Andrzej Witold Wajda (; 6 March 1926 – 9 October 2016) was a Polish film and theatre director. Recipient of an Honorary Oscar, the

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

, as well as Honorary Golden Lion and Honorary Golden Bear Awards, he was a prominent member of the "

Polish Film School Polish Film School ( pl, Polska Szkoła Filmowa) refers to an informal group of Polish film directors and screenplay writers active between 1956 and approximately 1963. Among the most prominent representatives of the school are Andrzej Wajda, And ...

". He was known especially for his trilogy of war films consisting of '' A Generation'' (1955), '' Kanał'' (1957) and '' Ashes and Diamonds'' (1958). He is considered one of the world's most renowned filmmakers whose works chronicled his native country's political and social evolution and dealt with the myths of Polish

national identity National identity is a person's identity or sense of belonging to one or more states or to one or more nation, nations. It is the sense of "a nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture, and language". National i ...

offering insightful analyses of the universal element of the Polish experience – the struggle to maintain dignity under the most trying circumstances. Four of his films have been nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

: '' The Promised Land'' (1975), '' The Maids of Wilko'' (1979), '' Man of Iron'' (1981) and '' Katyń'' (2007).

Early life

Wajda was born in

Suwałki Suwałki ( lt, Suvalkai; yi, סואוואַלק) is a city in northeastern Poland with a population of 69,206 (2021). It is the capital of Suwałki County and one of the most important centers of commerce in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Suwałki ...

, the son of Aniela (née Białowąs), a school teacher, and Jakub Wajda, an army officer. Wajda's father was murdered by the Soviets in 1940 in what came to be known as the Katyn massacre. In 1942, he joined the Polish resistance and served in the

Home Army The Home Army ( pl, Armia Krajowa, abbreviated AK; ) was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II, resistance movement in Occupation of Poland (1939–1945), German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed i ...

. After the war, he studied to be a painter at Kraków's Academy of Fine Arts before entering the Łódź Film School, where many famous Polish directors, such as

Roman Polanski Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...

, studied.

Early career

After Wajda's apprenticeship to director

Aleksander Ford Aleksander Ford (born Mosze Lifszyc; 24 November 1908 in Kiev, Russian Empire – 4 April 1980 in Naples, Florida, United States, U.S.) was a Polish film director; and head of the Polish People's Army of Poland, People's Army Film Crew in the Sov ...

, Wajda was given the opportunity to direct his own film. '' A Generation'' (1955) was his first major film. At the same time Wajda began his work as a director in theatre, including

Michael V. Gazzo Michael Vincenzo Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was an American playwright who later in life became a film and television actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in ''The Godfather Part II'' (1974). Biography Gazz ...

's '' A Hatful of Rain'' (1959), ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...

'' (1960), and '' Two for the Seesaw'' (1963) by

William Gibson William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as ''cyberpunk''. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, hi ...

. Wajda made two more increasingly accomplished films, which developed further the anti-war theme of ''A Generation'': '' Kanał'' (1957) ( Special Jury Prize at

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...

in 1957, shared with Bergman's ''

The Seventh Seal ''The Seventh Seal'' ( sv, Det sjunde inseglet) is a 1957 Swedish historical fantasy film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in Sweden during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) and a game of ch ...

'') and '' Ashes and Diamonds'' (1958) with Zbigniew Cybulski. While capable of turning out mainstream commercial fare (often dismissed as "trivial" by critics), Wajda was more interested in works of allegory and

symbol A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

ism, and certain symbols (such as setting fire to a glass of liquor, representing the flame of youthful idealism that was extinguished by the war) recur often in his films. '' Lotna'' (1959) is full of surrealistic and symbolic scenes and shots, but he managed to explore other styles, making new wave style '' Innocent Sorcerers'' (1960) with music by

Krzysztof Komeda Krzysztof Trzciński (27 April 1931 – 23 April 1969), known professionally as Krzysztof Komeda, was a Polish film music composer and jazz pianist. Perhaps best known for his work in film scores, Komeda wrote the scores for Roman Polanski’s f ...

, starring

and Jerzy Skolimowski (who was also a co-script writer) in the episodes. Then Wajda directed ''

Samson Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution ...

