Andrzej Wajda is considered one of the most famous film directors in the world and is a classic of European auteur cinema, whose works reflected the political and social evolution of Poland and touched on the myths of Polish national identity and the struggle to preserve dignity in the most difficult circumstances.

Four films by Andrzej Wajda were nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language Film: The Promised Land (1975), The Young Ladies of Wilko (1979), Man of Iron (1981) and Katyn (2007). In 2000, the director was awarded an Honorary Oscar. His professional awards also include the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival (1981), the French National Cesar Award (1982), the Felix Award of the European Film Academy (1990), the Imperial Prize of Japan (1996), the Honorary Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival (1998) and the Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival (2006).

Andrzej Wajda became famous with his first works, which formed a trilogy of films about the war and consisted of the films: Generation (1955), Canal (1957), Ashes and Diamonds (1958). This film trilogy is rightfully considered one of the significant works of the "Polish school of cinema". At this year's film festival, on May 27 at 5:30 pm in the Scandinavia House cinema (60 Park Ave, New York, New York) there will be a screening of the film "Kanał".

"Kanał" is the second feature film in Andrzej Wajda's trilogy about World War II.

The director said that he was inspired to create the film by the anti-Soviet poem by the Polish poet Józef Szczepański "Czerwona zaraza" ("Red Infection").

The film tells the tragic story of a group of Home Army fighters during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.

A group of insurgents tries to leave the city through underground sewer passages, not knowing what awaits them ahead. As in most of his films, director Andrzej Wajda brings together people of very different beliefs and destinies. The literary basis for the film were the stories of E.S. Stawinski, one of the participants in the uprising. The film stars:

Teresa Izhevska ("Daisy"), Tadeusz Janczar ("Barkas"),

Vencislav Glinski ("Zanoza"),

Stanislav Mikulski ("Stroyny"),

Emil Karevich ("Umny"),

Teresa Berezovska (Halinka),

Tadeusz Gwiazdowski ("Kostyl"),

Wladek Sheybal (composer Michal),

Zdzislaw Lesniak ("Maly"),

Jan Englert ("Zephyr") and others...

The future film director Roman Polanski starred in an episode of the film.

However, neither his name nor the name of his character were included in the credits of the film.

The film was awarded a special prize at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.

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Once again, we remind you that this year's New York Polish Film Festival will be held from May 27 to May 31 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater and Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in New York City.

Tickets can be purchased on the film festival website at:

https://nypff.com/tickets-2025/

A pass for all screenings and special events of the festival costs $150.00.

For students, a 50% discount on all tickets upon presentation of a student ID.

A ticket for one film screening costs $25.00.