At the Monday’s ceremony, June 18 Andrzej Wajda was honored by the United States Ambassador, Victor Ashe, for films that registered the development of the Solidarity movement in Poland and for promoting Polish culture across the world creating better understanding between two nations, Poland and U.S. Ashe awarded Wajda with the U.S. Embassy’s first Czesław Miłosz Award for Contributions to U.S-Polish Understanding at the Ambassador’s Residence.

"Andrzej Wajda is being honored because he is not only one of the most acclaimed directors in the history of film, but also because he brought Polish culture and politics to the American and international audiences through his films," Victor Ashe said at the ceremony.

Wajda is strongly appreciated by worlds’ filmmakers. Steven Spielberg, one of the main figure in Hollywood said, “Wajda belongs to Poland, but his films are part of the cultural treasure of all mankind." (AP) Wajda is a laureate of the honorary Oscar in 2000 for his contribution to worlds’ cinematography. In February 2006, Wajda received an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the Berlin International Film Festival.

His beliefs, as a strong supporter of democracy are mirrored in his works. Two of his most awarded films discuss the Solidarity movement and fight towards the collapse of communism: Man of Marble (1976) and Man of Iron (1981). His first movie “A Generation” came out in 1955 and was a knock thanks to its psychological view of disenchanted adolescence in World War II.

Read the full press release at the website of the US Embassy in Poland