View source for Krzysztof Zanussi

{{Short description|Polish producer and film director}}
{{Other uses|Zanussi (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = Krzysztof Zanussi 2020 Katowice.jpg
| name               = Krzysztof Zanussi
| caption            = Krzysztof Zanussi in 2020
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1939|6|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Warsaw]], Poland
| nationality        = Polish
| education          = [[National Film School in Łódź]]
| occupation         = Film director, Producer, Professor
| children           = 
| parents            = |
}}

'''Krzysztof Pius Zanussi''' (born 17 June 1939) is a Polish film and theatre director, [[film producer|producer]] and [[screenwriter]]. He is a professor of [[Europe|European]] film at the [[European Graduate School]] in [[Saas-Fee]], Switzerland where he conducts a summer workshop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egs.edu/faculty/krzysztof-zanussi/biography/|title=Krzysztof Zanussi|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527093933/http://www.egs.edu/faculty/krzysztof-zanussi/biography/ |archive-date=27 May 2010|publisher=[[European Graduate School]]}}</ref> He is also a professor at the [[Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice|Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia]] in [[Katowice]].

He is the recipient of the [[Golden Lion]] at the [[41st Venice International Film Festival|1984 Venice Film Festival]] for ''[[A Year of the Quiet Sun]]'', the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Jury Prize]] at the [[1980 Cannes Film Festival]] for ''[[The Constant Factor]]'' as well as two Grands Prix at the 1977 and 2000 [[Gdynia Film Festival]] for ''[[Camouflage (1977 film)|Camouflage]]'' and ''[[Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease]],'' respectively.

==Biography==
Zanussi was born in 1939 in [[Warsaw]] as an only child of Jerzy Zanussi and Wanda (''née'' Niewiadomska). His father was of Italian ancestry and worked as a structural engineer.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2019-06-17/kino-jak-spowiedz-rezyser-krzysztof-zanussi-konczy-80-lat/ |language = pl |title="Kino jak spowiedź". Reżyser Krzysztof Zanussi kończy 80 lat|trans-title="Cinema as a Confession". Director Krzysztof Zanussi turns 80 |date = 17 June 2019 | access-date = 13 September 2021}}</ref>

Zanussi studied physics at [[Warsaw University]] (Uniwersytet Warszawski) and philosophy at the [[Jagiellonian University]] (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) in [[Kraków]]. He is a graduate of the prestigious [[National Film School in Łódź]] (1967).<ref name="culture.pl">{{cite web|url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/krzysztof-zanussi|title=Krzysztof Zanussi|website=Culture.pl|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

He is a director of the Polish Film Studio TOR and has received several prizes and awards, including the [[David di Donatello Prize]] of the ''Accademia del Cinema Italiano'', the Cavalier's Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order, and the Cavalier de L'Ordre des Sciences et Lettres.

Krzysztof Zanussi has written ''On editing an amateur film'' (1968), ''Discourse on an amateur film'' (1978) and a book of memoirs ''The Time to Die'' (1997).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://udallas.edu/braniff/50th/zanussi%20-%20autobiography.pdf |title=It's Time to Die|first=Krzysztof|last=Zanussi|translator-last1=Piwowarska|translator-first1=Anna|translator-last2=Davies|translator-first2=Stephen|access-date=4 April 2021 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415162941/https://udallas.edu/braniff/50th/zanussi%20-%20autobiography.pdf |url-status=dead|via=University of Dallas}}</ref> He appeared as himself in ''[[Camera Buff]]'' (1979), a film about an amateur film maker, directed by his friend [[Krzysztof Kieślowski]].  His film ''[[The Constant Factor]]'' (1980) ({{langx|pl|Constans}}) received the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Jury Prize]] at the [[1980 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1852/year/1980.html|title=Jury Prize in 1980|publisher=Cannes Film Festival|date=1980}}</ref> During the 1980s, he spent much of his time in the West.

