Mariusz Kotowski

was born in Olsztyn, Poland in 1967. As a child in Poland, he was exposed to film and formed his love of the art. At the age of 10, Mariusz made a vow that he would some day make his own movies. His dream came true. In 1988, he moved to America and worked as a dance instructor. He began to study English and directing at night while teaching dance during the day. He ultimately achieved his Certificate in Directing from New York University. Mariusz is currently finishing his third film here in Austin, Texas working with Bright Shining City Productions. Austin Polish Society is excited to present his work at this year's festival.

"Pola Negri - Life is a Dream in Cinema" is Mariusz Kotowski's first film. It is a documentary about the life and work of the legendary actress Pola Negri. Mr. Kotowski was honored to have the Academy-Award winning actress Hayley Mills and renowned actor Eli Wallach appear to speak about their experiences working with Pola Negri in her last film. "Life is a Dream" was shown to sold-out audiences at the Museum of Modern Art in September 2006 as part of a week-long Pola Negri retrospective. In 2006, the film received the Best Documentary award at DixieFest in Atlanta and a Special Remi Jury Award at Worldfest in Houston.

FILMOGRAPHY:

2008 "Deeper and Deeper" currently in post-production.
2007 "Forgiveness", debut feature film.
2006 "Pola Negri- life is a Dream in Cinema"



Jacek Bromski

was born in Wroc³aw, Poland in 1946. He studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Polish Literature at the Warsaw University, and Directing at the renown National Film School in £ód¼. He is known as a director, screenwriter, producer, and President of the Polish Filmmakers Association. In the 60s, Mr. Bromski was a music presenter and hosted music radio broadcasts and music festivals. In 1980, along with Jerzy Gruza, he directed a musical "Alice" based on Lewis Carroll's novel. His feature television film "Funeral Party" received the debut prize at the Gdañsk Polish Film Festival in 1985.

A television series: "Polish Cuisine" directed by Bromski, a story of Polish families which spans the years from Stalin (1944-1956) until the beginning of the new democratic movement of the 1990's, won the public's vote for most popular film of 1993. His "In Heaven As It Is On Earth", one of extremely popular Bromski's comedies, received a record number of awards (7) at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The sequel, "God's Little Garden" (2007) was awarded with a Special Jury Prize at the 32nd Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. "It's Me, The Thief ", a dramatic, bitter comedy about teenage car thieves, is the most awarded film in Jacek Bromski's career. In 2001, he received the Grand Prix at the International Film Festival in Mar del Plata and the award for best screenplay. A few months later, the film was awarded for best screenplay and directing at the Wine Country Film Festival in California. His political satire, "The Career of Nikos Dyzma" was a cinema hit in 2002.

For many years, he has been a member of the Cinematography Committee. Since 1996 he has been President of the Polish Filmmakers Association (PFA), the largest and most significant professional filmmaker's organization in Poland. Mr. Bromski is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Producers Organization (AGICOA) since 2000 and President of the World Cinema Alliance, established in 2007. He was Vice-President of the International Association of Audiovisual Authors (AIDAA - Association Internationale des Auteurs de l'Audiovisuel). The Institute supports films from concept to screen, with particular emphasis on international co-productions. Mr. Bromski has served as President of the Polish Film Institute's Council.

FILMOGRAPHY:

2009 U PANA BOGA ZA MIEDZ¡ - Director, Screenwriter
2007 IN GOD'S LITTLE GARDEN - Director, Screenwriter
2005 AND YOU KNOW WHAT? In "SOLIDARITY, SOLIDARITY" - Director, Screenwriter
2005 LOVE IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER - Director, Screenwriter, Producer
2002 SUPERPRODUCTION - Co-producer.
2002 THE CAREER OF NIKOS DYZMA - Director, Screenwriter
2002 THE DAY OF THE WACKO - Producer,
2001 MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING - Producer
2000 IT'S ME, THE THIEF - Director, Screenwriter
1999 A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A MAN - Producer
1999 TWO KILLERS - Producer
1999 DEBT - Producer
1998 IN HEAVEN AS IS ON EARTH - Director, Screenwriter
1997 KILER - Producer
1997 LOVE STORIES - Producer
1996 SEEN BUT NOT HEARD- Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1992 1968. HAPPY NEW YEAR - Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1991-1993 POLISH CUISINE (TV series) - Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1991 POLISH CUISINE - Director, Screenwriter
1989 THE ART OF LOVE - Director, Screenwriter
1987 KILL ME COP - Director, Screenwriter
1984 FUNERAL PARTY - Director, Screenwriter
1980 ALICE - Director, Screenwriter



