There Are People in the Forest

Szymon
Ruczynski

Szymon Ruczynski was born in Hajnowka, Poland, in 2000. Currently student of an Animated Film and Special Effect department at the Polish National Film School in Lodz. He grew up in Bialowieza, a village in the centre of the ancient Bialowieza Forest which is the source of inspiration for his award-winning films "Reason" and "The Wildwood Diptych". In 2021 and 2022 Szymon participated in bringing humanitarian aid to the refugees hiding in the forest. He uses mixed animation techniques to tell stories about socially relevant problems he witnesses.

A wordless film reflects the cruel, yet sadly common situations at the Polish-Belarusian EU border, the scene of an ongoing refugee crisis.

This film screens as part of the programZlín Dog - Student Animations 2.