Awards
PFFNA
The Polish Film Festival celebrates outstanding achievements in cinema, honoring artists and storytellers who bridge cultures and bring Polish stories to a global audience.
PFFNA Hollywood Award for Best Feature Film
Recognizing the finest feature film presented at the festival, selected by our 6-member jury.
Winner in this category:
“Home Sweet Home” / “Dom dobry” by Wojciech Smarzowski
Jury Member
Iris Grossman
Beginning her career as an assistant at the talent agency ICM, Iris Grossman quickly climbed the ranks and was upped to talent agent. After several years with the agency, she was given the opportunity to become the Senior Vice President of Talent and Casting for Turner Network Television (TNT). In that capacity, Grossman oversaw all talent and casting issues related to TNT Original films and series. Grossman was instrumental in bringing TNT such top-name stars such as Diane Keaton (Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight); Robert Duvall (The Man Who Captured Eichmann); Mandy Patinkin (The Hunchback of Notre Dame); Brian Cox (NUREMBERG); Gary Sinise and Angelina Jolie (George Wallace) and Tommy Lee Jones (The Good Old Boys). She also cast Alec Baldwin (Nuremberg); Julianna Margulies, Angelica Huston and Joan Allen (The Mists of Avalon); and Chazz Palminteri (Boss of Bosses); William H. Macy (Door to Door); John Turturro (Monday Night Mayhem); Danny Glover (Buffalo Soldiers) and Jimmy Smits (The Cisco Kid). She spent nine years at TNT, and in October 2001, returned to ICMPartners as a talent agent. In 2013, Grossman joined Paradigm’s Talent Department for three years before moving to Echo Lake Entertainment as a talent manager in 2016.
Grossman is a former two-term President of Women In Film and is WIF’s President-Emerita. She is currently the President of GreenLight Women. She has won a CSA award for casting George Wallace, also receiving an Emmy nomination for the same. She has also received awards from Big Sisters, Hadassah and NOW
Jury Member
Antoni Kaczmarek
Antoni Kaczmarek is a literary manager at Sugar23, representing writers, directors, IP, and multi-hyphenates across film, television, and digital mediums. He previously spent several years as a literary agent at Paradigm and A3 Artists Agency. He began his career as an agent trainee at UTA and in series development at FX Networks. Born in Poland and raised in Los Angeles since the age of three, he studied Political Science and History at the University of California, Irvine.
Jury Member
Cleve Landsberg
Jury Member
Dianna Renée
Dianna Renée is a fearless and dynamic filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and performer, celebrated for emotionally grounded storytelling, sharp visual style, and collaborative artistry. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, she brings depth, authenticity, and imagination to every project, crafting stories that resonate with heart and cinematic craftsmanship. A multi-award-winning artist, Dianna has earned recognition for her acting, writing, and directing. Her micro-short The Shootist won top honors at both the Austin Short Film Festival and the Marina del Rey Film Festival. Her original web series The Agency—which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in alongside Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland—became an early breakout hit. She has also directed two-time Oscar nominee Eric Roberts in her most recent feature films.
Jury Member
Jackson George
Jackson George is Senior Vice President, Creative Advertising at The Walt Disney Studios, where he leads trailer, TV, and digital campaigns for top franchises and filmmaker releases. His work has included Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Mandalorian (Seasons 1–2), Frozen 2, Encanto, Incredibles 2, and Toy Story 4. Earlier in his career he held creative advertising posts at Universal Pictures, Overture Films, and InSync, contributing to campaigns for Despicable Me, Bridesmaids, Ted, The Lorax, Walk the Line, Cast Away, and Rocky Balboa. A frequent juror and speaker for industry awards and podcasts, George brings two decades in high-impact marketing and an instinct for shaping cultural-moment releases. As a juror, he offers a precise read on audience engagement, creative craft, and what truly breaks through in today’s crowded marketplace.
Jury Member
Michael Becker
Michael Becker is the founder and CEO of Imprint Entertainment and a founding partner of the film financing debt fund Alchemy Standard. With over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Becker began his career as a talent agent, representing top-tier writers, directors, cinematographers, and producers. During his tenure, he negotiated numerous high-profile deals and helped bring to life acclaimed projects such as Sex and the City, iRobot, Nip/Tuck, and The West Wing, among others.
In 2008, Becker launched Imprint Entertainment. The company’s titles have garnered more than $1.8 billion in global box office revenue. Imprint has been involved with films including The Twilight Saga franchise, The Stepfather (starring Penn Badgley and Amber Heard), Pawn (with Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Common, and Michael Chiklis), Worth (starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci) and Werewolves (starring Frank Grillo).
Today, Becker continues to expand Imprint’s portfolio across film, television, and new media, while advancing Alchemy Standard’s mission to provide innovative debt financing solutions for premium content production.
Cinema Without Borders for Best Short Film
Celebrating innovative and impactful short films, chosen by our 3-member jury.
