Sławomir Idziak

Polish cinematographer and director

Sławomir Idziak (; born 25 January 1945) is a Polish cinematographer and director who has worked on over forty Polish and foreign films. He is especially known for his collaboration with director Krzysztof Kieślowski as well as Ridley Scott and David Yates. In 2019, the American Society of Cinematographers included Three Colours: Blue shot by Idziak on the list of the best photographed films of the 20th century.

Idziak was born on 25 January 1945 in Katowice, Poland. In 1969, he graduated from the National Film School in Łódź. He has made fourteen films with Krzysztof Zanussi, including Kontrakt (The Contract), The Constant Factor and A Year of the Quiet Sun. He worked on all the early films of Krzysztof Kieślowski, including his television, feature film and foreign debuts, additionally, the two collaborated on A Short Film About Killing, The Double Life of Véronique and Three Colors: Blue. He has made films with such directors as Ridley Scott, John Sayles, Michael Winterbottom and John Duigan, and has also written and directed two films himself. He worked on Winterbottom's film I Want You, where he won an Honourable Mention at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival. He moved to more mainstream films such as Gattaca (1997), Proof of Life (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), and King Arthur (2004). In 2002, he was nominated for an Academy Award as well as a BAFTA for 'Best Cinematography' in the film Black Hawk Down. Idziak was the director of photography for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film adaptation of J. K. Rowling's popular fantasy series, directed by David Yates. He is also Director of Photography for Battle of Warsaw 1920 the first of his films, and the first ever Polish language feature film, to be shot in 3D. Sławomir Idziak teaches at film schools in Berlin, London and Copenhagen, and also conducts seminars in cinematography in other countries. He is currently working on a Virtual Film Studio Web site called Film Spring Open which gives users an opportunity to present work to global audiences and to make films online. Participants can share ideas, exchange equipment or write scripts together. The aim is to create an international community of filmmakers who will support each other, make films together and will care about the advertising and distribution of their films. In 2012, he was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta for his "outstanding achievements for the Polish and world culture" and in 2014, he became the recipient of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis.

Sławomir was married to actress Maria Gładkowska.

Year Title Director Notes1971Jeszcze słychać śpiew i rżenie koni Mieczysław Waśkowski1975A Woman's DecisionKrzysztof Zanussi1976Partita na instrument drewniany Janusz ZaorskiThe Scar Krzysztof Kieślowski1978Nauka latania Himself Also writer1980The Orchestra Conductor Andrzej WajdaThe Constant Factor Krzysztof Zanussi1981lt=From a Far Country 1982Imperative 1984deKarsten Wichniarz Der Fall Bachmeier – Keine Zeit für Tränen Hark Bohm A Year of the Quiet SunKrzysztof Zanussi 1985Power of Evil Wie ein freier VogelHark BohmDocumentary1986Harmagedon Erään maailman loppuJuha RosmaSarahReginald Puhl1987Wygasle czasyKrzysztof ZanussiDocumentary1988Yasemin Hark Bohm A Short Film About Killing Krzysztof KieślowskiWherever You Are Krzysztof Zanussi1989Inventory1991The Double Life of VeroniqueKrzysztof Kieslowski1993Three Colours: BlueNominated César Award for Best Cinematography1994WeltmeisterZoran Solomun Traumstreuner Erwin Michelberger1995The Journey of August KingJohn Duigan Tears of StoneHilmar Oddsson1996JailbirdsDetlev Buck Lilian's StoryJerzy Domaradzki1997CommandmentsDaniel TaplitzMen with GunsJohn SaylesGattacaAndrew Niccol1998I Want You Michael Winterbottom 1999The Last September Deborah WarnerLove & RageCathal Black2000Paranoid John Duigan Detlev BuckProof of LifeTaylor Hackford2001Black Hawk Down Ridley Scott Nominated Academy Award for Best CinematographyNominated BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography2004King Arthur Antoine Fuqua2007Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixDavid Yates2011Battle of Warsaw 1920 Jerzy Hoffman 2012Measuring the World Detlev Buck2015A Tale of Love and DarknessNatalie Portman