'' (1961), the story of Jacob, a Jewish boy, who wants to survive during the Nazi occupation of Poland. In the mid-1960s Wajda made ''

The Ashes The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, '' The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first ...

'' (1965) based on the novel by Polish writer

Stefan Żeromski Stefan Żeromski ( ; 14 October 1864 – 20 November 1925) was a Polish novelist and dramatist belonging to the Young Poland movement at the turn of the 20th century. He was called the "conscience of Polish literature". He also wrote under ...

and directed several films abroad: '' Love at Twenty'' (1962), '' Siberian Lady Macbeth'' (1962) and ''

Gates To Paradise ''Gates to Paradise'' is a 1968 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The film is set in medieval France and is based on a novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski (1960) that seeks to expose the motives behind youthful religious zeal. It was ...

'' (1968). In 1967, Cybulski was killed in a train accident, whereupon the director articulated his grief with '' Everything for Sale'' (1968), considered one of his most personal films, using the technique of a film-within-a-film to tell the story of a film maker's life and work. The following year he directed an ironic satire '' Hunting Flies'' with the script written by Janusz Głowacki and a short television film called ''

Przekładaniec ''Przekładaniec'' is a 1968 Short film, short science fiction comedy film directed by Andrzej Wajda based on the screenplay by Stanisław Lem, which was a loose adaptation of Lem's 1955 short story turned into a radio play ''Czy pan istnieje, M ...

'' based on a screenplay by

Stanisław Lem Stanisław Herman Lem (; 12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006) was a Polish writer of science fiction and essays on various subjects, including philosophy, futurology, and literary criticism. Many of his science fiction stories are of satirica ...

Artistic recognition

The 1970s were the most prolific artistic period for Wajda, who made over ten films: ''

Landscape After the Battle ''Landscape After the Battle'' ( pl, Krajobraz po bitwie) is a 1970 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda and starring Daniel Olbrychski; telling a story of a Nazi German concentration camp survivor soon after liberation, residing in a DP ...

'' (1970), '' Pilate and Others'' (1971), '' The Wedding'' (1972) – the film version of the famous Polish poetic drama by Stanisław Wyspiański, '' The Promised Land'' (1974), '' Man of Marble'' (1976) – the film takes place in two time periods, the first film showing the episodes of

Stalinism Stalinism is the means of governing and Marxist-Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953 by Joseph Stalin. It included the creation of a one-party totalitarian police state, rapid industrialization, the the ...

in Poland, '' The Shadow Line'' (1976), '' Rough Treatment'' (the other title: '' Without Anesthesia)'' (1978), '' The Orchestra Conductor'' (1980), starring John Gielgud; and two psychological and existential films based upon novels by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz – '' The Birch Wood'' (1970) and '' The Maids of Wilko'' (1979). ''The Birch Wood'' was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival where Wajda won the Golden Prize for Direction. Wajda continued to work in theatre, including '' Play Strindberg'', Dostoyevsky's '' The Possessed'' and ''Nastasja Filippovna'' – Wajda's version of ''

The Idiot ''The Idiot'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Идиот, Idiót) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–69. The title is an ...

'', ''November Night'' by Wyspiański, '' The Immigrants'' by Sławomir Mrożek, ''The Danton Affair'' or ''The Dreams of Reason''. Andrzej Wajda 1974

Wajda's later commitment to Poland's burgeoning

Solidarity ''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti ...

movement was manifested in '' Man of Iron'' (1981), a thematic sequel to ''The Man of Marble'', with Solidarity leader

Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa (; ; born 29 September 1943) is a Polish statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served as the President of Poland between 1990 and 1995. After winning the 1990 election, Wałęsa became the first democrat ...

appearing as himself in the latter film. The film sequence is loosely based on the life of Anna Walentynowicz, a hero of socialist labor Stakhanovite turned dissident and alludes to events from real life, such as the firing of Walentynowicz from the shipyard and the underground wedding of Bogdan Borusewicz to Alina Pienkowska. The director's involvement in this movement would prompt the Polish government to force Wajda's production company out of business. For the film, Wajda won the

at the

. In 1983, he directed '' Danton'', starring

Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu, CQ (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor, filmmaker, businessman and vineyard owner since 1989 who is one of the most prolific thespians in film history having completed over 250 films since 1967 al ...