Among the films that he made during this time was a film entitled ''From a Far Country: Pope John Paul II'' (1981) about the life of [[Karol Wojtyła]] in the context of the complicated history of modern Poland.<ref name="culture.pl"/> His 1989 film ''[[Inventory (film)|Inventory]]'' was entered into the [[16th Moscow International Film Festival]].<ref name="Moscow1989">{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff36/eng/archives/?year=1989|title=16th Moscow International Film Festival (1989)|access-date=24 November 2015|work=MIFF}}</ref> His 2000 film ''[[Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease]]'' won the Golden St. George at the [[22nd Moscow International Film Festival]].<ref name="Moscow2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff36/eng/archives/?year=2000|title=22nd Moscow International Film Festival (2000)|access-date=24 November 2015|work=MIFF}}</ref>

His 2002 film ''[[The Supplement]]'' was entered into the [[24th Moscow International Film Festival]] where it won the [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI Special Mention]].<ref name="Moscow2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff36/eng/archives/?year=2002|title=24th Moscow International Film Festival (2002)|access-date=24 November 2015|work=MIFF}}</ref>
[[File:Krzysztof Zanussi 01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Zanussi in 1984]]
Zanussi has described his 1996 film, ''[[At Full Gallop]]'', as his most autobiographical work. It follows the director through several years of his boyhood in Poland under post-World War II Communism. Zanussi served at the head of TOR Film Studio in the eighties. When asked about his experience as a producer he said, "Despite the work of the censors the ''zespół'' [state-owned film company] system assured a partial autonomy to our cineastes during the Communist era".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Zespol System assured a partial autonomy to our cineastes', An Interview with Krzysztof Zanussi|date = May 2011|url=http://filmint.nu/?p=1760|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

According to the records of [[Institute of National Remembrance]] since 1962 to 1964 Zanussi was registered without his consent as a secret collaborator of communist [[Służba Bezpieczeństwa]] codename "Aktor". He had several conversations with Communist secret service officers, however he never began to act as a secret collaborator. Zanussi talks openly about his contacts with Służba Bezpieczeństwa but denies any wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvn24.pl/0,1591023,0,1,zanussi-byl-zarejestrowany-przez-sb,wiadomosc.html|title=Zanussi był zarejestrowany przez SB|trans-title=Zanussi was registered by the Security Service|language=pl|publisher=Tvn24.pl|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award on 20 November 2012 at the 43rd [[International Film Festival of India]] held in [[Goa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Life of Pi premiere kicks off 11-day International Film Festival of India in Goa|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/life-of-pi-premiere-kicks-off-goa-film-festival-iffi-india-today/1/230111.html|agency=Mail Today Bureau|publisher=India Today|date=21 November 2012}}</ref>

At the end of the 1980s, he co-founded the [[European Film Academy]] with [[Ingmar Bergman]] which convoked him in the first nucleus of one hundred members. Subsequently, Zanussi left the academy not agreeing with its development as an elitarian club. By the end of the 2000s, Zanussi took part again with the activities and the expansion of the community to around 1.000 members. He remarked the potential leading role of the academy for the European intercultural cinematographic productions, especially for those realized in non-English languages on the model of the successful experiences of the 1960s.<ref>{{cite journal | url = https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/textmatters/article/view/6935/6511 | format = PDF | title = Krzysztof Zanussi Revisited. A Conversation | author = Dorota Filipczak | journal = Text Matters | volume = 2 | issue = 2 | date = 4 December 2012 | doi = 10.2478/v10231-012-0052-9 | via = DOAJ | issn = 2083-2931 | page = 11 | oclc = 5128013703 | publisher = Lodz University Press | hdl = 11089/8469 | s2cid = 191481108 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200726120051/https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/textmatters/article/view/6935/6511 | archive-date = 26 July 2020 | url-status = live| hdl-access = free }}</ref> He is the honorary president of Italian [[People and Religions – Terni Film Festival]] and he promoted the constitution of a web inter-religious European festivals consisting of Terni Film Festival in Italy, Sacrofilm festival of Zamość in Poland and Journées Cinema et Réconciliation of Notre Dame de La Salette in France.

