Award-winning documentary filmmaker. His work seamlessly bridges the gap between a distinct auteur sensibility and the execution of large-scale international productions.
His documentary debut, The Great Theatre, screened at over 30 festivals, including Visions du Réel, AFI DOCS, DocAviv, and Full Frame. This artistic success was further solidified by K2: The Impossible Descent, which earned him the Grand Prix and numerous Best Documentary awards. Critics have hailed it as one of the most significant mountain films ever made. In his storytelling, he seeks out compelling protagonists who have achieved the extraordinary while remaining profoundly authentic.
Beyond his auteur projects, he is a highly experienced non-fiction creator. He directed a flagship science documentary series for Discovery, filmed across five continents, gaining extensive expertise in complex international co-productions. With over 500 hours of television programming to his credit, he regularly operates in multicultural environments, successfully leading diverse teams through the most demanding production conditions.
K2: THE IMPOSSIBLE DESCENT
Awards
New Zealand Mountain Film Festival — GRAND PRIX
Krakow Mountain Festival — GRAND PRIX, Audience Award
INCA Film Festival (Peru) — BEST DOCUMENTARY
Tegernsee Mountain Film Festival (Germany) — BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
UMFF Mountain Film Festival (Korea) — OPENING FILM
Lądek Mountain Film Festival — Honorable Mention, 2nd Audience Award
The Best of Banff World Tour 2021
Rankings
THE TELEGRAPH: Best Ski Movies of All Time
FILMWEB: Best Films of 2020 (World)
TREK AMAZE: 10 Best Mountain Movies of All Time
THE GREAT THEATER
With its smooth camera work, precise editing and outstanding cinematography, The Grand Theater is an elegant and deeply human portrait of a captivating microcosm. The operatic soundtrack adds an epic dimension to the intricate collective effort that goes into creating magic on stage.
Bruno Dequen
Watching the film, we have the impression of encountering a finished masterpiece — exceptionally thoughtful, rich in subtle drama, and captured with a remarkably attentive eye.
Daniel Stopa
THEATER DIRECTING
MY CITY — Ivan Vyrypaev, 2004
Le Madame Stage, Warsaw
THE HUNGER — Knut Hamsun, 2006
Ateneum Theatre, Warsaw
THE GRANDMOTHER — Michał Walczak, 2007
Juliusz Osterwa Theatre, Gorzów Wielkopolski
THE BALLOON REVOLUTION — Julia Holewińska, 2011
Powszechny Theatre, Warsaw
ABOUT THE SHELLING OF BEANS — Wiesław Myśliwski, 2013
Juliusz Osterwa Theatre, Gorzów Wielkopolski
HE WHO SAYS YES, HE WHO SAYS NO — Bertolt Brecht, 2014
Warsaw Revolutionary Theatre
SELECTED REVIEWS
BALLOON REVOLUTION
One of the most unpretentious performances I’ve seen recently. Honest, emotionally charged, without unnecessary formalism.
Jacek Wakar — Twój STYL
(…) captivates with grace, lightness and a refined sense of humor.
Agnieszka Michalak — e-teatr.pl
Zielińska’s hour-long monologue is enriched with parodic scenes, impersonations of Wojciech Pijanowski and Magda Masny from the popular 1990s show Wheel of Fortune, as well as energetic dance sequences set to Papa Dance songs.
Filip Przedpełski — Newsweek
contact
sbatyra@gmail.com
+48 501 327 111