in the title role, a film set in 1794 (Year Two of the French Republican calendar) dealing with the Post-Revolutionary Terror. Made against the backdrop of the martial law in Poland, Wajda showed how easily revolution can change into terror and start to "eat its own children." For this film Wajda was honoured with the

Louis Delluc Prize The Louis Delluc Prize (french: Prix Louis-Delluc ) is a French film award presented annually since 1937. The award is bestowed to the Best Film and Best First Film of the year on the second week of each December. The jury is composed of 20 members, ...

and a

César Award for Best Director This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Director (French: ''César du meilleur réalisateur''). History Superlatives Winners and nominees 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominatio ...

. In the 1980s, he also made '' A Love in Germany'' (1983) featuring Hanna Schygulla, ''The Chronicle of Amorous Incidents'' (1986) an adaptation of Tadeusz Konwicki's novel and '' The Possessed'' (1988) based on

Dostoyevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (, ; rus, Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fyódor Mikháylovich Dostoyévskiy, p=ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ dəstɐˈjefskʲɪj, a=ru-Dostoevsky.ogg, links=yes; 11 November 18219 ...

's novel. In theatre he prepared an interpretation of Dostoyevsky's ''

Crime and Punishment ''Crime and Punishment'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Преступление и наказание, Prestupléniye i nakazániye, prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje ɪ nəkɐˈzanʲɪje) is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. ...

'' (1984) and other unique spectacles such as ''Antygone'', his sequential ''

'' versions or an old Jewish play '' The Dybbuk''. In 1989, he was the President of the Jury at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival.

Career after 1990

In 1990, Andrzej Wajda was honoured by the

European Film Awards The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mo ...

for his lifetime achievement, only the third director to be so honoured, after Federico Fellini and

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known as "profoundly ...

. In the early 1990s, he was elected a senator and also appointed artistic director of Warsaw's Teatr Powszechny. He continued to make films set during World War II, including '' Korczak'' (1990), a story about a Jewish-Polish doctor who takes care of orphan children, in ''The Crowned-Eagle Ring'' (1993) and ''

Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, wh ...

'' (1995) specifically on Jewish-Polish relations. In 1994, Wajda presented his own film version of

's novel

in the movie '' Nastasja'', starring Japanese actor Tamasoburo Bando in the double role of Prince Mishkin and Nastasja. The film's cinematographer was Paweł Edelman, who subsequently became one of Wajda's great collaborators. In 1996, the director went in a different direction with '' Miss Nobody'', a coming-of-age drama that explored the darker and more spiritual aspects of a relationship between three high-school girls. In 1999, Wajda released the epic film ''

Pan Tadeusz ''Pan Tadeusz'' (full title: ''Mister Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania: A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse'') is an epic poem by the Polish poet, writer, translator and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz. The ...

'', based on the

epic poem An epic poem, or simply an epic, is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. ...

of the Polish 19th-century romantic poet

Adam Mickiewicz Adam Bernard Mickiewicz (; 24 December 179826 November 1855) was a Polish poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator and political activist. He is regarded as national poet in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. A principal figure in Polish ...

. A year later, at the 2000 Academy Awards, Wajda was presented with an honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema; he subsequently donated the award to

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 159 ...

's Jagiellonian University. In 2002, Wajda directed '' The Revenge'', a film version of his 1980s comedy theatre production, with

in one of the main roles. In February 2006, Wajda received an Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

. In 2007, '' Katyń'' was released, a well-received film about the Katyn massacre, in which Wajda's father was murdered; the director also shows the dramatic situation of those who await their relatives (mothers, wives and children). The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2008. 2010-08 Andrzej Wajda 4

Wajda followed it with '' Sweet Rush'' (2009) with Krystyna Janda as a main character. It is partly based upon a short Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz novel. The film is dedicated to Edward Kłosiński, Janda's husband, a cinematographer and a long-time Wajda friend and co-worker who died of cancer the same year. For this film Wajda was awarded by Alfred Bauer Prize at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival. He received the Prix FIPRESCI during the 2009 European Film Awards. '' Walesa. Man of Hope'' (''Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei''), Wajda's biography of

