Książka o Zjeździe Filmowym w Wiśle ’49. Edycja źródeł wraz z opracowaniami

In 2024, the Polish Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA) has published an impressive volume entitled „The Film Convention in Wisła 1949. Sources – Comments – Studies”. The authors of the academic studies and compilation are Barbara Giza and Adam Wyżyński. It is the first book entirely devoted to the Filmmakers’ Convention in Wisła which took place from 17–20 November. As a result, full convention transcripts have been published for the first time. Part one of the book, entitled „Introduction”, contains three articles by Rafał Habielski, Grzegorz Wołowiec and Piotr Zwierzchowski, presenting the political context of the Convention. The second, main part of the publication contains a transcript of the Convention in Wisła. The great merit of this edition is the thorough editing of the source text and the inclusion of numerous footnotes containing explanations, biographical and film notes, etc. Part three of the book contains „Other source material” relating to the Convention. Also of great value is a set of photographs from the Convention included in the volume; they are an important source material in themselves. The last part contains four articles (by Barbara Giza and Adam Wyżyński, Mariusz Mazur, Piotr Śmiałowski and Jarosław Grzechowiak) which provide commentary on the source batch. The volume devoted to the Convention in Wisła is a well and carefully published, superbly researched item. There is no doubt that the publication will become a must for anyone interested in Polish cinematography, post-war Polish history, or Polish culture.