Agnieszka Zwiefka
Runa
After her mom's tragic death on the Polish-Belarussian border, a 16-year-old Kurdish girl, RUNA, has to become a mother to her four younger brothers as the family deals with trauma and tries to establish a new life in Europe.
SYNOPSIS
When her mother freezes to death during the refugee crisis in the forest on Europe’s Eastern frontiers, 16-year-old RUNA has to quickly grow up and take care of her four younger brothers and helpless, depressed father as the family deals with trauma in a refugee camp and tries to establish a new life in Europe. Runa's greatest fear is being forced to return to Iraq, where Kurds face the threat of ISIS. She wants to live like her newfound European friends and become a lawyer. Her only escape from problems is a sketchbook filled with drawings expressing her feelings. Trees are swallowing people and spitting out bones. A girl on the edge of an abyss. Gradually, Runa's drawings come to life. Our film is a partially animated coming-of-age story during the global refugee crisis.
DIRECTOR
Agnieszka Zwiefka
PRODUCERS
Zofia Kujawska
Agnieszka Zwiefka
CO-PRODUCER
Sigrid Dyekjaer
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Chilli Productions
CO-PRODUCTION COMPANY
Real Lava
COUNTRY
Poland
Agnieszka Zwiefka
AGNIESZKA ZWIEFKA is an awarded film director. Her films THE QUEEN OF SILENCE (2014) and SCARS (2020) were screened at festivals worldwide. She also holds a PhD and works as a lecturer of documentary film at the Institute of Journalism and Social Communication at the University of Wroclaw. Member of the European Film Academy (EFA), Polish Filmmakers Society (SFP) and EWA European Women’s Audiovisual Network. Alumna of workshops Dok.Incubator, ScripTeast, Nipkow Programme, Berlinale Talents and Meryl Streep's and Nicole Kidman's The Writers Lab, where she is developing her first fiction film SHE.
When the refugee crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border started, I felt compelled to join a group of volunteers and help those fortunate enough to make it through the freezing forest. It was during this time that I met RUNA and her family. From the outset, it was clear to me that this cannot be yet another documentary about the refugee crisis but a genuine coming-of-age story filtered through a teenager's POV. Runa's animated sketchbook, which brings her dreams and nightmares to life, serves as the perfect vehicle to portray the unfilmable aspects of her world, akin to the style of PERSEPOLIS (2007).
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Zofia Kujawska
ZOFIA KUJAWSKA has been a part of production teams of such documentary films as THE BALCONY MOVIE (2021) by Paweł Łoziński, PIANOFORTE (2023) by Jakub Piątek, THE WALL OF SHADOWS (2020) by Eliza Kubarska or VIKA! (2023) by Agnieszka Zwiefka as well as several feature films and series. RUNA will be her debut as the lead producer.
Production company profile
CHILLI PRODUCTIONS focuses on creative documentaries that explore new forms and cross the boundaries of a genre, combining documentary and fiction storytelling. Chilli has produced films for such broadcasters as HBO Europe, ZDF/ARTE, YLE, SVT and RAI, becoming a leading Polish company when it comes to international documentary co-productions. The line-up includes THE QUEEN OF SILENCE (2014), ALBERT CINEMA (2013), and SCARS (2020).
Where are we at?
PRODUCTION BUDGET
325.000 EUR
NEEDED FOR COMPLETION
150.000 EUR
TERRIOTORIES AVAILABLE
Worldwide
EXPECTED RELEASE
2024
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