The Institute for the study of Totalitarian regimes in Czech Republic has awarded Joanna Helander the commemorative medal for her “significant role in the fight for the restoration of freedom and democracy during the eras of non-freedom.”
The conferral ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Mayor´s residence in Prague.
The new short film “Ryszard Krynicki x 70” by Joanna Helander & Bo Persson will be screened at the Museum of Contemporary Art, MOCAK, in Kraków on June 26 and at the International Jewish Cultural Centre, Judaica, Meiselsa street 17 in Kraków on June 27.
“Waltz with Milosz” has been invited to be screened on May 18 & May 19 at the International Milosz Festival 2013 in Kraków
The University of Poznan has made a film about the poet Stanislaw Baranczak. The film includes a great number of photos of Stanislaw Baranczak made by Joanna Helander.
After the screening Mr Adam Halacinski, Polish Ambassador, will deliver the Freedom and Solidarity medal to Joanna Helander which she was awarded by the Polish president for her contributions in the democratisation of Poland.
The event is co-sponsored by the Nobel Museum together with the Polish Institute and Polish Embassy in Stockholm.
Between March 18 and May 18 the City Library in Plock, Poland is showing an exhibition of photos made by Joanna Helander about Nobel laureate Wislawa Szymborska. The exhibition includes photos from Wislawa Szymborska´s visit in Stockholm at the time of the Nobel Prize as well as portraits of Wislawa Szymborska and her friends in Kraków.
The exhibition celebrates Wislawa Szymborska on the anniversary of her death.
The film ”If She from Poland was Here” by Joanna Helander and Bo Persson with Wislawa Szymborska and Erland Josephson will be shown as part of the exhibition.
Joanna Helander´s photo of Wislawa Szymborska on the poster for exhibition opening in National Museum in Krakow February 1, 2013
We premiered a completly new version of our short film “Gerard K” at Valand, Göteborg University on November 29, 2012. The short is based on Joanna Helander´s photos and narrated by the actor Keve Hjelm.
Prezydent Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej Bronisław Komorowski odznaczył fotografkę i reżyserkę Joannę Helander Krzyżem Wolności i Solidarności za jej wkład w rozwój demokracji w Polsce.
Joanna Helander urodziła się w Rudzie Śląskiej. Studiowała romanistykę na Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim. W roku 1968 brała udział w studenckich protestach oraz demonstrowała przeciwko inwazji krajów Układu Warszawskiego na Czechosłowację, za co została uwięziona. W roku 1971 wyemigrowała do Szwecji.
Jej albumy fotograficzne, filmy i wystawy mają często związek z Polską. Jej książki „Kobieta”, 1978, „Listy z Polski”, 1986 i „Gdyby ta Polka była z nami”, 1999.zyskały duży rozgłos w Szwecji. Podobnie jak trylogia filmowa „Teatr Ósmego Dnia”, Powroty” i „Bliźniczki z Krakowa” która powstała we współpracy z Bo Perssonem, została pokazana w ponad trzydziestu krajach świata Najnowsza film Joanny Helander i Bo Perssona to średniometrażowy film „Walc z Miłoszem”.
President Bronislaw Komorowski has awarded the photographer and filmmaker Joanna Helander the ”Freedom-and-Solidarity Medal” for her contributions to the democratization av Poland.
Joanna Helander was born in southern Poland and studied at the University of Kraków when she was imprisoned for protesting the invasion of Czechoslovakia. In 1971 she emigrated to Sweden.
In photography books, films and exhibitions she has portrayed the country of her birth. Her books ”Kobieta” 1978, ”Letters from Poland”, 1986 and ”If She from Poland was Here”, 1999 – among others – have been critically acclaimed in Sweden and beyond.
The award-winning film trilogy ”Eighth Day Theatre”, ”Returning” and ”The Twins from Kraków”, which she made together with Bo Persson, has been screened in a number of countries. Their last film is “Waltz with Milosz”.
