Magdalena Zyzak

Magdalena Zyzak (born 1983) is a Polish filmmaker and novelist. Her directorial debut, Maya Dardel, premiered in the Narrative Competition at the 2017 South by Southwest Film Festival[2][3] and was acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Orion Pictures.[4] She went on to direct The Wall of Mexico, which premiered at South by Southwest in 2019,[5] and then When I'm a Moth.[6] Zyzak's first novel, The Ballad of Barnabas Pierkiel,[7] was published by Henry Holt in 2014.[8][9] Zyzak's second novel, The Lady Waiting, is forthcoming from Penguin Random House in 2024.[10]

Magdalena Zyzak
Zyzak in 2019
Zyzak in 2019
BornMagdalena Zyzak
1983 (age 39–40)
Zabrze, Poland[1]
OccupationDirector, Novelist
LanguageEnglish
NationalityPolish
Alma materColumbia University (MFA, 2010)
University of Southern California (BA, 2006)

Early life and education

Zyzak was born in 1983 in Zabrze, Poland. In 2002, she moved to the US to study film production and literature at the University of Southern California.[11] After producing the feature film Redland, Magdalena attended Columbia University's graduate program in creative writing and received an MFA.[11]

Career

Zyzak's first feature film, produced and co-written[12] with director Asiel Norton, Redland,[13] a wilderness drama, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award[14] and was picked as one of the Top Fourteen Films of the Year by Hammer to Nail.[15] She went on to produce a second feature film directed by Asiel Norton, Orion, a post-apocalyptic fable, shot in the ruins of Detroit, starring David Arquette, Lily Cole and Goran Kostic. In 2016, she shifted from producing to directing and teamed up with Zachary Cotler to found The Winter Film Company.[11] Zyzak's first film as a director, Maya Dardel, starring Lena Olin, Jordan Gavaris, Alexander Koch, Nathan Keyes, and Rosanna Arquette, was released in 2017.[16] Zyzak and filmmaking partner Zachary Cotler received Best Screenplay for Maya Dardel at the Prague Independent Film Festival[17][18] and Best Director for Maya Dardel at the 2017 Raindance Film Festival.[19] Zyzak has been honored by the national foundation Teraz Polska as an outstanding cultural figure of the Polish community abroad.[11] Her most recent film stars Addison Timlin as the young Hillary Clinton.[20][21][22][23]

Filmography

Bibliography
  • The Ballad of Barnabas Pierkiel (2014)
  • The Lady Waiting (2024)

References
  1. Macmillan Publishers. "Magdalena Zyzak : Macmillan Authors". us.macmillan.com. Retrieved 23 October 2017. Magdalena Zyzak was born in 1983 in Zabrze, Poland, and now lives in the United States.
  2. "SXSW 2017 Women Directors: Meet Magdalena Zyzak— "A Critically Endangered Species"". Blog.womenandhollywood.com. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  3. Erbland, Kate (12 March 2017). "'Maya Dardel' Review: Lena Olin Is Riveting in Unnerving Feminist Character Study — SWSW 2017". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. "Samuel Goldwyn & Orion Acquire SXSW Pic 'Maya Dardel'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  5. "SXSW Schedule".
  6. "San Francisco International Film Festival Schedule".
  7. Smith, Wendy (9 January 2014). "'The Ballad of Barnabas Pierkiel' a darkly comic folk tale". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  8. Luchette, Claire. "Q&A with Magdalena Zyzak: Writing is Like Balding". Bustle.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. Williams, John (12 December 2017). "'Once You Break a Knuckle,' by D. W. Wilson, and More". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  10. Zyzak, Magdalena. The Lady Waiting. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0-59-354294-1. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  11. "The Winter Film Company / California / Zachary Cotler/ Magdalena Zyzak". The Winter Film Company / California / Zachary Cotler/ Magdalena Zyzak. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  12. "Redland: Interview with Asiel Norton, Magdalena Zyzak and Lucy Adden". Electricsheepmagazine.co.uk. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  13. "Zachary Cotler and Magdalena Zyzak". Talkhouse.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  14. "REDLAND by Asiel Norton - Narrative Feature Film @ Brooklyn Film Festival". www.brooklynfilmfestival.org. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  15. "THE 2011 HAMMER TO NAIL AWARDS – Hammer to Nail". www.hammertonail.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  16. McNary, Dave (31 January 2017). "SXSW Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  17. "Train Driver's Diary wins at Prague Independent Film Festival". Prague TV.
  18. "PIFF 2017 Winners". PIFF.
  19. "Cotler and Zyzak win Best Director". Raindance.
  20. Svokos, Alexandra. "The Hillary Clinton Biopic Has Finally Been Cast And Fans Are Losing It". Elitedaily.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  21. "'Californication' Alum Will Play Young Hillary Clinton in 'When I'm a Moth' (Exclusive)". Thewrap.com. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  22. "Magdalena Zyzak, Polka robiąca karierę w Hollywood". Polityka.pl. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  23. "Get Ready To See A Young Hillary Clinton Gut Fish In An Upcoming Movie". Huffintonpost.co.uk. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
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