Professor JERZY KUCIA, one of Poland’s most eminent and esteemed animated film makers active on the international scene, has been awarded this year’s Dragon of Dragons by the decision of the Programme Council of the Krakow Film Foundation in recognition of his lifetime achievement.

Jerzy Kucia (b. 1942) is an animated film script writer and director, producer, university teacher, graphic artist as well as a painter. He studied painting, graphic arts and animation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and since 1981 he has been heading the Academy’s Animated Film Studio. For a few years now, he has been running the International Animated Film Workshops in Krakow for young artists and students from Poland and abroad organized in Krakow on his initiative.

Jerzy Kucia made his debut in 1972 with a film entitled The Return. He has completed several animations since then, all of which were presented at competitions of major international festivals on numerous occasions and received important awards. Such pictures as Krąg (1978), Refleksy (1979), Odpryski (1984), Parada (1986), Przez Pole (1992) or Tuning the Instruments (2000) have won wide acclaim of critics and festival jury members.

The Dragon of Dragons will be presented to Jerzy Kucia at an official ceremony during the 49th Krakow Film Festival by Professor Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of Krakow.

It is a special honour for us because Professor Kucia has been a friend of our Festival looking after its development as a member of the Programme Council. A full retrospective of his work will be presented at this year’s 49th edition of the Krakow Film Festival. Additional attractions will include screenings of films made by Professor Kucia’s students as well as meetings with Professor and composers he collaborated with whilst making his films.

More info and photos on Festival's website: www.kff.com.pl