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New film to shed light on controversial WWII history of Tatra highlanders

The controversial role of Tatra highlanders during WWII is to be examined for the first time in the history of Polish cinema.

With a budget exceeding PLN 16 million, "Biała Odwaga" [White Courage] delves into the complex World War II history of highlanders from the Tatra mountains, who found themselves on opposing sides — the heroic Tatra couriers versus adherents of the German-conceived notion of Goralenvolk.

Goralenvolk, a term coined by the Germans during World War II, referred to the mount
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First Raphael since theft of ‘Portrait of a Young Man’ arrives in Warsaw

The Royal Castle in Warsaw says it has acquired a work by the renowned Italian Renaissance artist, Raphael.

The purchase is significant as, since the wartime disappearance of Raphael's 'Portrait of a Young Man,' Poland's museum collections have been devoid of any works by the painter, who is acknowledged as one of the three most exceptional artists of the Italian Renaissance.

The drawing has not yet been shown to the public and the Royal Castle in Warsaw has also not yet revealed details of th
 The First News •

2023 has been a bumper year for Polish screen entertainment

It has been a strong year for screen entertainment, with the last 365 days being rich with a host of Polish productions that stole the hearts of audiences both those that debuted on the big screen as well as those on TV streaming services.

TFN’s look at the cream of the crop includes the most notable Polish productions or coproductions that had their cinema or streaming premiere in 2023.

Agnieszka Holland's exploration of refugees from the Middle East and Africa endeavouring to reach the Europ
 The First News •

Warsaw city centre to transform into a 'cultural park'

Warsaw's city council has given the green light to the creation of a "culture park" that promises to shield a substantial portion of the city's historic core from the blight of advertising and unregulated street commerce.

The recently-passed resolution is poised to bring an end to the long-standing presence of oversized plastic waffles and ice-cream cones that have marred the historical ambiance of the Old Town for decades.

Warsaw's most important monuments and areas associated with its histor
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Krakow researcher says she’s ‘solved mystery’ of da Vinci portrait

Recent research into a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci that spent up to 500 years in Poland before stunning the art world when it reemerged in the 1990s has revealed it was taken from a book.

Hailed as the “Last Leonardo” and the art find of the century, the mysterious 13-inch-tall portrait of a Florentine child bride with a Mona Lisa-esque smile was part of a an album titled La Sforziada when it arrived in Poland in the early 16th century.

The image in chalk and ink on a calfskin vellum, and no
 The First News •

New WWII Netflix docuseries slammed for ‘ignoring’ Poland’s role

A new WWII Netflix documentary has been heavily criticized by historians for ‘significant oversights’ regarding Poland’s role in the global conflict.

The six-part documentary titled "World War II: From the Frontlines," boasts unique, enhanced colourized footage of World War II, offering a visceral and immersive experience. Voices from all sides contribute personal narratives, creating what is billed as an "intense visual chronicle."

Garry Kasparov, former chess champion and a prominent detract
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Polish architect named best in the world at international awards

A Polish architect has been awarded the title of world’s best architect for his James Bond-style mountain-top ski centre in Silesia’s Beskid mountains.

Przemek Gawęda clinched the title of Architect of the Year 2023 at the prestigious international Architecture Community awards for his multifunctional Biathlon Stadium in Kubalonka, which once completed will provide Poland with the opportunity to host World Cup and even Winter Olympic events.

According to the international jury, the Biathlon St
 The First News •

Kraków to launch ‘Wawel Dragon’ statue trail

While Wrocław has delighted visitors for several years with its charming trail of metal dwarves dotted around the city, Kraków is following hard on its heels but with its own signature creature: the Wawel Dragon.

City authorities have announced that in a few days’, seven dragon figurines will be installed at points around the royal city, to be followed later by as many as 10 dragons, which will appear on and around Wawel Hill.

