Yesterday the legendary director of Polish cinema and Oscar winner, Andrzej Wajda, 81, was honoured by the U.S. ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe with the first ever Czeslaw Milosz Award. The award ceremony took place at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. The award is to be presented annually starting this year to other figures that promote Polish-American understanding.
Named after Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz, the award is given to those who promote improved communication and greater understanding between the people of the United States and Poland. Wajda was named a "moral and professional authority" for making films that chronicled the development of the Solidarity movement and witnessed (and in some ways helped along) Poland's struggle towards democracy. Wajda's films became quite popular in the U.S., and through the medium of film Wajda brought Polish culture and politics to international audiences. |