He was born on 28th September 1922, in Bydgoszcz. He was a production manager, full professor of the Leon Schiller National Film School, and professor of economics. He was considered to be one of the creators of post-war Polish cinema.
He started working in the film industry in 1945, first at the so-called Baza Produkcyjna Wytwórni Filmowej Wojska Polskiego (Film Company Production Base of the Polish Army) in Kraków, as its director. Later on, in the years 1949-1950, he worked as a director of the Documentary Film Studios (it now operates under the name Documentary and Feature Film Studios – WFDiF). In the period from 1955 to 1956, he was head of production for Zespół Filmowy “Syrena” (‘Syrena’ Film Production Company), and then, in the years 1956-1966, he became head of Studio Filmowe “Iluzjon” (‘Iluzjon’ Film Studio). During that period, the studio produced the film ,,Zamach“/”Assassination” (1958) directed by Jerzy Passendorfer, which was filmed on a number of locations in Toruń, for example. Then, in the years 1972-1975, he was head of Zespół Autorów Filmowych ,,Kadr” (‘Kadr’ Film Units). During that period, KADR produced the film ,,Wiosna Panie Sierżancie“/ “It’s Spring, Sergeant” (1974) directed by Tadeusz Chmielewski, which was filmed on locations in Ciechocinek and Nieszawa.
From 1961 onwards, Edward Zajiček was an academic teacher at the Leon Schiller National Film School in Łódź, then, in the years 1978-1986, a dean and academic teacher at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television University of Silesia, and finally, in the years 1989-1996, a deputy vice chancellor of the Lodz Film School.
During the many years of his cinema career, he was also a film producer, who was involved in producing such films as: ,,Drewniany różaniec”/”The Wooden Rosary” (1964), directed by Ewa and Czesław Petelscy, ,,Małżeństwo z rozsądku”/”The Marriage of Convenience” (1966), directed by Stanisław Bareja, or ,,Album polski”/”Polish Album” (1970), directed by Jan Rybkowski.
Edward Zajiček was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta Third Class – the Commander’s Cross, in 2005. In 2013, he was awarded the Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis, and three years later, in 2016, the Polish Filmmakers Association Award for outstanding artistic achievements.
He died at the age of 95, on 9th April 2018, in Łódź. His remains were interred in the Catholic section of the Old Cemetery located at ul. Ogrodowa, in Łódź.
Selected Filmography
- 1945 – ,,Łopuszna. Ziemia nieznana”
- 1946 – ,,Wieliczka”
- 1946 – ,,Skroplone powietrze”
- 1946 – ,,Ręce dziecka”
- 1946 – ,,Milcząca gwiazd”
- 1963 – ,,Daleka jest droga”/”Far Is the Road”
- 1964 – ,,Drewniany różaniec”/”The Wooden Rosary”
- 1966 – ,,Małżeństwo z rozsądku”/”The Marriage of Convenience”
- 1966 – ,,Don Gabriel”
- 1967 – ,,Twarzą w twarz”/”Face to Face”
- 1967 – ,,Stajnia na Salvatorze”/”Stall on Salvador”
- 1967 – ,,Marsjanie”
- 1968 – ,,Wniebowstąpienie”/”Ascension Day”
- 1968 – ,,Molo”/” The Pier”
- 1970 – ,,Album polski”/”Polish Album”
Selected Awards
The Order of Polonia Restituta Third Class – the Commander’s Cross (2005); The Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2013); The Polish Filmmakers Association Award for outstanding artistic achievements (2016).