, based on a script by Janusz Głowacki and starring Robert Więckiewicz in the title role, had its world premiere at the 2013

Venice International Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

. His last film was the 2016 '' Afterimage'' (''Powidoki''), starring

Bogusław Linda Bogusław Linda (; born 27 June 1952) is a Polish actor known from films such as ''Psy'' and ''Tato''. He appeared in Andrzej Wajda's ''Man of Iron'' and ''Danton'' and in Krzysztof Kieślowski's ''Blind Chance'' and the seventh episode of Kieśl ...

as Polish avant-garde painter Władysław Strzemiński. Wajda founded The Japanese Centre of Art and Technology in

in 1994. In 2002, he founded and led his own film school with Polish filmmaker Wojciech Marczewski. Students of Wajda School take part in different film courses led by famous European film makers.

Personal life and death

Wajda was married four times. His third wife was actress

Beata Tyszkiewicz Beata Maria Helena Tyszkiewicz (born 14 August 1938) is a retired Polish actress and TV personality. Career Beata Tyszkiewicz has worked mostly on the big screen but acted in several French TV movies, becoming famous through her portrayal of d ...

with whom he had a daughter, Karolina (born 1967). His fourth wife was the theatre costume designer and actress Krystyna Zachwatowicz. In September 2009, Wajda called for the release of director

after Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in relation to his 1977 charge for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl. Wajda died in

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is official ...

on 9 October 2016 at the age of 90 from pulmonary failure. He was buried at

Salwator Cemetery Salwator Cemetery ( pl, Cmentarz Salwatorski, links=no), is a historic cemetery in the Salwator neighborhood of Kraków located north-west of the city centre. It was consecrated in 1865. History The Salwator Cemetery is also known as the Zwierzy ...

Awards and honours

* 2012: Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary; * 2011: Order of the White Eagle (the highest Polish distinction),

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain ...

of the

Order of Three Stars Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra", meaning "Thr ...

(Latvia); * 2010:

Order of Friendship The Order of Friendship (russian: Орден Дружбы, ') is a state decoration of the Russian Federation established by Boris Yeltsin by presidential decree 442 of 2 March 1994 to reward Russian and foreign nationals whose work, deeds ...

of the

Russian Federation Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia North Asia or Northern Asia, also referred to as Siberia, is the northern region of Asia, which is defined in geographic ...

, Order of Danica Hrvatska (Croatia); * 2008: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine), Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia); * 2007: Nomination for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

for '' Katyń''; * 2006:

Order for Merits to Lithuania The Order for Merits to Lithuania ( lt, Ordinas Už nuopelnus Lietuvai) is an award, presented by the President of Lithuania, which may be conferred on the citizens of Lithuania and foreign nationals for distinguished services promoting name of Li ...

; * 2006: Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival; * 2005: Gold

Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

; * 2001: Commander's Cross of

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

of the French Republic, Great Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

Doctor Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad h ...

of the

Moscow State Academy of Choreography The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии), commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ball ...

; * 2000:

Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of M ...

from the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion ...

; * 2000:

of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts,

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-rankin ...

; * 1999: Grand Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta , image=Polonia Restituta - Commander's Cross pre-1939 w rib.jpg , image_size=200px , caption=Commander's Cross of Polonia Restituta , presenter = the President of Poland , country = , type=Five classes , eligibility=All , awar ...

, Freedom Award for film-making and for "unparalleled commitment to freedom" at the Freedom Film Festival in

Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...

, the Crystal Iris for life achievement at the National Film Festival in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

; * 1997: Praemium Imperiale Award of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Art, Silver Bear for life achievement and, specifically, for ''

'', at the 46th

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

(1996); Best Director Award for '' Miss Nobody'' at the 13th

Festroia International Film Festival The Tróia International Film Festival, commonly referred to as Festroia ( pt, Festival Internacional de Cinema de Tróia – Festróia) was an annual international film festival in Portugal held from 1985 to 2014. Held in the town of Setúbal ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

; * 1997: Honourable Mention at the

47th Berlin International Film Festival The 47th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 February 1997. The Golden Bear was awarded to Canadian-American film ''The People vs. Larry Flynt'' directed by Miloš Forman. The retrospective dedicated to Austrian film ...