Andrzej Wajda

was born in Suwalki, Poland in 1926, studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow and directing at the National Film and Theatre School in Lód¼. He is the principal representative of the Polish film school. Some of his best known films are 'Generation' (1955), 'Canal' (1957, awarded the Silver Palm at Cannes), 'Man of Marble' (1977), 'The Land of Promise' (1974, nominated for an Oscar, won awards in Gdansk and Moscow) 'The Maids from Wilko' (1979), 'The Conductor' (1980), 'Man of Iron' (1981, awarded the Golden Palm at Cannes), 'Danton' (1985, won the Prix Delluc), 'Korczak' (1990), 'Pan Tadeusz' (1999), and 'Revenge' (2001), 'Katyn' (2007) He has also directed plays based on works by Slawomir Mrozek, Dostoyevsky, Witkacy, and Shakespeare.

Some of Mr. Wajda's honors, affiliations, and professional leadership include:

Honorary member of the Union of Polish Artist and Designers since 1977.
President of the Polish Film Association, 1978-83
Member of Lech Walesa's "Solidarity" Advisory Council, 1981-89.
Senator of the Republic of Poland, 1989-91.
Member of the Presidential Council for Culture, 1992-94.
Founder of: Center of Japanese Art and Technology, Cracow, 1994.
Awarded the Silver Bear in Berlin IN 1996.
Member of the French Académie des Beaux Arts (following the death of member Federico Fellini) - since 1997.
Awarded the French Legion d'Honneur and the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.
Awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz by the President of Germany in 2001.
Member of the Immortal Circle of the French Academie des Beaux Arts.
Honored with the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1998 for his contribution to cinema.
Winner of a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2000.

FILMOGRAPHY:

2008 (in planning) Tatarak
2007 Katyn
2005 Czlowiek z nadziei [Man of Hope] One of 13 etiuds in Solidarity, Solidarity
2002 Zemsta [Revenge]
1998 Pan Tadeusz
1996 Panna Nikt [Miss Nothing]
1995 Wielki Tydzien [Holy Week]
1994 Nastasja
1992 Pierscionek z orlem w koronie [The Crowned-Eagle Ring]
1990 Korczak
1988 Les Possédes [The possessed]
1986 Kronika wypadkow milosnych [A Chronicle of Amorous Incidents]
1983 Eine Liebe in Deutschland [Love In Germany]
1983 Danton
1981 Czlowiek z zelaza [Man of Iron]
1980 Dyrygent [The Orchestra Conductor]
1979 Panny z Wilka [The Maids of Wilko]
1978 Bez znieczulenia [Rough Treatment]
1977 Czlowiek z marmuru [Man of Marble]
1976 Smuga cienia [The Shadow Line]
1975 Ziemia obiecana [Promised Land]
1973 Wesele [The Wedding]
1972 Pilatus und andere [Pilat And Others]
1970 Krajobraz po bitwie [Landscape After the Battle]
1970 Brzezina [Birch Wood]
1969 Polowanie na muchy [Hunting Flies]
1969 Wszystko na sprzedaz [Everything For Sale]
1968 Przekladaniec [Roly Poly]
1968 The Gates To Paradise
1965 Popioly [Ashes]
1962 L'amour ? vingt ans [Love At Twenty]
1962 Sibirska Ledi Magbet [Siberian Lady Macbeth]
1961 Samson
1960 Niewinni czarodzieje [Innocent Sorcerers]
1959 Lotna
1958 Popiol i diament [Ashes And Diamonds]
1957 Kanal
1955 Pokolenie [Generation]