
  • Joanna Wańkowska-Sobiesiak Plenipotentiary of the Governor for National and Ethnic Minorities at the Provincial Office in Olsztyn,
  • Dr. Mariola Marczak Prof UWM Institute of Journalism and Social Communication at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
  • Bartosz Ordelewski teacher at the Eric Mendelsohn State Arts High School in Olsztyn,
  • Jerzy Czolgoszewski, Ph.D. assistant professor in the Department of Resocialization Pedagogy at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
  • Wojciech Gajewski, Ph.D. Head of the Laboratory of Religious Studies (University of Gdansk),
  • Janusz Cieplinski Director of the District School of First Degree Music in Dywity,
  • Maj. Adam Marzewski Specialist at the District lnspectorate of Prison Service in Olsztyn,
  • Capt. Jarosław Witek – secretary of the Festival Jury.

Final Gala
of the 1st International Film Festival in Olsztyn "Prison's Movie"

On October 18, 2013, the Final Gala of the 1st International Film Festival in Olsztyn “Prison’s Movie” was held in the Auditorium of the Provincial Office in Olsztyn. The Special Guest of the Festival was the actress of the Stefan Jaracz Theater in Olsztyn, Irena Telesz, who in the following years honored the Jury of the Festival with her person.

… And so it began and has continued for 10 years.

Magdalena Socha