Maria Zbąska’s debut, It’s Not My Film, wins the SMART7 Competition

The SMART7 Competition announced its winner during the closing gala of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, on November 10. The prize was awarded to the polish director Maria Zbąska for her debut It’s Not My Film. The  SMART7 competition celebrates new European cinema and was initiated by a group of film festivals across the continent. Seven films selected by curators from each film event were screened along the festival season and the winner was chosen by an international youth jury. The prize of the program was €5,000.

It's Not My Film follows the story of a couple (played by Zofia Chabiera and Marcin Sztabinski) who embarks on a 400-kilometer hike along the Baltic Sea in the middle of winter in a final attempt to save their marriage. The jury appreciated the film’s simplicity and honesty: 

The winning production is a moving blend of romantic comedy and survival cinema, showing a rare image of mature love on the big screen. The film’s beautiful cinematography captures a couple’s journey to mend their relationship, with authentic dialogue and profound reflections. The characters confront nature as a metaphor for their inner conflicts, and though their attempts are imperfect, they are deeply touching. This film stands out for its narrative simplicity, humour and powerful visual style.

Maria Zbąska, who also wrote the script alongside Kazimierz Zbaski, remarks: 

"This is my debut and I am grateful for this award. Thank you to the SMART7 film festival cooperation network for everything. Getting to access the beautiful world of cinema in seven festivals, seven countries and seven kinds of audiences was a major opportunity. Alongside me, I have my producer and my amazing protagonist."

The members of the international youth jury who awarded the film were Vlăduț Iosef (Romania), Glykeria Zakila (Greece), Mija Ničajutė (Lithuania), Miguel Cavaco (Portugal), Enma Calvo Olloqui (Spain), Daria Sienkiewicz (Poland), Nikulás Tumi Hlynsson (Iceland).

SMART7 is a network initiated by seven film festivals that connects similar goals and visions from different European cultural and geopolitical areas. The main purpose of this alliance is not only to respond to current needs, but also to define common trends for future growth and development of industry and festival culture. SMART7 has members from seven different countries: Poland (New Horizons IFF), Iceland (Reykjavik IFF), Portugal (IndieLisboa IFF), Romania (Transilvania IFF), Spain (FILMADRID IFF), Greece (Thessaloniki IFF) and Lithuania (Vilnius IFF Kino Pavasaris).

Part of the initiative, SMART7 hosted workshops dedicated to festival professionals in Poland And Iceland. 

SMART7 is a network co-funded by the Creative Europe Media.