At this year’s CPH:FORUM, director Łukasz Kowalski, Polish producer Anna Mazerant (4.30 Studio) & Danish co-producer Signe Byrge Sørensen (Final Cut For Real), wins the Rise and Shine Award for the project My Father, The Iceman.
On their motivation for selecting the precept, the jury said: “This was a large category, with many remarkable pitches and worthy winners. In the end we felt there was one project which really made the hair stand up on the back of our necks. Taking a very personal angle on a political movement that threatens us all, it offers a unique story. We felt that everywhere in the world, audiences will be touched by this character’s crucial dilemma and the cost of making a courageous choice.”
The Polish/Danish production is currently in production and tells the story of Ewa, who lives in the shadow of her father's crime — the assassination of an anti-apartheid leader in South Africa. Despite this, she fights for his release. When he returns to Poland after 30 years and joins the far right, she feels forced to confront him.
Read more about the CPH:INDUSTRY 2026 award winners here.