Witold Giersz

Directing

Witold Giersz

Born

1927-02-26 (99)

Place of birth

Poraj, śląskie, Polska

Known for

Directing

Credits

41 titles

Witold Giersz is a distinguished Polish animator and film director, renowned for his innovative contributions to animated cinema. He graduated from the Film Directing Faculty of the National Film School in Łódź. Giersz's work is characterized by his pioneering use of painterly animation techniques, applying translucent patches of color directly onto celluloid, creating a dynamic and fluid visual style. His films have garnered international acclaim, earning over eighty awards at festivals such as Cannes, Cork, Edinburgh, Oberhausen, and Krakow. Giersz's innovative storytelling and artistic techniques have significantly influenced the evolution of animated film.

Known for

Film credits

Behind the camera

Dinozaury I poster
6.0

Polish educational cartoon about dinosaurs

Dinozaury I

1963

Traces poster
NR

During the day, we could see traces of passersby and the couple of protagonists on the white and soft snow. They go to a dinner party. The evening will end tragically, but the next day begins with the milkman's footsteps, as usual.

Traces

1974

Traces poster
NR

During the day, we could see traces of passersby and the couple of protagonists on the white and soft snow. They go to a dinner party. The evening will end tragically, but the next day begins with the milkman's footsteps, as usual.

Traces

1974

No artwork available
NR

A funny adventure of a sailor who, as a castaway, lands on a desert island. Thanks to his clever tricks, he manages to escape the Cannibals and save his life.

Przygoda marynarza

1958

No artwork available
NR

A funny adventure of a sailor who, as a castaway, lands on a desert island. Thanks to his clever tricks, he manages to escape the Cannibals and save his life.

Przygoda marynarza

1958

Horse poster
6.7

A short animation depicting the duel between a horse and a man trying to tame it.

Horse

1967

Horse poster
6.7

A short animation depicting the duel between a horse and a man trying to tame it.

Horse

1967

Intellectual poster
6.0

A caveman and a modern man compare their qualities. The caveman is impressed with the intellect of the modern man, while the modern man is impressed with the mass and appearance of the primitive man. The filmmaker will help both of them.

Intellectual

1969

Intellectual poster
6.0

A caveman and a modern man compare their qualities. The caveman is impressed with the intellect of the modern man, while the modern man is impressed with the mass and appearance of the primitive man. The filmmaker will help both of them.

Intellectual

1969

Expectation poster
6.3

A man is waiting for a woman at a café table. Only his hands are shown, which - to kill time - reach for napkins, conjuring from them tissue paper figures of a woman and a man.

Expectation

1962

Expectation poster
6.3

A man is waiting for a woman at a café table. Only his hands are shown, which - to kill time - reach for napkins, conjuring from them tissue paper figures of a woman and a man.

Expectation

1962

Fire poster
7.5

An apocalyptic vision of a forest fire.

Fire

1975

Admiral poster
NR

Beautiful ships sail towards each other across the blue ocean. The admiral observes them with a spyglass. Actually, all the things take place in his mind.

Admiral

1968

Admiral poster
NR

Beautiful ships sail towards each other across the blue ocean. The admiral observes them with a spyglass. Actually, all the things take place in his mind.

Admiral

1968

A Little Western poster
7.2

Spilling patches of colours are arranged in the form of cowboys and horses, creating a parody of the western.

A Little Western

1961

A Little Western poster
7.2

Spilling patches of colours are arranged in the form of cowboys and horses, creating a parody of the western.

A Little Western

1961

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Reinkarnacja – Finall

1986

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Reinkarnacja – Finall

1986

The File poster
NR

A man in the library opens a catalog with the history of the 20th century. The figures from the catalog come to life and show the achievements of the age focusing on their disastrous effects.

The File

1966

The File poster
NR

A man in the library opens a catalog with the history of the 20th century. The figures from the catalog come to life and show the achievements of the age focusing on their disastrous effects.

The File

1966

Open-Air Museum poster
NR

There is an old stone house in a clearing, it is surrounded by greenery. Architects have ambitious plans for this area. They will build a modern city around the clearing, however, the old house cannot be blown up. The problem will be solved by an open-air museum.

Open-Air Museum

1978

Open-Air Museum poster
NR

There is an old stone house in a clearing, it is surrounded by greenery. Architects have ambitious plans for this area. They will build a modern city around the clearing, however, the old house cannot be blown up. The problem will be solved by an open-air museum.

Open-Air Museum

1978

A Neon Trifle poster
5.0

Night falls over the city and neon lights are flashing. As the clock strikes midnight, a boy from the hotel neon light gives his heart to a girl from the drugstore neon light. However, it turns out that a centaur from the bar neon light is an insurmountable rival. A tragic love story is going to happen.

A Neon Trifle

1959

A Neon Trifle poster
5.0

Night falls over the city and neon lights are flashing. As the clock strikes midnight, a boy from the hotel neon light gives his heart to a girl from the drugstore neon light. However, it turns out that a centaur from the bar neon light is an insurmountable rival. A tragic love story is going to happen.

