Malgorzata Szumowska, a renowned Polish film director, was born in Kraków in 1973. Throughout her illustrious career, she has demonstrated her versatility by directing, writing, and producing a wide range of feature and documentary films.
Her initial foray into feature filmmaking was marked by two notable short films, which garnered significant attention in the industry. Her debut feature, Happy Man, released in 2000, received a nomination at the European Film Awards as "Discovery of the Year" and won a Special Prize at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Szumowska's subsequent feature, Strangers, premiered at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals in 2004. Her 2008 film, 33 Scenes From Life, earned the Special Jury Prize at the Locarno Festival, solidifying her reputation as a talented and innovative director.
The director's subsequent projects have continued to receive critical acclaim. Her 2011 film, Elles, featured Juliette Binoche and was well-received by audiences and critics alike. In The Name Of, released in 2013, won the Teddy Award at the Berlin Festival, further cementing Szumowska's status as a respected figure in the film industry.
In 2015, the Berlinale honored Szumowska with the Best Director Silver Bear award for her film Body. Two years later, her film Mug took home the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Festival, a testament to her continued success and recognition within the industry.
Szumowska's most recent feature, The Other Lamb, was selected for screening at prominent film festivals in Toronto, San Sebastian, and London in 2019. The director has also been working on a short film for Miu Miu and is currently developing her next feature, Wonderful Zenia.
Throughout her career, Malgorzata Szumowska has consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling and cinematic innovation, earning her a reputation as one of the most prominent Polish directors working today.
