We say goodbye to a producer, entrepreneur and publisher, long-time director of the Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia, Gdynia Film School and President of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Film Foundation in Gdynia.

His death is a great loss for Polish cinema.

"A legend, an institution, a cinema man has passed away. He combined wisdom, modesty, charisma and interest in other people. We will remember him as a creator of culture and an authority, but also - as he wonderfully told us - a rally driver, umbrella manufacturer and author of novels" - we read on the Polish Feature Film Festival website festiwalgdynia.pl/aktualnosci/zmarl-leszek-kopec

He produced dozens of diploma films of Gdynia Film School graduates, awarded at over 100 festivals and nominated at almost 200 festivals in Poland and abroad, including two nominations for the Palme d'Or in the Court Metrage competition in Cannes. He received the Pomeranian Eagle award in 2015 and the title of 2016 Gdynia Persona awarded by Dziennik Bałtycki. He was awarded the Bronze (2005), Silver (2009) and Gold (2015) Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis. Winner of the Artistic Award of the President of Gdynia (2009). In 2017, he was honoured with the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Medal. In 2022, he received the lifetime artistic achievement award by the Polish Filmmakers Association. In 2025, he was distinguished by being placed in the golden ten of the "Pomeranian of the Year" award.

LESZEK KOPEĆ died on 23, April, 2025, at the age of 73.

Our condolences to his loved ones and colleagues.

Photo: Pomeranian Film Foundation