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CANTATA FOR 108 POLISH MARTYRS OF WORLD WAR II

108 Polish martyrs, murdered during World War II out of hatred of faith, were beatified during the Apostolic Journey of John Paul II to Poland, in Warsaw on June 13, 1999. This group includes: three bishops, twenty-six religious priests, three clerics, seven religious brothers, eight religious sisters and nine lay people. Many of them lost their lives for hiding Jews or willingly went to their deaths in exchange for other prisoners of the concentration camp. The cantata is a reminder not only of their lives, but also the meaning of life of each of us. In the scenographic layer, it refers to the work of one of the greatest Polish scenographers - Marian Kołodziej, who was sent to Auschwitz with the first transport in 1940. Until 1945, he was still imprisoned in Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, Mauthausen-Gusen and Groß-Rosen. By using original means of expression, designing an original video visualization based on the latest technologies, but also laboriously drawing several hundred drawings, constructing a libretto and music for the cantata that was well thought out in every respect, we have built an event with a broad cultural and social context. It appeals to both an elite audience with high cultural competences, as well as a wide, diverse group of recipients.

  • Marek Wojtasik
    Director
    Lem i Mrożek - reaktywacja
  • Marek Wojtasik
    Writer
    Lem i Mrożek - reaktywacja
  • Szymon Chyliński
    Key Cast
    "COMPOSER "
  • Szymon Morus
    Key Cast
    "MUSIC DIRECTION Chamber Orchestra PROGRES in the symphonic line-up"
  • Paweł Mazur
    Key Cast
    "SET DESIGN"
  • Marian Kołodziej
    Key Cast
    "SET DESIGN"
  • Anna Wilczewska
    Producer
    Conductor Gdańsk Chamber Choir "441 Hz"
  • Wanda Franek
    Producer
    alto soloist
  • Michał Janicki
    Producer
    baritone soloist
  • Paweł Zagańczyk
    Producer
    accordion soloist
  • Łukasz Perucki
    Producer
    violin soloist
  • Project Type:
    Animation
  • Runtime:
    53 minutes 40 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Poland
  • Country of Filming:
    Poland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    cyfrowy
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Pro bono Poloniae Competition Commission awarded the "Transgressive Art" Foundation the first prize for the event "Cantata for 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II".
    Gdańsk
    Poland
    Grand Prize
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    March 7, 2025
    Greece
    honorable mention
  • Crown Wood International Film Festival
    Kalkuta
    India
    March 16, 2025
    Premiera w Kalkucie
    Winner in the Animated Feature Film category
Distribution Information
  • Fundacja TRANSGRESSIVE ART
    Sales Agent
    Country: Poland
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Marek Wojtasik

Poet, playwright, screenwriter, founder of the satirical theatre "ŁUL", with which he won many awards, co-author of the script of the first episodes of the series "Radio Romans". Founder (2010) and President of the "Sztuka Transgresyjna" foundation, former director of the Gdańsk Society of Friends of Art. Producer of such artistic activities as: Gdańsk Days in Berlin, premiere concert (1999) of the Polish Festival Orchestra conducted by Krystian Zimerman, and in 2016 the 30th anniversary of TOTART in the Baltic Sea Culture Centre and the presentation of TOTART in Wrocław (as part of events related to the celebrations of: Wrocław European Capital of Culture), 30th anniversary of the magazine "bruLion" in the Warsaw theatre "Kamienica". Author and implementer of the international project "At the intersection of cultures in the Poprad Valley" financed by the VISEGRAD FUND. Author and producer of verbal and musical performances: "A spectacle with a key" and "Seven Kashubian Colors in Hans Memling's Painting The Last Judgment". Co-organizer of cultural events in Odessa, Bardejov and Berlin. Producer, artistic director, author of the libretto for "Cantata for 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II". Producer, artistic director, author of the screenplays of the films: "Quarantine of the Old Town of Gdansk", "Quartet for four masks", "My name is Janek Wiśniewski". Director, author of the screenplay of the film "Lem and Mrożek – revival". Co-author of the libretto of the musical " Money changers and altar boys".

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Director Statement

We would like to thank all the artists who took part in the production of the film.