Platinum Lions

At the 37^th Gdynia Film Festival, the awards for contribution to cinematography – ‘Platinum Lions’ – for the first time will be received by filmmakers who are not directors. These most important Festival mentions will be received by two outstanding cinematographers, co-authors of the greatest works of Polish cinematography – Jerzy Wójcik and Witold Sobociński. The Festival will be honoured to present screenings of films chosen by the award-winners: ‘The Gateway of Europe’ directed by Jerzy Wójcik and ‘The Hour-Glass Sanatorium’ by Wojciech Jerzy Has. Witold Sobociński was a cinematographer of both of these films.

Jerzy Wójcik

Outstanding cinematographer, director, screenwriter. Co-founder of the ‘Polish film school’. He cooperated with the greatest Polish directors of the 50’s and 60’s – Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Stanisław Różewicz, Andrzej Munk, as well as with Andrzej Wajda, Kazimierz Kutz, Jerzy Hoffman – creating films which are of great historical value to Polish cinematography. Lecturer at the Film School in Łódź, professor of Film Studies. Honorary Chairman of the Polish Society of Cinematographers. Winner of numerous awards – among others the Eagle – Polish Film Award for Lifetime Achievement. Honoured by the Commander’s Cross Polonia Restituta.

Witold Sobociński

One of the greatest cinematographers. Director of photography of the films by Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Skolimowski, Edward Żebrowski, Piotr Szulkin, Wojciech Jerzy Has. He often worked abroad where he cooperated with among others Roman Polański. Lecturer at the Film School in Łódź. Jazz musician, cooperated with the ‘Melomani’ band. Winner of numerous awards, including two Golden Frog Awards at the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Society of Cinematographers. Honoured by the Commander’s Cross Polonia Restituta and the Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis.