Zbigniew Wojciech Bzymek (born January 21, 1976) is a Polish-American filmmaker, video artist, and theatre director.
Background
Bzymek was born in Warsaw to Danuta Jaworska-Bzymek, a plastic surgeon trained in Warsaw and at Yale who practiced in Poland and the United States,
and Zbigniew Marian Bzymek (1935-2023), a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut known for his early work in computer graphics, CAD/CAM systems, and artificial intelligence applications.
Bzymek grew up in Sweden and Connecticut.
He graduated *cum laude* from Bowdoin College with a BA in English and Russian,
and later received an MFA in Film and Television Directing from the Polish National Film School in Łódź.
Filmography
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| Short film |
| Short film |
| Short film |
| Short film; Grand Prix, Henri Langlois Festival |
| Feature; premiered at Berlinale FORUM |
| premiered at Sundance; Directed by Young Jean Lee |
| premiered at BAM; Directed by Young Jean Lee |
| premiere at Performing Garage |
| documentary about Brodka's album
|
VR and performance media works
|
| Writer / VR Dramaturg, directed by Krzysztof Garbaczewski |
| Writer / VR Dramaturg directed by Krzysztof Garbaczewski |
| Performer / Writer / VR Dramaturg directed by Krzysztof Garbaczewski |
| Writer / VR Dramaturg directed by Krzysztof Garbaczewski |
| Director |
| Director |
| Director
|
| Video Designer
|
Music videos
|
| Director |
| Director |
| Editor |
| Art Director VFX |
Concert tours
Video design in theatre and opera
Selected publications
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“Katarzyna Kozyra” — interview by Zbigniew Bzymek, *BOMB Magazine* (2021).
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“The Cancellation of ‘The Trial’” — commentary on Krystian Lupa, *BOMB Magazine* (2020).
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“The Factory and Its Double: Polish Iconoclast Krystian Lupa Does Andy Warhol On Stage” — essay in *Modern Painters* (2007).
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*Anon and I* — photo book by Zbigniew Bzymek, self-published in New York, distributed by Printed Matter (2010).
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Foreword to *Brulion: The Wooster Group Workbook* (Polish edition, 2012).
Awards and nominations
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2008 – Grand Prix (Jury Prize), 31 Rencontres Internationales Henri Langlois (Poitiers) — Nagle na zawsze
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2008 – First Prize, Young Art Cinema Festival (Wrocław) — Nagle na zawsze
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2008 – Second Prize, “Łodzią po Wiśle” Festival (Warsaw) — Nagle na zawsze
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2011 – Teddy Award nomination, Berlin International Film Festival — Utopians
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2011 – Official competition selection, Entrevues Belfort International Film Festival — Utopians
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2011 – Official selection, CPH:PIX (Copenhagen) — Utopians
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2011 – Official competition selection, New Horizons International Film Festival (Wrocław) — Utopians
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2017 – Fryderyk Award, Best Alternative Album — Clashes (Brodka; lyrics co-writer)
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2017 – Fryderyk Award nomination, Best Alternative Single — “Horses” (Brodka; lyrics co-writer)
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2021 – Berlin Music Video Award, Best Art Direction — “Game Change” (Brodka; Art Director/VFX)
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2022 – Fryderyk Award, Best Music Video — “Game Change” (Brodka; Art Director/VFX)
Background
Bzymek was born in Warsaw, Poland and spent his early childhood with his family in Poland and later in Lund, Sweden. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut, after a two-year separation caused by Martial law in Poland. He lived with his family in Storrs, Connecticut, until he attended
Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, from which he graduated
cum laude, with a major in English and a minor in Russian. He received a Master's Degree from the Polish National Film School in Łódź, Poland in 2008.
Works
In 2001, he moved back to Poland to attend The National Film School in Łódź. While in Poland, he collaborated with
Krystian Lupa creating original video projections and designs for seven major theatrical productions directed by Lupa. His dream sequence projections for Lupa's
Zaratustra were shot on 35mm film and first projected on the stone back wall of the outdoor amphitheater Theatre of Herodes Atticus.
Since 2006, Bzymek has been a member of The Wooster Group, a company of artists who make work for theater, dance, and media based in New York City. In 2008, Bzymek's diploma film
Suddenly Forever (2008) received the grand prix du jury at Rencontres Internationales Henri Langlois (The Poitiers Film Festival) as well as two other Polish film prizes.
Since 2010, Bzymek has been the main videographer and contributor to The Wooster Group's video journal
The Dailies.
In 2011, Bzymek finished his debut feature film
Utopians, which premiered at The 61st Berlin International Film Festival.
The Dailies led him to collaborate on two experimental documentary short films with playwright Young Jean Lee, the first of which, entitled
Here Come The Girls, screened at Locarno International Film Festival and The Sundance Film Festival.
In 2014, Bzymek directed the music video for debuting artist Mary Komasa's single
City of My Dreams (Warner Music Poland) in New York City, bringing together the Berlin-based Polish expatriate artist with members of the NYC downtown dance community.
In 2015, he collaborated with the Polish pop singer
Monika Brodka, on her album
Clashes and directed the video for her single
Horses (2016).
In 2017, he received a
Fryderyk nomination for best alternative single for his work as a lyricist with
Brodka on
Horses. The same year, Brodka's album "Clashes" won the
Fryderyk for Best Alternative Album of the Year 2017, on which Bzymek co-wrote five songs.
He has taught a course in
previsualization at
CUNY New York City College of Technology.
Filmography
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Bierność (2002)
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In Hotel Syren (2002)
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Taki Jak Ja (Just Like Me) (2003)
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Nagle na zawsze (Suddenly Forever) (2008)
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Utopians (2011)
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Here Come The Girls (cinematography and editing) dir. Young Jean Lee (2013)
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A Meaning Full Life (cinematography) dir. Young Jean Lee (2015)
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Xenophilia
Music videos
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Mary Komasa, City of My Dreams (2014 Warner Music Poland)
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Brodka, Horses (2016 PIAS)
Video design in theatre and opera
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Zaratustra, dir. Krystian Lupa. Premiere 2004, Athens Festival, Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
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Solaris, dir. Krystian Lupa. Premiere 2005, Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus.
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Die Zauberflöte, dir. Krystian Lupa. Premiere 2005, Theater an der Wien.
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Over All The Mountain Tops, dir. Krystian Lupa. Premiere 2006, Teatr Dramatyczny, Warsaw.
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The Seagull, dir. Krystian Lupa. Premiere 2007, Alexandrinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Oh What War, dir. Mallory Catlett. Premiere 2007, Here Art Center.
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Hamlet, The Wooster Group, dir. Elizabeth LeCompte - original video elements. Premiere 2006 at Festival Grec, Barcelona.
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La Didone, The Wooster Group, dir. Elizabeth LeCompte. Premiere 2008, Kaaitheater, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Brussels.
Awards and nominations
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Fryderyk Award Nomination, for best single Brodka's Horses 2017; Polish Association of Music Producers.
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Teddy Award Nomination, 61st Berlin International Film Festival.
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Gregory Millard Fellowship in Film, New York Foundation for the Arts, 2009.
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Grand Prix du jury for the film Nagle na zawsze (Suddenly Forever) ( Soudain pour toujours); 31 Rencontres Henri Langlois, Poitiers, December 2008.
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1st Place for the film Nagle na zawsze (Suddenly Forever); Young Cinema Art Festival Warsaw – 2008.
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2nd Place for the film Nagle na zawsze (Suddenly Forever); 6th Annual „Łodzią po Wiśle” Warsaw, 2008.
