Andrzej Bartkowiak
Polish cinematographer and film director (b. 1950)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andrzej Bartkowiak, ASC (born 6 March 1950) is a Polish cinematographer and film director, long based in the United States.[1][2] He became known for his partnership with director Sidney Lumet, shooting 11 of his films in the 1980s.[3] From the 2000s onwards, he transitioned into a directing career, mainly with action films.
Andrzej Bartkowiak | |
|---|---|
Bartkowiak at the premiere of Doom, 2005 | |
| Born | March 6, 1950 Łódź, Poland |
| Alma mater | Łódź Film School |
| Occupations | Cinematographer, film director |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and education
Bartkowiak was born and raised in Łódź.
As a teenager, he played in a rock band and wrote for his school newspaper.[4] Though he originally intended to become a painter, he developed an interest in filmmaking and enrolled in the Łódź Film School in 1970. He has cited the influence of painters, particularly Caravaggio and Goya, in his cinematography.
After two years of study, he left his studies, and moved to the United States and settled in New York City, where he lived for a time with Polish actress Elżbieta Czyżewska and David Halberstam.
Career
Barkowiak worked as a cinematographer and director on dozens of television commercials and industrial films, for clients like IBM, Xerox, American Express, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Toyota.[4] He also worked for several years in Italy.[citation needed]
Cinematography
Bartkowiak shot his first feature, the independent feature Deadly Hero, in 1975. Though the film was neither a critical nor commercial success, he later recalled "it gave me confidence — and it gave other people confidence in me."[4]
He achieved prominence in the early 1980s through a close association with director Sidney Lumet, shooting 11 of his films between 1981 and 1993.[3]. Lumet approached Bartkowiak after being impressed by his day-for-night photography on the made-for-TV film The Five Forty-Eight.[4]
Bartkowiak is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers[5] and received the Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.[4]
Directing
Bartkowiak later became known as a director of action films, making his debut with Romeo Must Die (2000). He then directed Exit Wounds (2001) and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), as well as the video game adaptations Doom (2005) and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009).
Personal life
Bartkowiak was married to actress Diane Venora between 1980 and 1989. They have one daughter, Madzia. He also has a daughter named Ania and a son named Marco.[6][7]
In addition, Bartkowiak was friends with actor Bruce Willis during the 1980s. Willis credited Bartkowiak with securing his earliest extra acting work in The Verdict.[8][9]
Filmography
Director
- Romeo Must Die (2000)
- Exit Wounds (2001)
- Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
- Doom (2005)
- Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
- Maximum Impact (2017)
- Dead Reckoning (2020)
Cinematographer
Film
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Turkey. Cake. | Sean Whalen | |
| 2022 | Laughing at Fat People | Stephen Kessler | Documentary short |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The 5:48 | James Ivory | TV movie |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Camerimage | Golden Frog | Falling Down | Nominated |
| 2006 | Special Award[a] | Won | ||
| 1982 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | The Verdict | Nominated |
| 2011 | Polish Film Festival in America | Wings Award | Won | |
- Polish Cinematographer for Immense Contribution to the Art of Film