Winner in this category:
“Entropy” / “Entropia” by Anna Fam-Rieskaniemi
Jury Member
Bijan Tehrani
Bijan Tehrani founder and Editor in Chief of Cinema Without Borders (CWB) online- publication and Cinema Without Borders Foundation is an award-winning author of children’s books and short films. Tehrani has been a passionate advocate of human rights, which he has actively pursued as a filmmaker, historian, and -critic over the past five decades. Bijan Tehrani has organized a numerus cultural events dealing with international cinema and social justice. The ongoing ELAC International Animation Day is an annual festival showcasing international animation and I, Immigrant International On-line Film Festival portrays the positive impact of immigrants in their new societies. Bijan is also the creator of the Bridging the Borders Award that is offered in ten international film festivals in US, UK, and Australia. Bridging the Borders Award goes to the films that help bring people of the world closer together. Bijan Tehrani has won several awards and has been recognized by several film festivals and cultural institutes as Ambassador of International Cinema because of his services to the world film community through 20 years of publishing Cinema Without Borders.
Jury Member
Narges Samadi
Narges Samadi, born in Iran, is a former emergency physician with over twenty years of experience in Tehran. Following her immigration to Canada, she transitioned into the field of cinema studies, culminating in her recent graduation from the Cinema Studies specialist program at the University of Toronto. Currently, she is the founder of “Narges Cinema House” in Toronto, which serves as a venue for film screenings, education in film history, and the production of critical writings.
Jury Member
Vladek Juszkiewicz
Vladek Juszkiewicz was born in Glogow, Poland, and graduated from Szczecin Technical University with a degree in Engineering. He managed The Szczecin Technical University Choir and traveled to 18 countries, including the U.S. After managing Polish singer Maryla Rodowicz in Warsaw, he moved to the U.S. and worked on 11 films with Paul Leder. In 1999, he founded the Polish Film Festival Los Angeles and served as director till 2019, (now acting as the Festival’s Programmer). Honored with the Cavalier & Officer Cross and Gloria Artis for promoting Polish culture.
North American Academia Award for Best Short Film
Awarded to a short film that demonstrates exceptional storytelling, judged by our 6-member jury.
Winner in this category:
“Border” / “Granica” by Maria Magriel
UCLA Professor and Head of Cinematography
William McDonald
Professor William McDonald is the head of Cinematography in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media. He was previously the interim department chair from 2019-20 and department chair from 2012-2015. He was awarded the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineer’s (SMPTE) Kodak Educational Award in October 2012. A cinematographer and filmmaker, McDonald was recognized for his dedication to educate the next generation of filmmakers in the art and craft of cinematography. This was not the first organization to recognize his passion for cinematography. In 2009, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) honored him with Associate Membership, acknowledging his leading role as an educator in the field of academic cinematography. Now in his 28th year of teaching, McDonald brings to students an enthusiasm and passion for the art and craft of cinematography.
UCLA Narrative Directing Program
Melissa Finnel,
Melissa Finell is an award-winning director and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. Sensitivity Training, her first feature film, had its world premiere at the LA Film Festival, where it was named a “Can’t Miss” film by the Hollywood Reporter. Her script for Sensitivity Training won an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Production Grant and a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award. The film went on to screen at numerous festivals worldwide including Woodstock, Frameline, and TIFF Inside Out. It was released by Random Media in partnership with The Orchard and is currently available on Prime and all major platforms.
UCLA Producers Program
Hans Martin Liebing
Hans-Martin Liebing is a producer known for The War Is Over (2010), Cactus Jack: Lone Star on Capitol Hill (2016) and Space Race (TBD).
UCLA Production Program
Gionatan Tecle
Gionatan Tecle is an Italian Eritrean Cinematographer currently based in Los Angeles. In 2012, Gionatan completed his BFA from the University of Maryland Baltimore County undergraduate program in Cinematic Art. He then worked as a camera operator for five years with a strong passion for exploring further his interest in experimental narratives and documentaries. He later graduated from UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television in Cinematography.
UCLA Production Program
Lesley Elizondo
Lesley Elizondo is a queer Chicana director, cinematographer, activist, artist, and professor who bridges her multifaceted heritage, academic knowledge and film production skills to tell stories of emotional truth, social justice, identity, loss and love. She has written and directed nine award winning short films and actively lenses narrative, documentary, commercial and activist non-profit projects. As an adjunct lecturer, she teaches at the University of California Los Angeles, University of California Irvine, Loyola Marymount University and California State University Fullerton. She completed a Master of Fine Arts in Cinematography from UCLA.
USC School of Cinematic Arts
David Maquiling
Born in New York City and raised in the suburbs of New Jersey, David Maquiling is a magna cum laude graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. With his feature film debut with “Too Much Sleep” (1997), he won an Independent Spirit Award nomination, was featured in Daily Variety’s annual “Someone to Watch” article, and was awarded the IFP Project Involve Fellowship. That same year, David was elected to the Directors Guild of America, where he now serves on the Asian American Committee.
Award for Contributions to Polish-American Film Culture
Honoring individuals whose work has significantly strengthened Polish-American cinema.
