PLAYLIST 15
PIOTR WINIEWICZ
PUBLISHED
THU, 20 MAR 2025
5 MIN READ
Piotr Winiewicz is a Polish artist, filmmaker, and scenographer based in Copenhagen. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where his diploma film, On High in White Tomorrows, was awarded the Würdigung Prize.
Hi Piotr, thanks for doing this month’s playlist.
We first met a few months ago when you came to the office to borrow a suit because you were going to IDFA for the premiere of your new film About a Hero. We talked about cool looks, and without knowing it, we were both referring to Travis Henderson, played by Harry Dean Stanton, in the movie Paris, Texas from 1984. Which movie character has inspired you the most?
I must say that both Harry Dean Stanton’s and Nastasja Kinski’s characters represent the richness and depth of the human psyche that one can only dream of creating. This film always breaks my heart. Otherwise, Christopher Walken’s performance and character development in Abel Ferrara’s King of New York is one of the best I’ve seen. And speaking of the best-dressed... I’ve always loved Coco Chanel’s work on Last Year in Marienbad by Alain Resnais.
About a Hero was the opening film of the world's largest documentary film festival, IDFA, in Amsterdam. How was that experience?
It was fantastic, almost overwhelming, especially since it was my first feature film. But I personally prefer smaller, more intimate screenings where there is direct contact with the audience.
The script was written by an AI, and it’s a crime mystery that includes one of the most legendary and well-known filmmakers, Werner Herzog. How did you come up with the idea?
I’ve always wanted to make a film about our (human) relationship with technology. Using technology itself in creating it made a lot of sense to me. Werner Herzog, on the other hand, stands for romantic values in filmmaking, and over the years, he’s created a persona—a voice we all trust. So, hijacking his likeness became the perfect medium to address the risks that come with new technologies, such as misinformation and disinformation.
"I can’t understand why you’d want to use “invisible” music in films."
You are praised for being innovative and working with originality. Is it your goal to be innovative and challenge the existing?
I am definitely interested in challenging the established conventions—playing with genres and the structure of films. Whatever means it takes. I am not particularly keen on using technology, though.
This week, there’s the Danish premiere of About a Hero at DOX. Are you nervous?
I’m nervous about showing it to friends. There are so many people whose work I respect... I’m curious about what they think.
How do you work with music in your films?
Ah, music means a lot to me. I even create playlists for writing, location scouting trips, castings... I work closely with the composers. I love for music to play a big role, being in the foreground. I can’t understand why you’d want to use “invisible” music in films. This playlist was a small soundtrack for my research trip for a new film. We shot some of the first images to this music on our trip to the Joshua Tree desert.
Was it hard to create your playlist?
I like to contrast the reality I encounter with music. It was hard to think of the right order, though. Still... maybe shuffle mode is best for the full experience.
You graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, and your diploma film, On High in White Tomorrows, was awarded the Würdigung Prize. It seems like you’ve been praised with success. Any advice for young people who want to work in the film industry?
I’m not sure I’m in a position to give advice, but the best one I’ve heard was from Clint Eastwood. It goes: "Don’t take yourself too seriously." It’s so easy to forget that in the process.
Are you working on anything new that you can reveal?
Yes! A documentary film is slowly in the making, a fiction—kind of a rom-com turning into psychological horror. And a TV project that I can’t say much about yet.
Just put on the playlist in the office. Thanks again, and all the best with the premiere.