An Angel, a Frog, Pola and the “Politka”
The most coveted award in the world of cinema is, of course, the Oscar. But statuettes esteemed and valued in the film community are also handed out at festivals in our region.
The International Film Festival Camerimage in Toruń boasts more than a 30-year tradition. This year marked its 33rd edition. The main partner and co-host of the event has long been the self-government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. Twelve titles competed in the main competition for the most important prize – the Golden Frog statuette for best cinematography. The trophy was won by German cinematographer Judith Kaufmann for her work on Petra Volpe’s film Late Shift.
The Golden Frog figurine is made of bronze covered in 19-carat gold and is hollow inside. It stands on a base of Swedish marble. The prestigious statuette was designed by sculptor Aleksander Dętkoś, an artist connected with the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, who won the competition announced by the Camerimage management. The award references the legendary monument of the Flisak (Raftsman) and the frogs surrounding him on Toruń’s Old Town Market Square. “The design was meant not only to indicate the unbreakable bond with the city where the festival was born, but also to symbolically reference the frog’s ability to rotate its eye 360 degrees – exactly like a film camera guided by the cinematographer’s hand,” explain the Camerimage organisers.
The so-called frog’s-eye view is a distinctive filming technique in which the camera lens is positioned below the centre of the recorded object, looking up, making the subject appear larger than it is in reality.
Another Toruń legend is also invoked by the Flisak statuette, which serves as an award for artists associated with our region and is presented during the Tofifest International Film Festival in Toruń. “It is the oldest award in Poland dedicated to a regional artist. It has existed since the festival’s first edition and is an important element in promoting the development of cinema in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region,” reads the Tofifest website.
However, the main trophy of this festival is the Golden Angel – the Grand Prix for the director of the best film in the On Air competition. The same statuette is also given as the Audience Award to the maker of the best Polish film of that year’s Tofifest edition.
The Toruń festival has grown from a small local event into one of the most important in Poland; this year held its 23rd edition. And angels are inseparably associated with Toruń: the city’s coat of arms features one – holding a shield with red walls and three towers, and a golden key in its right hand.
In 2025, the Golden Angel at Tofifest went to Lesson Learned by Bálint Szimler. The Audience Award was won by Under the Grey Sky, directed by Mary Tamkovich. Kazik Staszewski and Mirosław Baka received Golden Angels “for creative defiance.”
The film review “Pola and Others”, organised by the Pola Negri Cultural Society of Lipno, has a slightly shorter history than Tofifest. This event, held since 2007, pays homage to the great star of world cinema who was born in Lipno. Its aim is to restore memory of her life and work, while also showcasing contemporary Polish artists and actors, especially those active on the international scene. Thanks to this film event, Lipno becomes a place of meetings, discussions, and exchanges of experience between creators and audiences.
The main award of the Lipno review is the “Politka” statuette. It was designed by sculptor Zdzisław Ostrowski, and the original casting was made by Toruń sculptor Tadeusz Porębski. It depicts Pola Negri in a costume from the silent film The Spanish Dancer (1923). It was one of the first Hollywood productions in which the famous Polish actress appeared. Pola played the dancer Maritana. In this year’s 18th edition, the Politka statuettes were awarded to: Kamil Mróz – an actor for theatre, film and dubbing born in Lipno – and Dagmara Domińczyk – an American actress of Polish descent known from films and series such as Succession and The Count of Monte Cristo.
Pola Negri’s name is also carried by the Film Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, granted since 2022. It is a statuette in the form of a stylised film reel featuring the image of the global cinema icon born in Lipno. It was designed by Toruń artist Zbigniew Mikielewicz. The award is presented at film festivals held in our region to actors and filmmakers – both established stars and talented newcomers – who contribute something lasting and original to Polish cinema. Its most recent recipient is actor Eryk Kulm – known for leading roles in Boxer, Filip and Michał Kwieciński’s latest super-production Chopin, Chopin! He received the Pola Negri Award during the 33rd edition of Camerimage in Toruń. One of the most expensive productions in the history of Polish cinematography, the film was financially supported by the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Film Fund.
The Academy Award Statuette
The most desired prize in the world of cinema is, of course, the Oscar – the statuette of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It is 34 cm tall, weighs almost 4 kg, and is made of bronze covered with a layer of 24-carat gold. It depicts a nude knight holding a sword, standing on a base topped with a roll of film featuring five frames. In March 2026, the Oscars will be handed out for the 98th time at the ceremony in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Department of Promotion
4 December 2025