The sculptures, measuring approximately 35 to 50 cm, will be instal
 The First News •

Netflix adaptation of Polish classic becomes global hit

A Netflix production of the 1980s classic cult film “Znachor” is proving a run-away hit with international audiences, according to the latest information from the streaming giant.

The story of Professor Rafał Wilczur permeated the national consciousness years ago thanks to the 1982 film directed by Jerzy Hoffman, in which the title character was played by Jerzy Bińczycki.

The new film which originally starred Jerzy Bińczycki in the lead role is an update of Jerzy Hoffman’s film of the same nam
 The First News •

Kraków once again named best-value winter break destination

Kraków has secured its reputation as the ultimate destination for budget-conscious travelers seeking winter city breaks by coming out top in a ranking compiled by travel experts.

In the annual ranking designed by global car rental firm Discover Cars to assess both the allure and affordability of winter-break cities, Kraków emerged as the victor for the third year in a row, surpassing renowned European capitals such as Prague and Brussels.

The top contenders in the ranking are predominantly ico
 The First News •

Bird spotters flock to metro to catch glimpse of rare warbler

Warsaw's bustling Centrum metro station became an unexpected epicentre for birdwatchers on Sunday as they flocked to catch a glimpse of a Sardinian Warbler, a rare avian visitor to Poland.

Ornithology enthusiasts equipped with cameras and binoculars thronged around the entrance to the Centrum metro station, known colloquially by locals as the "frying pan" because of its round, flat surface.

Their attention was drawn to the bushes that circle the area after reports had circulated among twitcher
 The First News •

‘Tarantino-style’ Kościuszko Uprising epic wins Gdynia film festival

A new film about the Kościuszko Uprising has won the coveted Golden Lion for Best Film last night at the Gdynia Film Festival, Poland's leading cinema showcase.

Dubbed a ‘Tarantino-esque Western in 18th century Poland’, the film’s compelling blend of grotesque violence and black humour is set against the tumultuous backdrop of Poland in 1794, when Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the eponymous 'Kos', returns to Poland to rally support among the peasantry for his insurrection against the Russians.

Their jou
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Thwarted love which inspired Mickiewicz to be turned into epic new film

An upcoming film and TV series are set to capture the fiery passion of national bard Adam Mickiewicz, responsible for towering literary achievements such as Pan Tadeusz and Dziady.

Titled Uncertainty, the ambitious mega-production promises an intimate portrayal of the young Mickiewicz during a turbulent love affair, which would sow seeds of inspiration, ultimately germinating in works that would go on to become the cornerstone of Poland's literary heritage.

According to producers at Telewizja
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Priceless painting looted during WWII returned to Poland from Japan

A precious Italian artwork from the 16th century stolen by Nazi Germany during World War II and later found in Japan has been restored to Poland.

The first war-loss to be repatriated from the Far East, the Madonna with Child painted by the Italian master Alessandro Turchi at the end of the 16th century was stolen by the Germans during the war from the extensive Lubomirski art collection in Przeworsk.

The first war-loss to be repatriated from the Far East, the Madonna with Child painted by the
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Exhibition celebrates Andrzej Wróblewski, Poland’s most expensive artist

An outsider, individualist and Poland's most expensive painter, Andrzej Wróblewski is the subject of a newly opened exhibition at the National Museum in Lublin.

Dying tragically at just 30 years of age, he is regarded as one of Poland’s most important artists of the 20th century, with his work reflecting the times in which he lived – the atrocities of the war and the political changes in Poland.

Execution IV, from the series Executions, exemplifies Wróblewski’s preoccupation with the war and d
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British Earl returns 16th century literary treasure to National Library

A member of the British royal family has travelled to Poland to personally hand over one of his books to the National Library after discovering that it had once graced the hallowed shelves of the institution's precursor in the 18th century.

