Ryszard Antoniszczak

Ryszard
Antoniszczak

From 1981 as Antonius Richard (in Sweden) and Antonius-Antoniszczak Ryszard (in Poland). Scriptwriter, author of visuals and director of drawing and combined films, visual artist. He was born on 7 January 1947 in Nowy Sącz. Younger brother of Julian Józef Antonisz. Graduate of the painting and graphics faculty of The Academy of Arts in Kraków (1971), where he also studied in the Drawing Film Workshop. Associated with the Animated Film Studio since 1974. His debut, inspired in its poetics and visuals by George Dunning’s “Yellow Submarine” (1968), was an amusing story about an old man fascinated by trains, “Goodbye Steam!”, in which the character’s experiences are commented by a rock-cabaret song by the band “Zdrój Jana”, which the participation of the director himself. In his films we can see an evident fascination with the world’s drawing animation: from the Disney line and spot to the pop art poetics. Since 1981 he has been living and working in Sweden, where he runs a company called Antonius Animation. He is currently drifting away from traditional animation towards computer animation. He also makes films in Poland (SFA, Longin Studio). Most of his films are meant for children; he is, among others, a scriptwriter, visual author and director (most of the episodes) of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”. A laureate of the Distinction from the Child Jury Marcinek for the series “Fairy tale outside the window” at the XII Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań (1994) and many other festival awards. He makes book illustrations and press drawings („Świerszczyk”, „New York Times”, among others). Author of song lyrics and children’s books. Main character of the 12th episode of Jerzy Armata’s TV cycle “Anima” (2000).

Filmography
1974Goodbye Steam! (Bronze Hobby-Horse award at the XIV National Short Film Festival in Cracow, 1974; Award from the Child Jury Marcinek at the IVPolish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1975)
1976Fantomobil ((Bronze Hobby-Horse award at the XVII National Short Film Festival in Cracow, 1977; Special Commendation of the Jury FICC – in a retrospective set of the Animated Film Studio – at the XXX International Festival of Short Films in Oberhausen, 1984)
1977Frrrr... (Special Award for Jacek Ukleja for visuals at the VI Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1979)
1978Miki Mol's Kaleidoscope (Władysław Nehrebecki Award – ex aequo – for a children’s film with artistic and educational assets in Bielsko-Biała, 1979; the Bronze Goats award in the animated film category and a Special Award for R. Antoniszczak for visuals at the VII Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1981; Special Commendation of the Jury FICC – in a retrospective set of the Animated Film Studio – at the XXX International Festival of Short Films in Oberhausen, 1984)
1978Sexy Lola Automatic (Special Award – in a set – at the IV International Animated Film Festival in Espinho, 1980)
1980Honey, glue, and a letter (an episode of the series “A pencil writes with its heart”; Special Award of the Polish Filmmakers Association for educational assets in children’s films, 1980)
1980Pencil and Fountain Pen (episode of the series “A pencil writes with its heart”)
1983Telerica (production: Sweden)
1985-1988Titlings (a cycle of eight films for the Swedish Television, production: Sweden)
1990Jordens Rost (“Sound of the Earth”, production: Sweden; Special Award at the XV International Animated Film Festival in Espinho, 1991; Special Award at the International Film Festival in Madrid, 1992)
1992Magpie Piratka (1. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”; Poznań Goats award for R. Antoniszczak for visuals – along with the films “About courageous seeds and an awful monster” and “A story about mushrooms” – at the XII Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1994)
1993About courageous seeds and an awful monster (2. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”; Poznań Goats award for R. Antoniszczak for visuals – along with the films “Magpie Piratka” and “A story about mushrooms” – at the XII Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1994)
1993A story about mushrooms (3. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”; Poznań Goats award for R. Antoniszczak for visuals – along with the films “Magpie Piratka” and “About courageous seeds and an awful monster” – at the XII Polish Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1994)
1993About a crazy cupid and green peas (4. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”)
1994Holiday story about a tramp (5. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski)
1995A story almost out of this world (6. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski)
1996An Easter porch of Mr. Mouse (7. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski)
1996Miki Mol and a Scary Jacket Jacket (feature film, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski; a Poznań Goats award for animation – along with the series “Fairy tale outside the window” – in a national contest at the XIV International Film Festival for Children “Ale Kino!” in Poznań, 1996)
1997An inseparable couple (9. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski)
1998Psst and Psot (10. episode of the series “Fairy tale outside the window”, co-directed with Krzysztof Kiwerski); a Poznań Goats award for R. Antoniszczak for the script in a national contest at the XVII International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań, 1999)
2000Piano Concerto (adagio assai) (production: Sweden)
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