---
name: "Agnieszka Holland"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/agnieszka-holland"
fi1m_id: "agnieszka-holland"
imdb_id: "nm0002140"
tmdb_id: 1128
wikidata_id: "Q231019"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "28 November 1948"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "director"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-23T04:14:24.951269+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Agnieszka Holland

## Identity

Agnieszka Holland

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/agnieszka-holland
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** agnieszka-holland
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002140
- **TMDB ID:** 1128
- **Wikidata ID:** Q231019
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnieszka_Holland, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q231019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002140/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1128

Director and writer. Born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 28 November 1948, Warsaw, Poland
- **Active:** 1978–2011
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 5 directing, 3 writing, 2 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Brad Anderson](https://film.one/person/brad-anderson.md), [Dan Attias](https://film.one/person/dan-attias.md), [Alex Zakrzewski](https://film.one/person/alex-zakrzewski.md), [Anthony Hemingway](https://film.one/person/anthony-hemingway.md), [Christine Moore](https://film.one/person/christine-moore.md), [David Mills](https://film.one/person/david-mills.md), [David Simon](https://film.one/person/david-simon.md), [Ed Bianchi](https://film.one/person/ed-bianchi.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as director, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 86 (1), 1990s 80 (5), 2000s 90 (1), 2010s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Mystery 2, History 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnieszka_Holland, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q231019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002140/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1128

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Wire*](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md) (90), [*Treme*](https://film.one/tv/treme.md) (82), [*Europa Europa*](https://film.one/film/europa-europa.md) (74)
- **AMC+:** [*The Killing*](https://film.one/tv/the-killing-2011.md) (62)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Agnieszka Holland

> Agnieszka Holland makes clear, humane dramas about people trying to survive conditions they did not choose. We value that attention to individual lives, though some of her polished English-language features can feel less personal.

Survival in *In Darkness* (2011) means sheltering in Polish sewers. Agnieszka Holland repeatedly puts ordinary people in circumstances where getting through the day demands difficult choices. We rate her clear storytelling and her willingness to let those people remain complicated, even when their predicament invites a simpler account.

Her debut feature, *Provincial Actors* (1978), belonged to Poland’s cinema of moral disquiet. Her early work as an assistant to Andrzej Wajda placed her alongside a director who was also a mentor and collaborator. *Europa Europa* (1990), a Jewish survival story set during the Second World War, brought international recognition. The subsequent move through European and American features into television makes sense for a director whose straightforward storytelling can accommodate different subjects and collaborators.

On *The Wire* (2002), Holland directed three episodes between 2004 and 2008. We were worn out by *The Wire*, and still wanted to stay with its people: the departmental manoeuvring carries as much weight as the gunfire. The programme asks for patience with the things a brisker police drama would hurry past. Our strong recommendation is for the series as a whole; three episodes cannot make Holland responsible for everything we admire about it.

What her work there does demonstrate is a willingness to fit into a shared undertaking. With David Simon as showrunner, the director’s task includes serving a programme that already has its own habits and priorities. Holland’s collaboration with Simon continued on *Treme*. We value that adaptability: a film-maker need not impose an obvious personal signature on every episode to have done something worthwhile.

The reservation concerns some of the English-language features, with *The Secret Garden* (1993) a case where polish can make the work feel less personal. We want more than fluency from Holland. The later *Green Border* (2023), about the migrant crisis on the Polish–Belarusian border, continues her attention to people facing extreme circumstances. Start with *Europa Europa* for the films; give *The Wire* the longer commitment it deserves.

## Biography

Agnieszka Holland is a Polish film and television director and screenwriter. She graduated from the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 1971 and began her career in Poland as an assistant to Krzysztof Zanussi and Andrzej Wajda.

Her early feature films include *Provincial Actors* (1978). She has directed episodes of several American series, including three episodes of *The Wire* (2004–2008). Her feature films include *Europa Europa* (1990), *The Secret Garden* (1993), *In Darkness* (2011) and *Mr. Jones* (2019). She has received three Academy Award nominations for best foreign language film.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, bfi.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Directed (5) — the average rests on these

- *The Killing* (2011), Fi1m 62, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-killing-2011.md)
- *Treme* (2010), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md)
- *The Wire* (2002), Fi1m 90, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Europa Europa* (1990), Fi1m 74, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/europa-europa.md)

### Wrote (3)

- *Three Colors: Red* (1994), Fi1m 90, Story Consultant — [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-red.md)
- *Three Colors: White* (1994), Fi1m 78, Story Consultant — [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-white.md)
- *Three Colors: Blue* (1993), Fi1m 88, Co-Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-blue.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Ida* (2013), Fi1m 85, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/ida.md)
- *Man of Marble* (1977), Fi1m 86, as Woman talking with Birkut on a Recording (voice) (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/man-of-marble.md)

