Cinema | Franciszek Lepich: Photographer of Oleszka | Film & Curator Talk, Magdalena Górniak-Bardzik

The festival exhibition located in the Hartwig Alley is not the only item on the programme that will bring us closer to the figure of Franciszek Lepich from Oleszka. Join us on Friday evening for a talk with Magdalena Górniak-Bardzik, the curator of a special project dedicated to this fascinating photographer and his work. Ms. Górniak-Bardzik, from the Opole Village Museum, will lead a conversation that delves into Lepich’s life and the remarkable discovery of  his photographs. Aleksandra Zińczuk will moderate the discussion.

The talk will be followed by a film screening that offers a deeper look into Lepich’s work.

Film Description:

An integral part of the project is a film dedicated to the photographs and their creator.  This documentary explores the life and work of Franciszek Lepich, an amateur photographer who left behind an exceptionally valuable collection. The film examines the photographs from an ethnographic, historical, sociological, and technical perspective. Lepich’s children, son Berthold and daughter Bronisława, share their memories of their father. Dr. hab. Teresa Smolińska, a cultural researcher and folklorist from the University of Opole, discusses the collection’s significance for understanding Upper Silesia’s cultural heritage, including the spiritual and material aspects of rural life. Additionally, Prof. Dr hab. Marek Szyryk, a photographer and lecturer at the Higher Film School in Łódź, analyzes the historical value of the preserved glass negatives, highlighting the artistic and technical merits of the photographs themselves. The film is produced by Sławomir Mielnik.