90 years since the birth of Roman Polanski
On October 20, the premiere of the staggering black comedy “The Palace” will take place in the Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture, with which we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Roman Polanski. The screening on October 20 will be the only one within Cinelibri 2023 and the only one in Bulgaria for the time being, after the world premiere of the film in Venice.
Immediately before the screening of “The Palace”, the most impressive adaptation of a literary work for the big screen will be awarded, and the audience will have the opportunity to meet live with the American film star William Baldwin and Jury representatives. A popular actor, screenwriter and producer who has participated in dozens of film productions with different genre characteristics, also known as one of the four Baldwin brothers, he arrives in Sofia as the president of the Jury, which will announce the award winners in the Feature Film Competition.
Baldwin’s partners in this important task will be: respected Canadian casting director and producer Bruno Rosato (“Pieces of a Woman”, “Mafia Inc.,” “Target Number One”, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”); the French film director Léa Todorov (“The New Woman: Maria Montessori”, „Saving Humanity During Office Hours“), daughter of the world-famous philosopher, literary critic, semiotician and culturologist Tsvetan Todorov; acclaimed Spanish TV and film actress Carla Nieto; the Bulgarian theater and film star Ivan Barnev (“I served the King of England” directed by Jirí Menzel, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – theatre performance directed by Alexander Morfov). The Jury will choose from among eleven competition titles – each of them meets the criteria for an original interpretation of a literary work with the expressive means of cinema. The winners will be announced on October 20 in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture by William Baldwin and representatives of the international Jury.
No one could deny Polanski’s genius in the field of filmmaking and his masterful work in adapting literary works and plays to the big screen over the years. Suffice to mention such titles as “An Officer and a Spy”, “Tess”, “The Pianist”, “The Ghost Writer”, “Carnage”, “Bitter Moon”, “The Ninth Gate”, “Death and the Maiden”, “Rosemary’s Baby”. The Polish-French director, screenwriter and producer of Jewish origin has won all the major film awards over the years, including Oscar, Palme d’Or, Golden Bear, BAFTA, César and Golden Globe.
A co-production of Italy, Switzerland, Poland and France, “The Palace” transports the viewer to a luxurious Swiss hotel – a magnificent building with the appearance of a Gothic castle, created at the beginning of the 20th century by a mysterious architect. In this peculiar “palace”, rich, famous and eccentric guests from all over the world flocked for a sumptuous dinner on December 31, 1999, on the eve of the new millennium. An unexpected development follows: the intertwining of separate stories and the clash of different characters create an absurd black comedy, saturated with provocations in the style of Polanski. “The Palace” will have its premiere in Bulgaria at Cinelibri 2023 right after its world premiere at the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival. Roman Polanski’s co-writers are Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska. Тhe key roles are played by Fanny Ardant, Oliver Masucci, Mickey Rourke, John Cleese, Joaquim de Almeida.
Tickets for the premiere screening of “The Palace” in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture are at an early bird price of BGN 14 until September 14 inclusive, after which they will be sold at the regular price.