Andrzej and Michal are two young teenagers who come together every summer in the small tourist village ‘Siemiany’ on the countryside in Poland. Their friendship has grown into years of great memories and the boredom of the countryside takes the boys’ friendship to a new level of sexually loaded intimacy. But Michal and Andrzej aren’t the only visitors of ‘Siemiany’. Lukasz, Michal’s older brother, possesses a gun and he is the leader of a gang of bleech blonde boys. Agnieszka, a fourteen year old lolita who Michal secretly loves, has developed an interest in Lukasz and tries everything to impress this gang. But Michal also looks up to Lukasz and since he can’t have Agnieszka, he starts exploring girls by seducing Lukasz’s girlfriend. Andrzej on the other hand - who violentally gets his hair bleeched by Lukasz to make him look less ‘gay’ - runs away after he sees his best friend being taken away from him by a girl.
Info
| Title | Siemiany |
|---|---|
| Original title | Siemiany |
| Original version | Polish |
| Status | Completed |
| Category | Shorts |
| Year of production | 2009 |
Credits
| Cast | Damian Ul, Michal Wlodarczyk, Kamil Grenda, Aleksandra Radwanska, Joanna Opozda |
|---|---|
| Screenplay | Philip James McGoldrick |
| Photography | Nicolas Karakatsanis |
| Editing | Tom Denoyette |
| Music | Raf Keunen |
| Other | art director: Simon Van Laar |
Technical specs
| Running time film | 18'10'' |
|---|---|
| Release format | 35mm |
| Aspect ratio | 1:2.35 (scope) |
| Sound format | Stereo |
| Colour | Colour |
Partners
| Supported by | JINT, La Bonita, Galaxy Studios, Sonicville, Czar, Epidemic, SIEBER, The Fridge, Fabuleux Marcel de Bruxelles, SPOT Productions Poland |
|---|
Festivals
2010: Festival du Court Métrage Clermont-Ferrand (FRA) / Berlin International Film Festival (DEU) / IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival (PRT) / Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival (DEU) / Festival du court métrage de Bruxelles (USA) / Seattle International Film Festival (USA) / Guanajuato International Film Festival (MEX) / ERA New Horizons International Film Festival (POL) / Priverno International Short Film Festival (ITA) / Thai short Film and Video festival (THA) / FreeNetWorld International Film Festival (SRB) / Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes La Noche de los Cortos (PER) / Aye Aye Film Festival (FRA) / Nederlands Film Festival (NLD) / Open Student Film Festival (RUS) / Festival International du Film Francophone de Namu (BE) / International Short Film Festival Paris Court Devant (FRA) / La Boca del Lobo (ESP) / Alcine International Film Festival (ESP) / Damascus International Film Festival (SYR) / Festival International du Film d'Amiens (FRA) / Festival International Séquence Court-Métrage (FRA) / Brief Encounters International Short Film Festival (GBR) / Finnish Short Film and Documentary Film Festival (FIN) / Kettupäivät Short and Documentary Film Festiva (FIN) / Rencontres Henri Langlois International Film Schools Festival (FRA) / Ramallah International Film Festival (PSE) / Shnit International Shortfilmfestival (CHE)
Awards
2010: Best Short Film Award (Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival) / Best DOP Award (Festival du court métrage de Bruxelles) / Special Mention for Best Direction (Priverno International Short Film Festival) / Winner Best International Short Film, Best Director, Best cinematography, Best editing, Best Actor (estival Internacional de Cortometrajes La Noche de los Cortos) / Winner Prix Spécial du Jury (Rencontres Henri Langlois International Film Schools Festival) / Winner Best International Short Film (Paris Courts Devant) / Best Short Film (Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival)
2009: Best Debut Award (International Short Film Festival Leuven)
Siemiany continues to score
Philip James McGoldrick’s Berlinale 2010 selected short Siemiany, has been confirmed for its 40th festival selection. The film is selected in official competition at the third Baghdad International Film Festival (3-10 October 2011). Siemiany is in the running for a Golden Prize for Best Short Film, awarded by an international jury. 
Up and coming director McGoldrick is currently working on the next instalment of Siemiany, called Subaru. The film is being shot in Poland from 3 to 7 October. Both films form part of his Michal Kowalski Trilogy, which takes its name from the series’ leading character.
Siemiany wins Arte Prize in Angers
Philip James McGoldrick's short Siemiany won the Arte Prize at this year's 23rd Premiers Plans Angers European Film Festival, making it the 11th kudo the film was awarded with since its world première at last year's Berlinale.
The short is the debut of Brussels-based Philip James McGoldrick. Apart from directing the short, he also wrote the story and co-produced the film with a.o. Ben Vandendaele, Sieber Marly and Simon Van Laar. Since its world première screening at last year's Berlinale's Generation 14+ programme, Siemiany toured well over 40 fests around the globe.
Last edited on 16 March 2012