Kino Lorber Takes Poland's Oscar Contender 'Never Gonna Snow Again' for North America

Wealthy, curtain-twitching suburbanites have formed the basis for many a TV show, but the Polish feature Never Gonna Snow Again proves the setting can be profoundly cinematic and esoteric, as well as darkly funny. Co-directing and writing with director of photography Michal Englert, Malgorzata Szumowska revels in blending genres in this acutely observed festival hit that is Poland’s submission for the 2021 International Oscar race.

Frédéric Chopin in 1849 (Photo: Louis-Auguste Bisson)

“I’m not good at describing my films.” says the lead character in Mariusz Wilczyński’s maudlin but strangely riveting animation Kill It and Leave This Town. The Polish writer-director’s style is certainly a challenge to define. The drawing has a crude, old-fashioned charm but his subject matter is startling and often surreal, as horror, humor and nostalgia overlap. When it’s messy, it’s deliberately so: the artist spent 11 years on this, his first — and strongly autobiographical — feature. 

In 2018 it was reported that Oscar-nominated cinematographer Matthew Libatique, who shot films like “Requiem for a Dream,” and “A Star Is Born,” was arrested in Poland for allegedly assaulting a first responder. Now, Libatique is facing four years in prison as he’s scheduled to stand trial in February.

Somali-American model Halima Aden has announced that she is taking a step back from the fashion industry, saying the pandemic slowdown has allowed her to see instances when her desire to maintain a hijab was not properly respected.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered at least two people executed, banned fishing at sea and locked down the capital, Pyongyang, as part of frantic efforts to guard against the coronavirus and its economic damage, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Friday.

Also Read: Neon Acquires 'Night of the Kings,' Ivory Coast Oscar Submission, After Venice PremierePoland has been a roll at the Oscars, picking up nominations for the country’s last two submissions, including Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Cold War” in 2018 and Jan Komasa’s “Corpus Christi” in 2019.Szumowska made her first English language feature with “The Other Lamb,” which premiered at TIFF in 2019, and Kino Lorber previously released her film “Elles.”Mariusz Włodarski, Viola Fügen, Agnieszka Wasiak

Dave McNary Film ReporterKino Lorber has acquired the North American rights to Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert’s drama “Never Gonna Snow Again,” Poland’s Academy Awards entry.“Never Gonna Snow Again” follows a Russian masseur — played by Alec Utgoff of “Stranger Things” — who enriches the lives of the rich, unfulfilled residents living in a walled-off community.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterKino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Never Gonna Snow Again, Malgorzata Szumowska’s Polish drama which is representing the country in this year’s International Oscar race. The distributor is lining up a theatrical release in Spring, 2021.The film debuted in competition at Venice this year.

Justice Democrats, a far-left PAC aligned with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is pushing for Rep.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterThe 10th edition of U.S. In Progress Wroclaw, the industry wing of the American Film Festival in Poland which was held online this year, wrapped over the weekend and presented a variety of awards to the participating American film projects.The awards range from post-production services to travel bursaries and cash.

Marta Balaga “Never Gonna Snow Again,” which was chosen as Poland’s Oscar submission prior to its world premiere in Venice, marks a further step in cinematographer Michał Englert’s long collaboration with Małgorzata Szumowska.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Rhys Wakefiled (The Purge) has been set to star in Australian sci-fi horror Alternate, which is due to get underway in Adelaide, Australia, in early 2021.Writer-director Anthony Garland’s feature debut will be produced by Lady A Pictures’ Ali Mueller (Challenger) and SLA Films’ Anna Vincent (I Am Mother).

Will Tizard ContributorThe Energa Camerimage cinematography fest, although slightly scaled down owing to Poland’s new listing on Europe’s red zone of high COVID-19 infection rates, remains committed to honoring the finest in lensing from around the world, says Kazik Suwala, the org’s festival office director.“From the program point of view, we actually are doing what we’ve been doing,” Suwala says.