## Complete filmography (88)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *I Dreamed the Future* (2026), as Narrator (voice)
- *Igor and After* (2026), Actor
- *Winter of the Crow* (2026), Executive Producer
- *Franz* (2025), Director, Producer, Co-Writer
- *Travel Essentials* (2024), Creative Consultant
- *Film for Aliens* (2024), Creative Consultant
- *Absolute Beginners* (2023), series, Actor
- *Green Border* (2023), Producer, Director, Screenplay
- *The Silent Twins* (2022), Thanks
- *Charlatan* (2020), Director
- *Mr. Jones* (2019), Director
- *Marek Edelman… And There Was Love in the Ghetto* (2019), Screenplay
- *1983* (2018), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Nina* (2018), Creative Consultant
- *The First* (2018), series, Director, Co-Executive Producer
- *Wild Roses* (2017), Thanks
- *Spoor* (2017), Director, Screenplay
- *Wajda by Wajda* (2016), Thanks
- *The Lure* (2015), Creative Consultant
- *Strange Heaven* (2015), Thanks
- *Wave vs. Shore* (2014), Actor
- *The Affair* (2014), series, Director
- *Rosemary's Baby* (2014), series, Director
- *Ida* (2013), Thanks — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/ida.md)
- *In the Name of...* (2013), Thanks
- *House of Cards* (2013), series, Director
- *Burning Bush* (2013), series, Director, Creator
- *In Darkness* (2011), Director
- *In Treatment* (2011), series, Director
- *My Name Is Ki* (2011), Creative Consultant
- *The Killing* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-killing-2011.md)
- *Treme* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md)
- *Jánošík (Vykrádaný superhrdina)* (2010), Actor
- *Janosik* (2009), Director
- *The Offsiders* (2008), Idea, Producer
- *Ekipa* (2007), series, as uczestniczka pogrzebu Szczęsnego · Director
- *Copying Beethoven* (2006), Director
- *A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story* (2006), Director
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, Director
- *Julie Walking Home* (2002), Director, Writer
- *The Wire* (2002), series, Director — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md)
- *Shot in the Heart* (2001), Director
- *Golden Dreams* (2001), Director
- *Pollock* (2000), Thanks
- *In the Shadow of Hollywood* (2000), Thanks
- *Dybuk* (1999), Director
- *The Third Miracle* (1999), Director
- *Washington Square* (1997), Director
- *Red Wind* (1995), Director
- *Total Eclipse* (1995), Director
- *Three Colors: Red* (1994), Story Consultant — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-red.md)
- *Three Colors: White* (1994), Story Consultant — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-white.md)
- *Three Colors: Blue* (1993), Co-Writer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/three-colors-blue.md)
- *The Secret Garden* (1993), Director
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Olivier, Olivier* (1992), Director, Writer
- *Europa Europa* (1990), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/europa-europa.md)
- *Korczak* (1990), Screenplay
- *Interrogation* (1989), as Communist Witkowska
- *The Girlfriend* (1989), Writer
- *To Kill a Priest* (1988), Director, Screenplay, Screenstory
- *The Possessed* (1988), Screenplay
- *Anna* (1987), Screenplay, Story
- *A Woman Alone* (1987), Director, Screenplay
- *Angry Harvest* (1985), Director, Writer
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, Writer
- *A Love in Germany* (1983), Screenplay
- *Danton* (1983), Screenplay
- *Mężczyzna niepotrzebny!* (1982), Screenplay
- *Fever* (1981), Director
- *Listy naszych czytelników* (1980), First Assistant Director
- *The Trial* (1980), Director, Writer
- *Provincial Actors* (1979), Director, Screenplay
- *Without Anesthesia* (1978), Screenplay
- *Winners* (1978), Screenplay
- *Something for Something* (1977), Director, Writer
- *Screen Tests* (1977), as Director Angieszka (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay
- *Man of Marble* (1977), as Woman talking with Birkut on a Recording (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/man-of-marble.md)
- *Sunday Children* (1977), Director
- *The Scar* (1976), as Secretary Hania
- *Evening at Abdon's* (1976), Director
- *A Girl and “Akwarius”* (1976), Director
- *Pictures from Life* (1976), Director
- *Pozwólcie nam do woli fruwać nad ogrodem* (1974), as Writer (uncredited)
- *Illumination* (1973), as Commission Member (uncredited) · Assistant Director
- *God's Sin* (1970), Writer, Director
- *The Rabbit Garden*, Director
- *Berlinweh: Yearning for a Home*, Director

## Gallery

- ![Agnieszka Holland](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-bac89d923b24.jpg) Agnieszka Holland — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/MJK32681_Agnieszka_Holland_%28Pokot%2C_Berlinale_2017%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-MJK32681_Agnieszka_Holland_%28Pokot%2C_Berlinale_2017%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Katarzyna Adamik & her mother Agnieszka Holland (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-95a4bff6d03a.jpg) Katarzyna Adamik & her mother Agnieszka Holland (2009) — Kontrola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/00_K_Adamik_%26_A_Holland.jpg/1280px-00_K_Adamik_%26_A_Holland.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-70aaa8d8b72c.jpg) Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946 — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_02.JPG/1280px-2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_02.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-81d01dcc7407.jpg) Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946 — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_03.JPG/1280px-2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_03.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-01326d127a9d.jpg) Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946 — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_04.JPG/1280px-2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_04.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946](https://film.one/media/person/60963/gallery-70399f315014.jpg) Agnieszka Holland (born 28 November 1948 in Warsaw, Poland) – Polish film and television director and screenwriter and Christopher Hampton (born 26 January 1946 — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_05.JPG/1280px-2025.03.29._Christopher_Hampton_and_Agnieszka_Holland_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_05.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1992: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Europa Europa*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1991: Best Non-English Language Film (won)

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 2017: Silver Bear Jury Prize (won), for *Spoor*

### Other awards — 3 won, 4 nominated

- Czech Medal of Merit 2024: Czech Medal of Merit (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2023: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Green Border*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2023: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Green Border*
- Czech Lion for Best Director 2021: Czech Lion for Best Director (won), for *Charlatan*
- Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic 2021: Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2020: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Charlatan*
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2012: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *In Darkness*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/agnieszka-holland