Photo 1. TVP Katowice, Photo 2. FB Civitas Christiana
It is with great pleasure that we announce that at this year's award gala of the 47th Silesian Juliusz Ligon Award, Prof. Dagmara Drzazga, a lecturer at the Kieslowski Film School of the University of Silesia, became one of the laureates!
The Ligonian Laurel awarded to Prof. Dagmara Drzazga, is recognition for a lifetime of filmmaking, particularly for commemorating the figure of Blessed Father Jan Mach.
Silesia is a particularly important place for the work of Prof. Dagmara Drzazga, as evidenced by the output of as many as eight films related to it and the passion with which she conveys her knowledge of its history and the people who create it.
"I once reached for the monthly magazine Silesia and read an article about the fact that there was a guillotine in Katowice and about Father Jan Mach. (...) I was shocked how it was possible that no one had made such a film before. (...) For me it's remarkable how I think about his courage, after all he knew what was at stake, and yet he met with young people, he wanted to help these families during the war..." - Dagmara Drzazga in an interview with Civitas Christiana TV about the Juliusz Ligon Award and the film "Without a single tree the forest will remain a forest," which we encourage you to watch!
We extend our warmest congratulations to Our laureate and wish her further successes inevitably connected with Silesia!
Prof. Krzysztof Zanussi, lecturer at the Kieślowski Film School, was honored with the 2023 Eastern Star Award at the 34th Trieste Film Festival in Italy.
The Trieste Film Festival presents the Eastern Star Award to individuals in the film industry who have been instrumental in bridging the gap between Eastern and Western Europe. Past recipients include Irène Jacob, Monica Bellucci, Milcho Manchevski, Rade Šerbedžija, Kasia Smutniak, Miki Manojlović, Kornél Mundruczó, and Kata Weber. The 34th Trieste Film Festival was held from January 21–28, 2023.
The Kieślowski Film School was privileged to host renowned cinematographer Vladimir Smutny from January 16th to 20th, 2023. He led masterclasses for students in Film and Television Image Production and Photography, imparting his expertise and knowledge.
Smutny is an eight-time winner of the Czech Lion Award for Best Cinematography. He was the cinematographer for the 1996 Oscar-winning foreign language film "Kola," directed by Jan Svěrák. In recent years, his most acclaimed work is "The Painted Bird" (2019), directed by Václav Marhoul and adapted from Jerzy Kosiński's novel. Smutny was awarded the Bronze Frog at the Energa Camerimage festival for his cinematography in "The Painted Bird."
As part of their Film, Television Image, and Photography course, students viewed two of Smutny's acclaimed films: "The Painted Bird" and "Lea" (1996), directed by Ivan Fíla. Following each screening, students engaged in insightful discussions. The masterclasses were a part of the "One University - Many Possibilities: Integrated Program."
"Leave No Traces,” a film directed by our distinguished graduate and lecturer Jan P. Matuszyński has been nominated for the 2022 Empik Bestsellers Award in the Polish Cinema category. Empik Bestsellers Awards honor major accomplishments in various media, including best-selling books, films, CDs, games, and magazines.
Leszek Bodzak and Aneta Hickinbotham, the renowned producers behind the Oscar-nominated film “Corpus Christi,” have joined forces once again to bring “Leave No Traces” to life. Aneta Hickinbotham, who holds a degree in Film and Television Production Organization and is also a lecturer at the Kieślowski Film School, brings her knowledge and expertise to the production. Together, Leszek and Aneta have proved to be a dynamic producing duo, bringing powerful and thought-provoking narratives to the big screen.
Damian Kocur, a graduate of Kieślowski Film School, is also among the nominees for the Empik Bestsellers Award. He was nominated in the “Empik’s Discoveries” category for his film “Bread and Salt” (2022).
The grand finale of the Empik Bestsellers Award will be held on February 7, 2023. The live broadcast will commence at 07:45 on Empik's Facebook profile and at 20:15 on TVN.
We cordially invite you to attend the exhibition opening of Marcin Gołąb’s “it’s only temporary.” As a student of Film, Television, and Photography at the Kieślowski Film School in Katowice, Gołąb presents an intriguing collection of works. The event will take place on January 9th at 6:00 PM at Marszałkowska 18 in Warsaw. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the exhibition until February 11, 2023. We hope to see you there.
In this photographic series, Gołąb takes us on a journey to a remote village in the Bieszczady Mountains. The raw shots illustrate the essence of living with only the bare necessities. This solemn microcosm may seem foreign to most of us, yet it is mesmerizing in its own right. The thought of living in the middle of the forest, in a small house, without electricity or running water, is simultaneously perplexing and attractive. At a crucial time when it seems as if the planet is approaching the end of its lifespan, Gołąb prompts contemplation on how little is required to survive. In addition, he draws attention to the temporal nature of photography, thus unveiling a deeper purpose. When we look at each individual piece, we get the impression that something is about to happen—an insect will flee, a gust of wind may cause the bottle to topple, or an arrow may hit the target. It’s as if we’re gazing at freeze frames from a movie that’s about to be played. The changes in perception and reality brought about by the pandemic gave Gołąb a heightened sense of timing, enabling him to capture the perfect moment and freeze the frame in his photographic series.
“It’s only temporary” is also a story about a nonconformist life and a tribute in honor of the beauty and power of nature. Gołąb’s images are reminiscent of Henry David Thoreau’s essays from almost 200 years ago. Both individuals are similar in many respects. They lived in self-built, austere homes for about two years, leaving behind the trappings of contemporary civilization. Like Thoreau, Gołąb turns the spotlight on submitting to nature and becoming self-reliant by minimizing his needs. In Gołąb’s images, the protagonist observes the new reality from outside the frame, which allows him the ability to marvel at the true beauty of nature. The winter landscapes dominate human interference, and the latter gradually becomes inappropriate and disruptive to the observer’s eyes. The silence and peace emanating from the images permeate the narrative. In this microcosm, nature prevails, and man is left contemplating his place in it.
Gołąb, born in Rzeszów in 1992, was raised in the Bieszczady Mountains. His work showcases emotions and creativity rooted within the Polish documentary heritage. Gołąb also studied cinematography at the Higher School of Art and Design in Łódź.
