Born in 1939, Zanussi has been responsible for classics of Polish cinema such as Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease (2000) and Illumination [Iluminacja] (1973), a winner of the Grand Prix at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. He has also directed numerous shorts and documentaries and made an appearance as himself in Camera Buff (1979), Krzysztof Kieślowski's film about an amateur filmmaker.
Originally studying physics at Warsaw University and philosophy at Jagiellonian University, Krakow Zanussi's interest in filmmaking saw him pick up a camera and become one of the most accomplished amateur filmmakers not only in Poland, but across the world. He has also written popular books on the subject with On Editing An Amateur Film (1968), and Discourse On An Amateur Film (1978).
Currently Zanussi teaches a new generation of filmmakers at universities in Poland and Switzerland whilst still adding to his canon of films with his latest Revisited [Rewizyta] (2009) being an engaging and fascinating examination of some of the best actors in Poland's history.
GRAND OFF Festival Director Witold Kon said:
"We're honoured to be able to give Krzysztof Zanussi this award and to recognise the huge impact he's had on Polish and international cinema. Whilst the GRAND OFF World Independent Film Awards celebrates a new generation of filmmakers making waves in independent cinema we're also passionate about being able to honour those who have paved the way. It seems apt that we will be able to confer our highest award on Krzysztof Zanussi in his home town at the culmination of our event"
The Zanussi Retrospective at GRAND OFF 2010 will take place on Saturday, 27th November at 8:30 p.m. The screening will include the motion picture Revisited and a short surprise for film connoisseurs: his diploma film Computers [Komputery] (1967).
The GRAND OFF World Independent Film Awards sees some of the very best independent shorts from across the world compete in 9 categories that include Best Fiction, Best Documentary and Best Animation. The GRAND OFF Award Ceremony will be the culmination of a week of screenings across Warsaw which will include the nominated films and specially curated programmes The aim of GRAND OFF is to draw attention to some of the very best films made by independent filmmakers whilst honouring their work, talent and dedication.
