A Global Success for an Academy Graduate

We are delighted and proud to announce that Paulina Derska, a graduate of our Composition programme, has received the prestigious Crystal Pine Award in the Best Original Score category for the music to the short film “The Dam”, directed by Giovanni Pierangeli.

The award was presented at the International Sound and Film Music Festival in Croatia – the only festival in Europe dedicated exclusively to film music. The international jury included distinguished figures from the film industry, among them actor Ciarán Hinds, composer Stephen Warbeck (Academy Award winner for the score to Shakespeare in Love), sound mixer Mark Ulano, and actor Simon Pegg.

The Best Original Score category featured 26 nominated productions from around the world, including films that had received major international awards and nominations. Paulina Derska’s music was praised by the jury for its “world-class quality”, “incredibly crafted tension”, and “layered soundtrack that adds an extra dimension to the film”.

Paulina completed her composition studies under the guidance of Professor Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil and Dr habil. Sebastian Ładyżyński. She was also the first student at our Academy to dedicate her master’s thesis to film music – the very field in which she is now achieving international success.

We warmly congratulate her on this remarkable achievement and wish her continued success on the international stage of film music!

Photo: International Sound & Film Music Festival