Andrzej Wajda

Andrzej Wajda is known for Ashes and Diamonds (1958), Katyn (2007), Danton (1983).

Biography

Andrzej Wajda (born 6 March 1926) was a Polish film director. Recipient of an honorary Oscar, he was possibly the most prominent member of the unofficial "Polish Film School" (active circa 1955 to 1963). He was known especially for a trilogy of war films: A Generation (1954), Kanał (1956) and Ashes and Diamonds (1958).

Four of his movies were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: The Promised Land (1975), The Maids of Wilko (1979), Man of Iron (1981), and Katyń (2007).

Questions about Andrzej Wajda

How many Andrzej Wajda films are in the catalogue?

The CineQuiz catalogue has 62 films with Andrzej Wajda, from 1951 to 2026.

What is the best rated Andrzej Wajda film?

The best rated Andrzej Wajda film in the catalogue is Kanal (1957), rated 7.7.

What was the first Andrzej Wajda film?

The first Andrzej Wajda film in the catalogue is A Generation, from 1955.

Who has Andrzej Wajda worked with the most?

In the catalogue, Andrzej Wajda shares the most credits with Bogusław Linda (4 films), Halina Prugar-Ketling (4 films) and Paweł Edelman (4 films).

People data: TMDb.

AWARDS 71 Wins 10 Nominations

Awards: Annual award ACFK (2020) · honorary citizen of Gdańsk (2016) · European Film Academy Honorary Award (2016) · honorary citizen of Warsaw (2015) · Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary (2012) · Order of the White Eagle (2011) · Order of the Three Stars, 3rd Class (2011) · Order of Friendship (2010) · Order of Danica Hrvatska (2010) · European Film Academy Critics Award (2009) · Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (2009) · Polish Academy Award for Best Film (2008) · Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class (2008) · Gold Medal of the Guardian of National Memorials (2007) · Golden Bear (2006) · Commander with Star of the Order of Merit of Hungary (2006) · Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2006) · Golden Medal for Merit to Culture (2005) · honorary doctor of the University of Łódź (2002) · Commander of the Legion of Honour (2001) · Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2001) · Polish Academy Life Achievement Award (2000) · Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2000) · Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th class (2000) · Academy Honorary Award (1999) · Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1999) · Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (1998) · honorary citizen of Łódź (1998) · Praemium Imperiale (1996) · Silver Bear (1996) · Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class (1995) · honorary doctor of the Université libre de Bruxelles (1995) · honorary doctorate from University of Lyon-II (1994) · European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (1990) · honorary doctor of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow (1989) · Honorary doctor of the University of Bologna (1988) · Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy (1987) · Herder Prize (1985) · BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language (1984) · César Award for Best Director (1983) · César Award (1982) · Honorary César (1982) · Louis Delluc Prize (1982) · BAFTA Fellowship (1982) · Palme d'Or (1981) · London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year (1981) · Golden Shell (1980) · David di Donatello Luchino Visconti (1978) · Order of Cyril and Methodius, 1st Class (1978) · Work Flag Order, 2nd class (1975) · Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1964) · Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1959) · Jury Prize (1957) · European Film Awards · Kyoto Prize · Paszport Polityki · Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise · City of Kraków Award · Award named after Professor Aleksander Gieysztor · Cracoviae Merenti · Gazeta Wyborcza Person of the Year · Officer of the Legion of Honour · Medal "Guardian of National Memorials" · Polish PEN Club Award Jan Parandowski · Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz Award · Boy-Żeleński Award · Konrad Swinarski Award · Polish State Award · Honorary doctor of the University of Gdańsk · honorary citizen of Wrocław · Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Nominations: Polish Academy Award for Best Director (2003) · Polish Academy Award for Best Film (2000) · Polish Academy Life Achievement Award (2000) · Polish Academy Award for Best Screenplay (2000) · BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language (1984) · César Award for Best Director (1983) · César Award for Best Film (1983) · BAFTA Fellowship (1982) · César Award for Best Foreign Film (1982) · BAFTA Award for Best Film (1960)

Known for

Coming up

I Dreamed the Future

Opens September 24, 2026

Self (archive footage)

Trivia

Also works as: director · screenwriter · film director · theatre director · film producer · television director · politician · painter · theatre manager · theatre designer · illustrator
Studied at: Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow · National Film School in Łódź
Position held: Member of the Senate of the Republic of Poland
Spouse: Beata Tyszkiewicz · Krystyna Zachwatowicz · Gabriela Obremba · Zofia Żuchowska
Father: Jakub Wajda
Siblings: Leszek Wajda