The Polish premiere of Nikolaus Geyrhalter's latest film "The Standstill" will take place today at 6:15 p.m. in Muranów Cinema. It will be preceded by the presentation of the Marek Nowicki Award to the director and followed by a Q&A with the audience. This will be the only meeting with Geyrhalter at the 23rd WATCH DOCS IFF.

The retrospective of Nikolaus Geyrhalter's work is being carried out in partnership with the Austrian Cultural Forum in Warsaw.

About the film:

A truly grand film and a comprehensive and unexpected portrait of a world that stood still as monumentally captured by the master of cinematic aesthetics. 

Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s latest documentary methodically and comprehensively examines the phenomenon of the COVID-19 pandemic. The multidimensional quandary of a society suddenly confronted with a gigantic challenge is reflected in the refined frames typical of his films. From empty streets to overcrowded hospitals, from conversations with exhausted gravediggers to noisy anti-vaccine rallies, the Austrian filmmaker gradually adds more pieces to the puzzle, trying to comprehend this extraordinary time of fear and hope, the most difficult choices, and longing for community. Standstill shows how individuals, groups and the state adapt to extreme situations, creating various defense mechanisms. It draws attention to the unapparent consequences of the pandemic, which will remain with us for a very long time.