Speaking in Polish at the National Library, George Windsor, the Earl of St Andrews, explained that he bought the 1523 French literary treasure ‘L’histoire de Primaleon de Grece’ by Francisco Vázquez thirty years ago at a street market in Cambridge while he w
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Hollywood duo surprise Muranów locals after filming in Warsaw

Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, and Kieran Culkin from HBO's megahit Succession have been seen spotted in Poland working on a forthcoming Holocaust film set in Warsaw and Lublin.

Yesterday, on Zamenhofa street in Warsaw near the POLIN Museum, surprised locals were able to catch a glimpse of the duo shooting A Real Pain, written and directed by Eisenberg.

Yesterday, on Zamenhofa street in Warsaw, surprised locals were able to catch a glimpse of the duo shootin
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The Poles behind Hollywood giant Warner Bros

As legendary film studio Warner Bros reaches its monumental centennial anniversary today, a little-known fact about its founders is that the brilliant minds behind timeless classics like Casablanca came from a small village near Pułtusk in northern Mazowsze.

The first Warner to step foot in America was the father of the brothers, cobbler Benjamin Warner, who arrived in America with just a gold watch in his pocket and stories in his head of golden opportunities and untold riches.

Upon arrival t
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Skolimowski’s ‘emotional’ donkey film nominated for 2023 Oscars

Jerzy Skolimowski's moving film about a donkey's adventures has become one of five nominees in this year's Best International Film category for the Academy Awards.

Chosen alongside the German production All Quiet on the Western Front, Santiago Mitre's Argentina 1985, relationship drama Close from Belgium and the Banshees of Inisherin featuring Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson, actors Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams revealed the nominees for the upcoming 2023 Academy Awards on Tuesday.

The movie
The First News •

Long-forgotten photos spark mission to find the people involved

A treasure trove of 500 negatives from the 1960s and 1970s found in the basement of a Youth Cultural Centre in Warsaw has sparked a mission to track down the people and stories behind the images.

The negatives discovered at the Łazienkowska centre and which have been lying hidden for over 50 years, depict people and events related to the centre's activities as well as scenes captured on the streets of Warsaw.

The discovery was made when workers were tidying up the basement and found sealed car
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Sundance documentary reveals Chopin Piano Comp’s harsh realities

A documentary film that transports viewers into the high-stakes world of the Chopin Piano Competition will receive its premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival this Friday.

Directed by Polish filmmaker Jakub Piątek, the film offers an intimate and gripping portrait of young pianists' entry into adulthood as they compete in one of the world's most cutthroat piano competitions.

Directed by Polish filmmaker Jakub Piątek, viewers are given a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes of
The First News •

Art historian and TV host to set up museum of looted WWII art

Art historian and popular TV host Magdalena Ogórek is making sure the stories of stolen Polish art are not forgotten with the construction of the Museum of Stolen Art in Lower Silesia.

The museum, set to open by the end of 2023, will feature a permanent exhibition on how the Germans stole an estimated USD 30 billion of Polish cultural goods.

The museum, set to open by the end of 2023 in Sulisławice near Ząbkowice Śląskie, will feature a permanent exhibition on how the Germans stole an estimate
The First News •

New hotel to symbolise ‘courage and determination’ of Ukrainians

Polish architects are behind a new hotel being built in Lviv in a show of defiance to Russia’s ongoing war.

In 2019, architects from Kuryłowicz & Associates came up with the winning design for the four-star hotel, which Ukrainian contractors are now building on the famous Mickiewicz Square UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits on one of the main traffic routes leading to Lviv's Old Town.

Jakub Lewkowicz, an architect and management board member at Kuryłowicz & Associates, told TFN: “The proje
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Artist whose paintings helped resurrect Warsaw goes on show in stunning new exhibition

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Warsaw’s best-known city portraitist Bernardo Bellotto, the Royal Castle in Warsaw is hosting an exhibition about him on a scale never seen before in the country.

There is no other source that reveals more about how the capital looked during the boom-time of the reign of the last king of Poland in the late eighteenth century.

Bellotto's city landscapes, or vedutes, let us see Warsaw how it really looked in astonishing photographic detail.

So
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