Andrzej Grabowski Receives the Marshal’s Film Award
He is one of Poland’s most recognisable actors. Although he was born in Chrzanów and spent much of his professional career associated primarily with Kraków, he also has significant, long-standing artistic ties with the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. His connection with Toruń is particularly important, as it was here, in 1986, that he achieved one of his first major theatrical successes. The actor has now been honoured with the Pola Negri Statuette – the Film Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. His artistic achievements include hundreds of roles in theatre, film and television, as well as work in cabaret, music and directing.
The Pola Negri Film Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region was presented during the 6th edition of the Old Film Festival in Bydgoszcz on 6 November 2026.
Andrzej Grabowski was born on 15 March 1952. In 1974, he graduated from the State Higher School of Theatre in Kraków. That same year, he made his stage debut at the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków. Over the following decades, he performed at numerous theatres, including the Ludwik Solski Theatre in Tarnów, the Stary Theatre in Kraków and the STU Theatre. Theatre remains an important part of his artistic career, and Grabowski has repeatedly demonstrated his outstanding acting skills and exceptional stage presence.
In 1986, Andrzej Grabowski won the Grand Prix at the National Festival of One-Actor Theatres in Toruń for his one-man performance Audiencja V by Bogusław Schaeffer. This marked an important milestone in his artistic journey, and his success in Toruń became a lasting highlight of his career. The actor also appeared in two films shot in our region and produced with the financial support of the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund: Seasons (Sezony), directed by Michał Grzybowski, and The Road Less Travelled (Droga rzadziej przemierzana), directed by Zuzanna Grabowska.
He gained enormous popularity through his portrayal of Ferdynand Kiepski in the television series Świat według Kiepskich, but his career extends far beyond this single, highly distinctive character. Grabowski has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Pitbull, Day of the Wacko (Dzień świra), We’re All Christs (Wszyscy jesteśmy Chrystusami), The Mighty Angel (Pod Mocnym Aniołem), Little Moscow (Mała Moskwa) and The Career of Nikos Dyzma (Kariera Nikosia Dyzmy).
He is a versatile actor who excels in both comedy and drama. He has portrayed characters who inspire affection and laughter, as well as complex, morally ambiguous and deeply dramatic figures. As a result, his filmography is remarkably diverse, encompassing productions representing various genres and trends in Polish cinema. He has received numerous awards and distinctions for his artistic achievements, including the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis.
Andrzej Grabowski is also an artist associated with cabaret, stage entertainment and music. His career includes numerous live performances and projects in which he has drawn on his acting experience and exceptional interpretative talent. His distinctive voice, strong personality and ability to bring characters to life have made him one of the most recognisable figures in Polish popular culture.
Paweł Jankowski
Promotion Department
9 November 2026