American Embassy in Warsaw Announces
Director Agnieszka Holland as
Winner of 2012 Jan Karski Freedom Award
Critically acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland is the director of In Darkness, nominated for an Academy Award this year for Best Foreign Film. In Darkness, based on a true story, depicts the moral journey of a Pole who hides a group of Jewish refugees, saving their lives despite the peril to himself and his family. In films such as Angry Harvest, Europa, Europa, and now In Darkness, Holland’s projects unflinchingly address the moral questions raised by the Holocaust.
U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Lee A. Feinstein, said, “Agnieszka Holland’s films address complex questions raised by the Holocaust. Her work pays tribute to those who perished and to ordinary people, who took extraordinary risks to save their neighbors.”
Ambassador Feinstein added, “In bringing this true story to millions, Agnieszka Holland carries on the work of Jan Karski, who spoke truth to power at a time when too few were willing to listen.”
“I am honored to receive this award in honor of Jan Karski, a man who was an important model for me and influenced my vision of courage. His legacy is important not just for Poland, but for the world,” said Agnieszka Holland after Ambassador Feinstein called her personally to give her the news that she won the award.
The formal presentation of the 2012 Jan Karski award to Ms. Holland will take place this spring. Please contact Ms. Lisa Helling at the U.S. Embassy for details.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH AMBASSADOR FEINSTEIN TALK ABOUT AGNIESZKA HOLLAND WINNING THE KARSKI AWARD < http://youtu.be/h-kL9no5NHA>
About the Karski Freedom Award for the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights
The Karski Freedom Award recognizes a Pole who has made outstanding political or social contributions on behalf of democracy and human rights. It pays tribute to Jan Karski’s courage and heroism in relating his first-hand observation of the Holocaust to President Roosevelt, and to his lifelong mission to honor the memory of those who perished and to strive for human dignity. Previous winners of the Karski award are President Lech Wałęsa, Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Marek Edelman, and Professor Barbara Skarga.
About Agnieszka Holland
Internationally acclaimed film director and screenwriter Agnieszka Holland has directed and written screen plays for more than 30 feature films and television dramas over the past 40 years. A graduate of the Prague Film School, Holland has worked alongside such film directors as Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi and Krzysztof Kieslowski. Her films and television dramas have been produced in Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States, many of them garnering Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe, Golden Lion, BAFTA and other prestigious film industry nominations and awards. Her most recent film, In Darkness is nominated as Best Foreign Film by the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE… < http://poland.usembassy.gov/holland.html>
Additional information about Poland and the United States in English and Polish can be found at the Embassy’s website: http://poland.usembassy.gov