Agnieszka Holland will be the central figure of the second weekend of Malta Festival, which will take place from June 20 to 28 in Poznań. The jubilee 35th edition will feature the premieres of two stage productions inspired by her work. The first is the opera “The Monster’s Voice: An Opera Inspired by Europa Europa by Sally Perel and Agnieszka Holland,” created by Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Robert Bolesto, and Alek Nowak. The second is the play “A Woman Alone” directed by Anna Smolar. The premieres will be accompanied by a meeting with the directors.

The protagonist and guide of the second weekend of the 35th Malta Festival will be Agnieszka Holland, one of the most renowned and respected Polish film and television directors. The director behind “In Darkness,” “Europa Europa,” and Green Border has long operated at the intersection of artistic and socially engaged cinema. A fearless and uncompromising artist, bold in form and theme, she has received numerous awards at major film festivals and has been nominated for an Oscar®, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy®. Her work consistently takes the side of the individual – lost, rejected, fighting for dignity and survival. It is her films that served as the starting point for the creation of two premiere events at this year’s edition of the festival: the opera “The Monster’s Voice: An Opera Inspired by Europa Europa by Sally Perel and Agnieszka Holland,” directed by Agnieszka Smoczyńska, and the play “A Woman Alone” by Anna Smolar.

Agnieszka Holland is a steadfast creator, always standing by the side of the human being – both on set and in life. Her social engagement, strength, uncompromising choices, and the powerful language of her artistic expression are extremely important to me. A few years ago, I supported the creation of “Green Border,” which remains all too relevant today, and now, as part of Malta Festival, I present new interpretations of the harrowing and deeply contemporary films of this great Polish director – a wonderful, wise, and courageous woman whose friendship I am proud of – emphasizes Dominika Kulczyk, Patron of Malta Festival.

The world premiere of “The Monster’s Voice “will take place on June 27 and 28 at Aula Artis in Poznań. More about opera: (link)

The opera is produced by Malta Festival, the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, and the National Centre for Culture. The event is part of the National Cultural Program of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event at the 35th Malta Festival is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage under the Music program. The Main Partner of the 35th Malta Festival premiere is Polenergia.The premiere of the play, co-produced by Malta Festival and the Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw, will take place on June 14 in Warsaw, followed by a performance in Poznań on Saturday, June 28. That same day, Saturday, June 28, the festival will host a conversation with Agnieszka Holland, Anna Smolar, and Agnieszka Smoczyńska, moderated by Michał Merczyński, curator of projects related to the work of Agnieszka Holland.