Born in 1939. Film and opera director, screenwriter, film executive. Studied physics at the Warsaw University (1955-59) and philosophy at Cracow Jagielonian University (1959-63). Graduated form Film Directing Dept. at the Łódź Film School in 1966. Made his first films in Amateur Film Club of Warsaw University in the 50’s. Since 1966 he directed many documentary films features for cinema and TV, both in Poland and abroad. From 1979 he is director of “Tor” Film Studio. His diploma etude The Death of a Provincial (Śmierć prowincjala) (1966) won him many awards including Venice Lions. Received honorary degrees at several universities, cavalier of many orders (Poland, Italy, France). Professor at film schools, incl. Film School in Łódź and Britain, Radio and Television Department of Silesian University. Directs plays in theatres in Milan, Palermo, Bonn, Krakow, Bremen and Basel. President of European Federation for National Associations of Television and Cinema Directors – FERA, consultant of the Pontifical Commission of Culture Issues in Vatican. Life achievement awards: Yerevan International Film Festival, Career Award by Flaiano International Prizes, Italy, World Cinematography Award by Czech Critics , European David Award, Special Award by New York Film Critics Circle, and Golden Hugo, Chicago.
| 2018 | Ether (Eter) | |
| 2014 | Foreign Body (Obce ciało) | |
| 2009 | Revisited (Rewizyta) | |
| 2008 | A Warm Heart (Serce na dłoni) | |
| 2005 | Persona Non Grata | |
| 2002 | Supplement (Suplement) – FIPRESCI Prize – Special Mention at the Moscow IFF |
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| 2000 | Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease (Życie jako śmiertelna choroba przenoszona drogą płciową) – Golden St. George at the Moscow IFF; Golden Lion, Critics Award and Best Actor for Zbigniew Zapasiewicz at the Gdynia PFF; Best Actor Jury Award for Zbigniew Zapasiewicz at the Santa Barbara IFF; Best Director Award at the Wine Country FF |
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| 1997 | Our God’s Brother (Brat naszego Boga) | |
| 1995 | In Full Gallop (Cwał) – Special Jury Prize, Critics Award and Best Actress Award for Maja Komorowska at PFF Gdynia ’96; – Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo IFF |
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| 1992 | The Silent Touch (Dotknięcie ręki) – Award for the best actor at the IFF Tokyo ’92 |
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| 1991 | Life for a Life (Życie za życie) | |
| 1990 | Long Conversation with a Bird (Długa rozmowa z ptakiem) | |
| 1989 | Inventory (Stan posiadania) – Grand Prix at IFF Strasbourg ’90; Award at IFF Moscow ’90 |
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| 1988 | Wherever You Are (Gdziekolwiek jest, jeśli jest …) – Award at IFF Montreal ’90 |
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| 1985 | The Power of Evil (Paradygmat) – Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Montréal WFF |
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| 1984 | The Year of the Quiet Sun (Rok spokojnego slońca) – Golden Lion and Pasinetti Award at IFF VENICE ’84; Golden Glob Nomination |
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| 1982 | Imperative (Imperatyw) – Pasinetti Award and Grand Special Jury Prize at IFF Venice ’82 |
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| 1981 | From a Far Country; Pope John Paul II (Z dalekiego kraju; Jan Pawel II) | |
| 1980 | Constans (Constant) – Best Director Award and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury- Cannes ’80; – Gdansk ’80; Panama ’81 |
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| 1978 | Spiral (Spirala) – Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Cannes ’78; – Critics Award and Best Score for Wojciech Kilar at the Gdynia ’78 |
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| 1976 | Camouflage (Barwy ochronne) – Golden Lion, Best Screenplay Award for Krzysztof Zanussi and Best Actor Award for Zbigniew Zapasiewicz at PFF Gdansk ’77; – Critics Award at the Rotterdam IFF ’78 and Best Director Award at the Tehran IFFT ’77 |
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| 1974 | Quarterly Balance (Bilans kwartalny) – OCIC Award at IFF Berlin’75 |
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| 1973 | Illumination (Iluminacja) – FIPRESCI Prize, Golden Leopard and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Locarno IFF; – Special Jury Prize at PFF Gdansk and “Warsaw Mermaid” Award ’74; – Figueira da Foz ’95 |
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| 1971 | Family Life (Życie rodzinne) – Silver Hugo at the IFF Chicago ’72; – San Gregorio Prize at the Valladolid IFF ’72 |
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| 1969 | The Structure of Crystal (Struktura kryształu) – Awards in Mar de Plata Valladolid, Panama, Colombo; – Award of the City of Valladolid at the Valladolid IFF ’70 and the “Warsaw Mermaid” Award |