Survival

The auteur animated film titled “Survival” addresses the issues of homelessness and the degradation of the human environment. These problems are presented in an exaggerated and grotesque form. The film, created using a mixed-media technique, combines live-action footage with various types of animation, such as pixilation, stop-motion, graphic form animation, and 3D animation. The animated sequences are seamlessly integrated with the live-action footage that comprise the whole.

Directed, written and artwork by Hieronim Neumann

Cinematography by Janusz Tatarkiewicz, Maciej Ćwiek
Co-operation by Dominik Krzeszewski
Performed by Jakub Woźniak – Mr H (a homeless man), and  Jacek Adamczak, Jagna Ćwiek, Maciej Ćwiek, Jarek Jasik, Igor Mikoda, Mariola Olejniczak, Anna Rozmianiec, Ignacy Rozmianiec, Tymon Rozmianiec, Izabela Puk-Tatarkiewicz, Janusz Tatarkiewicz, Gustaw Woźniak, Ireneusz Jerzy Woźniak and Dog Obelix under the supervision of  Aleksandra Musiał
Making the decorations by Jarek Jasik, Michał Szmyt
Making props by Jarek Jasik, Mikołaj Smolarek, Wojciech Wąsik
Animation by: Maciej Ćwiek, Jakub Baniak
Compositing, editing by Maciej Ćwiek
Music by Andrzej Konieczny 
Performance of music by Kacper Krupa – saxophone, Andrzej Konieczny – percussion, Piotr Cienkowski – double bass
Sound effects by Dawid Konecki, Aleksandra Brzykcy, Zuzanna Dziurawiec, Katarzyna Jastrzębska, Aleksandra Jakubowicz
Sound direction by Adam Szlenda
Sound by Dreamsound – Kacper Habisiak, Marcin Kasiński
Colour correction by Miron Broda
Master copy by Janusz Czubak

Production Manager: Mariola Olejniczak
Co-operation: Angelina Janas-Jankowska
Producer: Ewa Sobolewska

Author animated film, animation – mixed pixilation techniques, animation of real objects, animation of graphic forms, 3D animation, colour, 4K picture format, 22:00 min. stereo 5.1.
Production date: 2025-06-01

Producer, production: TV Studio of Animation Films Ltd.
Co-producer: University of the Arts in Poznań
Film is co-financed by Polish Film Institute

The protagonist of the film, Mr H (a homeless man), is one day thrown out of his home under unclear circumstances. He completely surrenders to the course of events and thus begins living in a cardboard box next to a nearby dumpster. This new situation forces him to find ways to survive in extremely harsh conditions. Local dumpsters become his source of food and various items, some of which are essential, others – completely redundant in his new reality. Over time, the surrounding trash – torn newspapers with fragments of pictures – becomes part of his face (identity). Posters from a nearby advertising column become a catalyst for various actions – sometimes reminding him of hunger and thirst, at other times allowing him to escape into exotic, faraway destinations. Gradually, the boundaries between waking life, imagination, and dreams begin to blur.