Canadian Premiere
A thrilling glimpse into what it takes to compete in the prestigious and renowned International Chopin Competition, which has been held in Warsaw every five years since 1927. The stakes are high: not only because of the substantial prize money, but due to the overnight launch to fame these young pianists are promised. PIANOFORTE follows a handful of incredibly talented young musicians through rigorous practice sessions, anxiety-filled moments on and off stage, and the despair and joy of the coveted final performance. Director Jakub Piątek’s keen observational eye captures the nerves, the raw emotion, and the camaraderie and friendships that develop over the 21 days of the contest. Of course, the documentary is filled with extraordinary interpretations of the beloved composer Frédéric Chopin’s masterworks. Engaging and entertaining, PIANOFORTE provides rare insight to the sacrifice, ambition and external support required to follow this exalted musical dream.
September 30: Q&A with director Jakub Piątek
Series Media Partner
Community Partner
Poland
2023
Portraits
In Chinese, English, Italian, Polish, Russian with English subtitles
Coarse Language
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Producer
Maciej Kubicki
Screenwriter
Jakub Piatek
Cinematography
Filip Drożdż
Editor
Ula Klimek-Piątek
Original Music
Teoniki Rożynek
Director
Photo by Michal Hara
Jakub Piątek
Jakub Piatek was born in 1985 in Poland. Piatek studied at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. Before studying directing, he worked as a journalist. His full-length feature debut Prime Time (2021) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. PIANOFORTE (2023) also premiered at Sundance, receiving its international premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. Piatek currently teaches film at the Polish National Film School.
Filmography: Prime Time (2021);
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Sasha Waters' documentary takes us through the life of America's best-selling late twentieth century poet, a private woman who shared her innermost thoughts and made them indispensable.
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg's gripping war movie was hailed as an instant classic in 1998, and he won his second Academy Award in five years for Best Director. Matt Damon takes the title role, Tom Hanks is charged with bringing him home from the front.
Palimpsest: The Story of a Name
Drawing on home movies and diaries from the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s, Canadian filmmaker Mary Stephen (Eric Rohmer's editor for many years) investigates the origins of her surname. After all, she was born in Hong Kong to Chinese parents. Or were they... ?
Buffalo '66
Vincent Gallo's directorial debut is an eccentric, provocative comedy which laces a poignant love story with both a sombre, washed-out naturalism and surreal musical vignettes. This one is something different...
Run Lola Run
In the hyper intense world of pre-millennial Berlin, Lola has just 20 minutes to come up with a 100,000 Deutchmarks or her boyfriend cops it. He's asking the right woman: Lola won't stop til she's saved the day... It's Speed, in the multiverse...