About
Elżbieta Protakiewicz is a distinguished Polish film professor, producer, and director affiliated with The Leon Schiller National Film School in Łódź. Born on July 15, 1948 in Warsaw, she has made significant contributions to Polish cinema and television over several decades.
She graduated from the Institute of Theatre, Literature and Film Studies at the Faculty of Philology, University of Łódź in 1973, earned her PhD in Film Arts in 2000, completed her habilitation in film art in 2002, and was awarded the title of professor of film art in 2010.
Protakiewicz has been associated with TVP (Polish Television) since 1973, where she served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Film Department and Artistic Director of Channel 1 in 1986. Since 1988, she has been a faculty member at The Leon Schiller National Film School in Łódź, where she served as Dean from 2008 to 2016.
Her research and creative interests span film production, television production, documentary filmmaking, theater production, and film education. She has directed numerous documentaries, theater productions, and outdoor performances throughout her career.
Her recent works demonstrate a continued engagement with student film production and artistic supervision, reflecting her commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
- Honorable Mention for the music program "Heart Burns Once" at the International Festival of Television Programs "Golden Antenna" in Blagoevgrad (1988)
- Main Prize in the category "Music and Entertainment Show with a Smile" for directing the program "Singing Pianos" at the 2nd Festival of Good Humor in Gdańsk (2001)
- Award of the President of the Management Board of TVP for directing the Christmas Eve "Concert in Lebanon" at the Polish Unit of the UN Peacekeeping Forces (2003)
As an educator, Protakiewicz has supervised numerous student productions across various formats including school etudes, feature films, and documentary works. Her mentorship has shaped generations of Polish filmmakers through her role at the National Film School in Łódź.
She continues to be an influential figure in Polish cinema education and production, maintaining an active role in both academic and professional film communities.