Monika Szwaja

I am almost a native of Szczecin, and have been for over sixty years. I passed my matura exams at the famous high school no.5. Journalism has been a part of my life since high school, when I used to write theatre reviews for the “Filipinka” magazine's society of young theatre-lovers, and later ran the school magazine “Kaktus” (my only managerial position ever!). I intended to study law in Warsaw, but failed to score enough points for... my background. Then, by complete coincidence, I started working at the Base of The Television Film Studio. It was 1967, pioneering times, the Base employed people fascinated with cinema and television – my role models were most of all Janusz Pietrzykowski, an excellent cinematographer, and Bogdan Kondratt, a superb editor. I graduated from the department of Polish studies in Poznań extramurally, and after several years of working for the Base, and shooting "in my free time" the film “Lepiej niż ptaki,” I was offered a part-time job at the editorial office. I was never a “quick shot,” I preferred longer forms, especially reportage. During martial law I was both out of a job and out of the city. For two years in the Karkonosze Mountains, and six more in Szczecin, I was a teacher. A priceless experience, although I was glad to return to TV in 1989, as did so many other journalists. Film reports (well received by Warsaw's pre-release committees), documentaries, journalistic programs, interviews, major broadcasts – these were my specialty. I retired early mostly because I could no longer keep up with the cinematographer. Currently I write novels, lyrics for my shantymen friends, I sail (i.e. cruise the seas and oceans), I grow roses and raise two funny little dogs, occasionally I dabble in live comedy...

Past events

Films

  • Better Than Birds 20’22’’
    Production: PL 1977
     
    A double debut: that of the author and of the cinematographer, Tomasz Kosior. A group portrait of three aviators from Szczecin, who do plane acrobatics (with success in sports). We tried to convey the characteristic atmosphere of the airfield and the acrobatic flight itself. The film was broadcast nationally by Studio 8.
     
     

     

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  • The World According to Oliver15’

    Production: PL 1993

    The peculiar world of 7-year-old Oliver, who lives on board of the boats of his father, a German owner of sailing ships. His room is a cabin, he is walked to school by a shipmate, and his best friend's a boatswain...

     

     

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  • Józef Broda Philosophy 23’30’

    Production: PL 1991

    Apparently at some point at the Film School in Łódź there was a waiting list for people making films about Józef Broda, teacher and musician from the Beskids... We had shot our film before Broda has even been discovered as an extraordinarily colourful and interesting figure. In the face of today's disputes on patriotism and the love for one's homeland (both little and great) – it can serve as a voice in the discussion.

     

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  • Woman and the Stones13’

    Production: PL 2000

    A reportage about a woman who, in the wake of the national system reform, lost everything she had. She gets by on collecting stones from fields and selling them to the road authorities.

     

     

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  • The Stones of Juliusz N.18’30’’

    Produkction: PL 1991

    Juliusz Naumowicz was a widely known figure in the Karkonosze Mountains (he died two years ago). For many years he “plundered the soil,” searching for minerals and gems. When we met him, he was several months after his accident (he had fallen off a rock, the earth had “shrugged him off”). What kind of life awaits him?

     

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  • Caribbean in Kolobrzeg8’48’’

    Production: PL 2002

    A reportage from the one-of-a-kind annual congress of the Republica Caribena de los Marineros. Here's how one can create an alternative world that is much more fun than the one we live in normally.

     

     

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