The Essence of Life

Wednesday, September 14 at 18:10

Art kino Croatia

Director: Anna Ferens

Producer: Małgorzata Matuszewska

Country of origin: Poland, 2021

Runtime: 57'

SUMMARY

The Essence of Life is a documentary about Prof. Wacław Szybalski a scientist of an outstanding mind and incredible biography. Prof. Szybalski is called "The Father of Synthetic Biology". His pioneer research, in particular inserting DNA into human cells, i.e. cellular transformation, allowed to revolutionize modern biology and medicine, creating thus the basis for gene therapy. Prof. Wacław Szybalski emphasizes also the ethical aspects of genetics. Pope John Paul II invited him to consult Vatican stance on genetic engineering.

Director Biography

Documentary filmmaker and screenwriter. Laureate of Awards: Main Prize of International RomaFictionFest in Rome, Main Prizes at Polish Film Festivals in New York & Los Angeles and Gold Medal at Chicago International Television Festival, among others. Commissioning Editor in „18 - Clash of Futures” TV Series (Production: LOOKSfilm, ARTE in collaboration with Iris Productions, Les Films d’Ici, Osterreichischer Rundfunk - ORF). She was also a Member of the Jury at Planete Doc Review Film Festival held in Warsaw and Europaisches Dokumentarfilm Festival in Neubrandenburg, among others. From 2016 Head of Documentary Films Production Unit in TVP(Polish Public TV).

ISTRA FILM presents HISTORY FILM FESTIVAL

Program manager and director TIHA MODRIĆ

Producers TIHA MODRIĆ & DEJAN BOJC

Video production ROBERT KALČIĆ & IGOR MODRIĆ

Designer ROBERT KRANČIĆ

Photography RINO GROPUZZO

Graphic & web design GRAFIK, Rijeka