for '' Miss Nobody''; * 1996: Silver Bear for an outstanding artistic contribution at the

46th Berlin International Film Festival The 46th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 15 to 26 February 1996. The Golden Bear was awarded to British-American film ''Sense and Sensibility'' directed by Ang Lee. The retrospective dedicated to American film director ...

for '' Wielki tydzień''; * 1995:

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

(Japan),

of Université Libre de Bruxelles,

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

, Witkacy Prize - Critics' Circle Award of the Polish ITI Centre for the promotion of the Polish theatre abroad and

of the

Lumière University Lyon 2 Lumière University Lyon 2 (french: Université Lumière Lyon 2) is one of the three universities that comprise the current University of Lyon, having splintered from an older university of the same name, and is primarily based on two campuses in ...

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of ...

, France; * 1994:

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system ...

(France); * 1990: European Felix Award for life achievement and an outstanding achievement and artistic conduct at the

Cannes International Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

; * 1989:

of the Jagiellonian University; * 1988: Nomination for the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival for ''

Les Possédés ''The Possessed'' (french: Les Possédés) is a 1988 French drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda and starring Isabelle Huppert. It was entered into the 38th Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * Isabelle Huppert as Maria Sjatov * Jutta Lam ...

''; * 1987: Kyoto Prize of the Japanese

Inamori Foundation The Inamori Foundation is a private foundation known for its annual announcement of the Kyoto Prize, founded by Kazuo Inamori in 1984. It reflects "the lifelong beliefs of its founder that people have no higher calling than to strive for the great ...

for contribution to the development of science, technology and ideas; * 1986: The Luigi Pirandello Award for activity and achievement in the area of theatre; * 1985: Herder Prize for contribution to strengthening cultural relations with nations of Eastern and

Southern Europe Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Alba ...

; * 1983:

César Award Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt * César Award, a French film award Places * Cesar, Portugal * Ce ...

of the French Academy of Film Art and Technology for '' Danton''; * 1982:

Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the G ...

(France); Onassis Foundation Award for work for human rights and dignity; * 1981:

at the

for '' Man of Iron''; * 1981: Nomination of an

for '' Man of Iron''; * 1981:

of the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seat ...

; * 1980: FIPRESCI and Basque Cultural Society awards at the

San Sebastián International Film Festival The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; es, Festival Internacional de San Sebastián, eu, Donostia Zinemaldia) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in ...

for '' The Orchestra Conductor''; * 1979: Golden Lions at the 6th

Gdynia Film Festival The Gdynia Film Festival (until 2011: Polish Film Festival, Polish: ''Festiwal Polskich Filmów Fabularnych w Gdyni'') is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk (1974–1986), now held in Gdynia, Poland. It has taken place every year si ...

for '' The Maids of Wilko'', Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the

for '' Without Anesthesia'', Life Achievement Award at the La Rochelle International Film Festival and Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius for contribution to the development of Polish-Bulgarian cultural co-operation; * 1979: Nomination for an

for '' The Maids of Wilko''; * 1978: Golden Lions at the 5th

for '' Without Anesthesia'', Jury Award and Best Director Award at the 18th

Cartagena Film Festival The Cartagena Film Festival ( es, Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena de Indias), or FICCI, is a film festival held in Cartagena, Colombia, which focuses mainly on the promotion of Colombian television series, Latin American films and sho ...

(Colombia) for ''

Promised Land The Promised Land ( he, הארץ המובטחת, translit.: ''ha'aretz hamuvtakhat''; ar, أرض الميعاد, translit.: ''ard al-mi'ad; also known as "The Land of Milk and Honey"'') is the land which, according to the Tanakh (the Hebrew B ...

''; * 1976: Journalists Award at the 3rd Brussels International Film Festival for ''

'', Golden Spike for ''The Promised Land'' at the Valladolid Film Festival; * 1975: Golden Prize at the

9th Moscow International Film Festival The 9th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1975. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Polish film '' The Promised Land'' directed by Andrzej Wajda, the Soviet-Japanese film '' Dersu Uzala'' directed by Akira Kurosaw ...

for '' The Promised Land''.; * 1975: Nomination for an

for '' The Promised Land''; * 1973: Silver Shell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for directing '' The Wedding''; * 1964:

Officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," ...