A Neon Trifle

1959

The Stuntman poster
7.5

From cowboys to cannons, diving to racing, perhaps nothing can stop this stuntman

The Stuntman

1972

The Stuntman poster
7.5

From cowboys to cannons, diving to racing, perhaps nothing can stop this stuntman

The Stuntman

1972

No artwork available
NR

A metaphorical tale about the creation of humankind.

Reinkarnacja – Andante

1986

No artwork available
NR

A metaphorical tale about the creation of humankind.

Reinkarnacja – Andante

1986

Dinozaury II poster
NR

A sequel or second part to Dinozaury I, a polish educational cartoon about dinosaurs.

Dinozaury II

1963

The Star poster
NR

It seems that Christmas Eve is celebrated in accordance with the tradition. However, the society of the future has different customs: lack of religious freedom and strict surveillance of the society.

The Star

1984

The Star poster
NR

It seems that Christmas Eve is celebrated in accordance with the tradition. However, the society of the future has different customs: lack of religious freedom and strict surveillance of the society.

The Star

1984

Ladies and Gentlemen poster
NR

The Blue One and the Yellow One vie for the attention of the Orange One. The Yellow One calls to the creator of the film because he is really annoyed. It seems that the introduction of the Red One will solve the problem. But it turns out that it is not a good solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen

1964

Ladies and Gentlemen poster
NR

The Blue One and the Yellow One vie for the attention of the Orange One. The Yellow One calls to the creator of the film because he is really annoyed. It seems that the introduction of the Red One will solve the problem. But it turns out that it is not a good solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen

1964

In the Hall of the Mountain King poster
NR

The waves of the fjords hit the shore waking the little gnome. In a fantastic mountain landscape, the gnome finds the entrance to a mysterious grotto. Fascinated by the flickering light, he follows the direction from where it comes. The creeping gnome is watched from behind picturesque rocks by trolls. Behind the next rock paragraph, the gnome notices the shadows of the trolls dancing in a frenzied rhythm. Above a huge bonfire towers the figure of the King of the Mountains. The gnome is pulled into the dancing circle. In the final stage of the ecstatic dance, the King of the Mountains leaps into the fire and emerges from it as the all-powerful ruler of the underworld.

In the Hall of the Mountain King

1996

In the Hall of the Mountain King poster
NR

The waves of the fjords hit the shore waking the little gnome. In a fantastic mountain landscape, the gnome finds the entrance to a mysterious grotto. Fascinated by the flickering light, he follows the direction from where it comes. The creeping gnome is watched from behind picturesque rocks by trolls. Behind the next rock paragraph, the gnome notices the shadows of the trolls dancing in a frenzied rhythm. Above a huge bonfire towers the figure of the King of the Mountains. The gnome is pulled into the dancing circle. In the final stage of the ecstatic dance, the King of the Mountains leaps into the fire and emerges from it as the all-powerful ruler of the underworld.

In the Hall of the Mountain King

1996

Horse Portrait poster
NR

Painterly impressions of the silhouette of a horse, its springy movements, the shape of the head, the fight of stallions. In addition to his own animation, the director presents studies on Leonardo da Vinci's horse, drawings by Pablo Picasso, Saul Steinberg and others, but also mythological figures such as a centaur and pegasus. It also shows how horses were painted by Japanese, Chinese and Paleolithic artists.

Horse Portrait

2023

Horse Portrait poster
NR

Painterly impressions of the silhouette of a horse, its springy movements, the shape of the head, the fight of stallions. In addition to his own animation, the director presents studies on Leonardo da Vinci's horse, drawings by Pablo Picasso, Saul Steinberg and others, but also mythological figures such as a centaur and pegasus. It also shows how horses were painted by Japanese, Chinese and Paleolithic artists.

Horse Portrait

2023

No artwork available
NR

A film about the adventures of a dwarf showing children the first signs of spring.

Wiosenne przygody krasnala Hałabały

1959

No artwork available
NR

In an idyllic atmosphere, surrounded by an environment that does not imply the slightest aggression, a sound appears that grows louder as time passes. It arouses fear in every creature, forcing them to flee. Suddenly, a great giant appears, wreaking destruction. However, it turns out that he is not the biggest. The hand that lifts him up suggests that there is someone bigger and more powerful.

Reinkarnacja – Allegro Vivace

1986

Rondo alla Turca poster
NR

A film miniature set to classical music. A Turkish military band marches to the rhythm of a musical rondo. First, the janissaries march, playing their pipes, followed by the cavalry, majestically accompanying the infantry with trumpets. Next, the drummers beat out the rhythm on their drums. The ornate plumes on the horses' heads sway to the rhythm of the music. A woman watches the procession. The commander leading the procession sends her greetings. The excited woman runs to another window to watch the orchestra for a longer time. In the square outside the house, soldiers perform a saber dance.

Rondo alla Turca

1994