Award Winner
Eric Roberts
On television, Roberts has received international attention for roles in “Heroes”, “Entourage” ,“The L Word”, “The Cleaner”, the CSIs, “Justified”, “Less Than Perfect”;. He also made a profound impact in the Emmy-nominated adaptation of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood,” directed by Jonathan Kaplan. He joined the cast of the Starz series “Crash” for its second season, playing the kind of complex character Roberts is known for. Roberts has also diversified into music videos, appearing in Sophie Muller’s “Mr. Brightside” video for The Killers, plus its prequel, “Miss Atomic Bomb”; and Brett Ratner’s video for Mariah Carey’s “Emancipation of Mimi”– both award winners. One of his most popular appearances was as the surprised recipient of a heart-felt, spontaneous shout out from The Wrestler’s Mickey Rourke at the Independent Spirit Awards
On stage, Eric won the Theatre World Award for his role on Broadway in “Burn This.” He returned to the New York stage in “The Exonerated” and appeared in the show’s touring company as well.
Roberts was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and grew up in and around the Atlanta area. He began his career in theatre, and as an actor in his late teens in New York City on the soap opera “Another World.” If you ask Roberts today, he will tell you he has more than retained his passion for acting,but that there have been some additions to his repertoire of which he is most proud, namely his daughter Emma Roberts, and his step kids, Morgan and Keaton Simons. He supports them in all their artistic, musical and culinary endeavors.
Award for the Preservation and Promotion of Polish Heritage in Hollywood
Presented to artists or contributors dedicated to preserving and promoting Polish heritage in the film industry.
Award Winner
Donelle Dadigan
Donelle Dadigan grew up learning the importance of two life lessons – helping shape lives of others and giving back to the community. “D.D.” is devoted to all things Hollywood.
She is President and Founder of two not-for-profit organizations. The José Iturbi Foundation is dedicated to “popularizing classical music…. one note at time!”® And, the Hollywood Museum, now considered the official museum of Hollywood (designation bestowed by Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant).
As a philanthropist and lover of history, Donelle wanted to create something meaningful for the Hollywood community. The Hollywood Museum, located just steps from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is dedicated to the history and heritage of Hollywood and the entertainment industry. With 10,000 real show business treasures showcasing more than 100 years – from Hollywood’s humble beginnings to today’s blockbuster motion pictures, television shows and new digital platforms – the Hollywood Museum is home to the largest entertainment collection on public display and is a ‘must see’ for visitors from around the world.
Inspired by her godfather, concert-great classical pianist and conductor, José Iturbi, Donelle co-founded the José Iturbi Foundation dedicated to sharing and popularizing the wonders of classical arts and music with audiences around the world, including sponsoring blockbuster concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
For more than 20 years, Dadigan has been involved with numerous community groups and charitable organizations in Hollywood and California. Today, Dadigan is the past chair of the Hollywood Historic Trust, a duty passed on from the late Johnny Grant, past chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and the Hollywood Police Activities League, among others. Additionally, she enjoys participating and has served on the boards of many service organizations in the Hollywood Community, including the Hollywood Business Improvement District, the LACER (Literacy, Arts, Culture, Education, Recreation) after school programs, and PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), among others. Donelle’s impact on the Hollywood community has been recognized by numerous awards. Donelle sits on the national Board of the Smithsonian. Donelle is the host of the radio show HOLLYWOOD’S HIDDEN TREASURES that airs weekly on KABC Radio 790 AM, airing Wednesdays from. 7-9:00pm
Hollywood Artist of Polish Heritage Award
honoring meaningful contributions between the two cultures
Award Winner
Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi is an actor and creator with a wide range of experience in film, television, and on stage. He currently stars opposite Denis Leary in the FBC comedy, Going Dutch, and recently starred opposite Rob McElhenney in Apple’s Mythic Quest. Other series regular starring roles include DC Comics’ Powerless for Warner Brothers/NBC and the JAX Media independent pilot Berlin, as well as notable roles on TBS’ The Guest Book, TruTV’s Misfits and Monsters, and FX’s Better Things. Danny’s break-out role was on the critically acclaimed series Community on NBC and Yahoo, which earned him a “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” nomination at the Critic’s Choice Awards.
In film, Pudi has had numerous leading roles, including starring opposite Jon Hamm in Corner Office and Peter Dinklage in American Dreamer, both of which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. He also led Walt Disney Pictures’ Flora and Ulysses, The Tiger Hunter opposite Karen David and John Heder, Warner Brothers’ Good Girls Get High, and Babysplitters. Pudi’s voice work includes lead roles in Sony Pictures Animation’s Smurfs: The Lost Village (Brainy Smurf) and Disney’s DuckTales (Huey).
Pudi made his directorial debut with the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary short Untucked, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and directed multiple episodes of Mythic Quest. On stage, Danny’s credits include the Off-Broadway musical Found (Atlantic Theatre), Huck & Holden (LA’s Black Dahlia Theatre), and NBC’s Diversity Showcase (Falcon Theatre).
Originally from Chicago, Pudi studied comedy at The Second City Conservatory, and in his spare time, he enjoys running, drinking too much coffee, and spending time with family.