Solidarity on the Big Screen

In remembrance of the historic events surrounding the Solidarity movement in Poland, the Polish Film Institute and the European Centre for Solidarity (ECS) in Gdansk recently announced a new film competition, titled: "Solidarity: the First Hole in the Wall". The competition is looking for films which highlight how Solidarity played a major role in the eventual downfall of Soviet rule in Central and Eastern Europe, starting a series of dominoes that led to the climax of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Europe.

While the subject of the films entering the competition is limited to the impact of the Solidarity movement, artistically filmmakers are completely free to be creative, as there are no guidelines regulating the script or other aspects of the film. The entries will be judged by a jury of six specialists, including the renowned Polish directors Krzysztof Zanussi and Agnieszka Holland. Entries must by sent by June 30th 2008, and the grand prize in the contest includes 50,000 PLN and backing from the Polish Film Institute for the film to be made. The winner will be announced on the 31st of August 2008, which is also the 27th anniversary of the Gdansk Agreement.