Marcin Wrona, director of the Polish horror film
Demon, which just had its world premiere here in Toronto, has passed away suddenly back home in Poland. Below is a statement released by a personal friend of Marcin's, Jim Dobson, on behalf of the family.
URGENT NEWS: TIFF film director found dead following World Premiere in Toronto
Marcin Wrona, the director of the Polish Horror film "Demon" which made its World Premiere in World Cinema competition at the Toronto Film Festival last week, was found dead in a hotel room in Poland on Friday night.
Wrona was preparing for the Polish premiere of the film at the Gdynia Film Festival. The film was also slated to premiere at the upcoming Fantastic Fest in Austin and the Sitges Film Festival, as well as theatrical release in Poland in October.
Wrona, who was born in the city of Tarnów in southern Poland in 1973, and was considered to be one of the brightest talents of his generation in the Polish film industry,
His film 'Demon' hinges on a dybbuk, the spirit of a dead person who according to Jewish mythology haunts the living. The film, Wrona's third, was an unconventional approach to Poland's coming to terms with the Holocaust.
The director had just returned to Poland following the film's success as the Toronto Film Festival. His newlywed wife Olga Szymanska was also producer on the film "Demon." They had just signed with ICM Partners to sell the film and to break into the U.S. market with future films.
Polish police are currently investigating the death and no further information is available.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this time.