David Lynch at the opening of an exhibition of his lithographs, Bydgoszcz, Camerimage: photo - PAP/Tytus Zmijewski
The director of Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive is set to receive a lifetime achievement award later this week.
The event, which is dedicated to “the art of cinematography”, draws on Poland's reputation as a source of some of the finest cameramen in the business.
Noted Polish cinematographers at large today include Slawomir Idziak (Black Hawk Down, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Pawel Edelman (The Pianist, Ghost Writer, Katyn) and Andrzej Bartkowiak (The Verdict, Terms of Endearment), all of whom were educated at the national film school in Lodz, central Poland.
Besides Lynch, other guests at this year's jubilee edition of the festival include American director, screenwriter and photographer Gus Van Sant and Canadian born actor Keanu Reeves.
Camerimage was first organized in Torun in 1993, before moving to Lodz in 2000, and finally to Bydgoszcz in 2010, after a fall-out between festival director Marek Zydowicz and Lodz authorities.
Zydowicz had championed an extensive new cultural complex in Lodz, but the project was suspended owing to financial problems.
David Lynch had himself been a key investor in the development, with the director hoping to found a studio on the city.
Lynch claimed in an interview on Monday that city authorities had “killed” Lodz.
“I loved Lodz, I loved the people, I loved the atmosphere and the architecture,” he told Polish television channel TVP.
“But the new team and the president of the city killed Lodz.” he claimed.
“We were going to create a unique place there,” he reflected.
The 20th edition of Camerimage runs until 1 December. (nh/ss)