==Selected filmography==
{{div col}}
*''[[The Structure of Crystals]]'' (''Struktura kryształu'', 1969)
*''[[Family Life (1971 Polish film)|Family Life]]'' (''Życie rodzinne'', 1971)
*''[[Behind the Wall (1971 film)|Behind the Wall]]'' (''Za ścianą'', 1971, TV film)
*''[[The Illumination]]'' (''Iluminacja'', 1973)
*''{{ill|The Catamount Killing|fr|3=Pittsville - Ein Safe voll Blut|lt=The Catamount Killing}}'' (''Lohngelder für Pittsville'', 1974)
*''[[A Woman's Decision]]'' (''Bilans kwartalny'', 1975)
*''[[Camouflage (1977 film)|Camouflage]]'' (''Barwy ochronne'', 1977)
*''{{ill|Haus der Frauen|pl|3=Dom kobiet (film)|lt=Haus der Frauen}}'' (1977, TV film)
*''[[Spiral (1978 film)|Spiral]]'' (1978)
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Ways in the Night|pl|Drogi pośród nocy}}'' (1979)
*''[[The Constant Factor]]'' (1980)
*''[[Kontrakt]]'' (1980, TV film)
*''[[From a Far Country]]'' (1981)
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|The Temptation (film)|pl|3=Pokuszenie (film 1981)|lt=The Temptation}}'' (1981, TV film)
*''{{Ill|The Unapproachable|pl|3=Niedostępna|lt=The Unapproachable}}'' (1982, TV film)
*''[[Imperative (film)|Imperative]]'' (1982)
*''{{ill|Bluebeard (1984 film)|pl|3=Sinobrody (film 1984)|lt=Bluebeard}}'' (1984, TV film)
*''[[A Year of the Quiet Sun]]'' (1984)
*''[[Power of Evil]]'' (1985)
*''{{ill|Erloschene Zeiten|pl|3=Wygasłe czasy|lt=Erloschene Zeiten}}'' (1987, TV film)
*''[[The Young Magician (film)|The Young Magician]]'' (1987)
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Wherever You Are...|pl|3=Gdzieśkolwiek jest, jeśliś jest...|lt=Wherever You Are...}}'' (1988)
*''[[Inventory (film)|Inventory]]'' (1989)
*''{{ill|Napoléon et l'Europe|fr}}'' (1991, TV series)
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Life for Life: Maximilian Kolbe|pl|3=Życie za życie. Maksymilian Kolbe|lt=Life for Life: Maximilian Kolbe}}'' (1991)
*''{{ill|Long Conversation with a Bird|pl|Długa rozmowa z ptakiem}}'' (1992, TV film)
*''{{ill|The Silent Touch|pl|3=Dotknięcie ręki|lt=The Silent Touch}}'' (1992)
*''[[Weekend Stories]]'' (1996)
*''[[At Full Gallop]]'' (1996)
*''[[Our God's Brother]]'' (1997)
*''[[Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease]]'' (2000)
*''[[The Supplement]]'' (2001)
*''[[Persona Non Grata (2005 film)|Persona Non Grata]]'' (2005)
*''[[Black Sun (2007 film)|Black Sun]]'' (2007)
*''[[And a Warm Heart]]'' (2008)
*''[[Jacquinot: A Forgotten Hero]]'' (2009)
*''[[Revisited (film)|Revisited]]'' (2009)
*''[[Interior voices (film)|Interior voices]]'' (2009)
*''Foreign Body'' (2015)
*''Eter'' (2018)
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of Poles#Entertainment|List of Poles]]
* [[Cinema of Poland]]
* [[Cinema of moral anxiety]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Michalek |first1=Boleslaw |translator-last=Tomczykowska |translator-first=Wanda |title=The Cinema of Krzysztof Zanussi |journal=Film Quarterly |date=Spring 1973 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=19–26 |doi=10.2307/1211341 |jstor=1211341 |url=https://ia600800.us.archive.org/4/items/The_Cinema_of_Krzysztof_Zanussi/The_Cinema_of_Krzysztof_Zanussi.pdf |access-date=12 August 2024}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Krzysztof Zanussi}}
* {{IMDb name|0953130|name=Krzysztof Zanussi}}
* [http://www.filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php/111468 Krzysztof Zanussi] at filmpolski.pl {{in lang|pl}}
* Giuseppe Sedia, [http://filmint.nu/?p=1760 "An Interview with Krzysztof Zanussi"], at Film International, 1 May 2011.

{{Krzysztof Zanussi}}
{{Polish Academy Award for Best Director}}
{{Venice Film Festival jury presidents}}
{{IFFI - Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zanussi, Krzysztof}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jagiellonian University alumni]]
[[Category:Film people from Warsaw]]
[[Category:Polish film directors]]
[[Category:Polish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Polish screenwriters]]
[[Category:Academic staff of European Graduate School]]
[[Category:University of Warsaw alumni]]
[[Category:Polish people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Directors of Golden Lion winners]]
[[Category:Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta]]
[[Category:Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis]]
[[Category:Commander's Crosses of the Order for Merits to Lithuania]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Silesia in Katowice]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Collegium Civitas]]