Papaya Young Directors 2021 announces winners

The jury of this year's competition awarded 5 prizes, 4 distinctions, and 4 special prizes. Additionally, the Audience Award winner was chosen by online voting. 

The statuettes were handed out on 2nd July during the ‘Finally’: Gala in Sowiński Park, and coverage of the gala could be watched live in selected places in Poland and selected European cities.

The competition’s Grand Prix, as well as the award for the Best Film in the Music Stories category, was won by Marcin Kluczykowski for the video Zabawa (Fun) to the song by Krzysztofa Zalewskiego (Catz ‘N Dogz remix). The director intertwines grotesque horror and comedy in an almost 5-minute-long video, co-creating a visually interesting concept with the music. As the jury commented: "This work, from explication to production, was the most conceptually coherent, required the least feedback, and in the end, it surprised us the most with its refined and thoughtful form in every cinematic element".

An additional Distinction - for editing this awarded music video, was received by Miron Kundzicz. Among the films in this category, the special Panavision Award for Best Cinematography was awarded to the cinematographer, who also directed the video for Kayah's song Czarna Niedziela (Black Sunday) - Michał Sierakowski.

In the category Vertical Branded Stories by Facebook the first prize went to Mariana Martinez for the film for Durex: Trampoline. The clip, in a creative and humorous way, conveys the often overlooked and underestimated taboo related to choosing the right size of condoms. "Trampoline" also received the special Lunapark Prize. The film was recognised for presenting an ordinary moment that metaphorically captures people's struggles in this area of life.

The film Bedtime Stories dedicated to Durex, directed by Jiri Horensky, won first place in the Branded Stories category. Referring to the film’s title, the director shows various shades of intimacy, presenting sex as something much deeper than just a physical connection. The jury appreciated the director's exceptional sensitivity, in showing diversity and multiplicity of needs along with numerous dimensions of pleasure, as well as a remarkable journey that allows us to feel sensuality in various forms. The sensitivity in working with actors was also emphasised, which resulted in an experience of real intimacy on screen.

The Branded Stories category abounded in awards and distinctions this year. The special Heliograf Award for remarkable visual sensitivity in directing and cinematography went to Mikołaj Piszczan, Miłosz Sawicki and Stefan Żółtowski for the film Pics or it didn’t happen made for SAMSUNG. This award was also given to Zuzia Sorówka and Paweł Grabarek for their film for Durex Wolność na naszych zasadach (Freedom on Our Own Terms) Distinctions in Directing were awarded to Nils Hansen for the Audioteka spot: A Forgotten World and the duo Ola Hulbój & Michał Toczek for the film Żyłka czy plecionka? (Fishing) made for Tyskie.