's Cross of the

; * 1959: Jury and FIPRESCI Award at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...

for '' Ashes and Diamonds'',

's Cross of the

; * 1957: Special Jury Prize at the

for '' Kanał''.

Filmography

* ''The Bad Boy'' (''Zły chłopiec'', 1951 short film) * ''The Pottery at Ilza'' (''Ceramika ilzecka'', 1951 short film) * ''While you are sleeping'' (''Kiedy ty śpisz'', 1953 short film) * '' A Generation'' (''Pokolenie'', 1955) * '' Towards the Sun'' (''Idę do słońca'', documentary on Xawery Dunikowski, 1955) * '' Kanał'' (1957) * '' Ashes and Diamonds'' (''Popiół i diament'' 1958) * '' Lotna'' (1959) * '' Innocent Sorcerers'' (''Niewinni czarodzieje'', 1960) * '' Siberian Lady Macbeth'' (''Powiatowa lady Makbet'', 1961) * ''

'' (1961) * '' Love at Twenty'' (''L'amour à vingt ans'', 1962) * ''

'' (''Popioly'', 1965) * ''Roly Poly'' (''

'', 1968) * ''

Gates to Paradise ''Gates to Paradise'' is a 1968 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The film is set in medieval France and is based on a novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski (1960) that seeks to expose the motives behind youthful religious zeal. It was ...

'' (''Bramy Raju'', 1968) * '' Everything for Sale'' (''Wszystko na sprzedaż'', 1969) * '' Hunting Flies'' (''Polowanie na muchy'', 1969) * '' The Birch Wood'' (''Brzezina'', 1970) * ''

'' (''Krajobraz po bitwie'', 1970) * '' Pilate and Others'' (''Pilatus und andere'', 1972) * '' The Wedding'' (''Wesele'', 1973) * '' The Promised Land'' (''Ziemia obiecana'', 1974) * '' The Shadow Line/Smuga Cienia'' (''Smuga cienia'', 1976) * '' Man of Marble'' (''Człowiek z marmuru'', 1977) * '' Without Anesthesia'' aka ''Rough Treatment'' (''Bez znieczulenia'', 1978) * '' The Maids of Wilko'' (''Panny z Wilka'', 1979) * ''As years go by, as days go by'' (''Z biegiem lat, z biegiem dni'', 1980 TV series) * '' The Orchestra Conductor'' (''Dyrygent'', 1980) * '' Man of Iron'' (''Człowiek z żelaza'', 1981) * '' Danton'' (1983) * '' A Love in Germany'' (''Eine Liebe in Deutschland'', 1983) * ''

A Chronicle of Amorous Accidents ''A Chronicle of Amorous Accidents'' () is a 1986 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Paulina Młynarska and Piotr Wawrzyńczak. It tells the story of two Polish adolescents who fall in love on the eve of World War II. The film i ...

'' (''Kronika wypadków miłosnych'', 1985) * '' The French as seen by...'' (''Proust contre la déchéance'', 1988) * '' The Possessed'' (''Les possédes'', 1988) * '' Korczak'' (1990) * ''The Crowned-Eagle Ring'' (''Pierścionek z orłem w koronie'', 1992) * '' Nastasja'' (1994) * ''

'' (''Wielki Tydzień'', 1995) * '' Miss Nobody'' (''Panna Nikt'', 1996) * ''

'' (1999) * ''Bigda idzie'' (''Bigda idzie!'', 1999 TV theatre) * ''The Condemnation of Franciszek Klos'' (''Wyrok na Franciszka Kłosa'', 2000) * ''June night'' (''Noc czerwcowa'', 2001 TV theatre) * ''Broken Silence'' (''Przerwane milczenie'', 2002) * '' The Revenge'' (''Zemsta'', 2002) * ''Man of Hope'' (''Czlowiek z nadziei'', 2005 short film) * '' Katyń'' (2007) * '' Sweet Rush'' (''Tatarak'', 2009) * '' Walesa. Man of Hope'' (''Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei'', 2013) * '' Afterimage'' (2016)

Early life

Early career

Artistic recognition

Career after 1990

Personal life and death

Awards and honours

Filmography

See also

References

External links