Krzystof Zanussi was born in 1939, in Warsaw, Poland. He studied physics at Warsaw University and philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He graduated in film direction from the Lodz Film Academy. He is a filmmaker, writer and producer, and a major figure in European Cinema. Zanussi is a professor at the Silesian University in Katowice and former president of FERA (Fédération Européenne des Réalisateurs de l’Audiovisuel). Since 1966, he has directed numerous documentaries and feature films. Zanussi has also worked as stage and opera director in Poland, Germany, France, Russia, Italy and Switzerland. He has authored the following books: On editing and amateur film (1968), Discourse on amateur film (1978) and Time to Die (1999). Among his films: The Structure of Crystals – 1969, The Illumination – 1972, The Year of the Quiet Sun – 1984, Wherever You Are – 1988, In Full Gallop – 1995, Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease – 2000 and Persona non Grata (2004).