Krzysztof Skonieczny / głębokiOFF (1983) is a Polish film and theater director, screenwriter, producer, music video director, photographer and cinematographer, rapper, performer, and actor. Interested in an interdisciplinary approach to art, he founded and runs the artistic conglomerate and production company głębokiOFF. A laureate of numerous awards in various fields. He hails from Wrocław, is associated with Warsaw, and currently resides in Cairo, Egypt.
He is currently working on his English-language debut, the mini-series DEBRIEFING THE PRESIDENT,based on the book by CIA analyst John Nixon. The series chronicles the behind-the-scenes events of the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Starring Joel Kinnaman with an international cast, the series is produced by Alexander Rodnyansky (“Leviathan”) and Leslie Greif (“The Offer”). The world premiere is slated for the last quarter of 2025.
In October 2024 he released his second feature film, WROOKLYN ZOO, produced by głębokiOFF (Olga Bibik, Krzysztof Skonieczny) and ZQ Entertainment (USA: Keshishian, Peter Jakl), co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, and co-produced by Dolnośląskie Centrum Filmowe, CANAL+ Polska, and JUICE, hit Polish cinemas, distributed by Kino Świat and CAA (USA), with international sales handled by Film-Nation Entertainment. The film had its domestic premiere at the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, where it won two awards (editing, CICAE Award – International Confederation of Art Cinemas) and was also featured in the Polish Film Competition at the 32nd EnergaCAMERIMAGE International Film Festival. The international premiere of WROOKLYN ZOO is scheduled for 2025.
In 2024, he was awarded a scholarship to become a fellow at the INGMAR BERGMAN CENTER on the Swedish island of Fårö.
Additionally, he is developing his own rap project, TEKTONIKA, for which he also creates music videos, and has performed several concerts with the band hoshii (including Męskie Granie and the Polish Hip Hop Festival in Płock).
In 2020, his short film HIDE ME ON A PLANE TO MARRAKESH (inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel Earth, the Planet of Men) premiered as part of an anthology of short films produced by HBO Europe, showcasing the work of Polish filmmakers during the pandemic.
In 2018 he released his HBO Europe TV series based on the book BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS by Jakub Żulczyk with whom he co-wrote the script. The series won numerous awards in Poland and was mentioned by Variety as one of The Best International TV Series of 2018. Blinded by the lights was not only broadcasted in all HBO European territories but also in USA (May 2019).
In 2016 he has launched experimental short film LIMBS OF SUN (co-created with Jacqueline Sobiszewski and produced for NInA – The National Audiovisual Institute), which was honoured with Best Experimental Video Award at 16.New Horizons IFF.
In 2014 his independent feature film debut HARDKOR DISKO opened in Polish cinemas on April 4th and since then has been shown at over two hundred film festivals all over the world and also has been sold so far to Australia, South Korea and Germany amongst others. International premiere took place at the 36. Moscow International Film Festival – Main Competition, UK premiere took place at the 68. Edinburgh International Film Festival – New Perspectives, while the World premiere took place at the Off Camera IFF of Independent Cinema – Main Competition. Hardkor Disko recieved Grand Prix for Best Polish Film Debut and Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress at 33.Młodzi i Film 2014 in Koszalin – Festival of Polish Feature Film Debuts. Moreover Hardkor Disko recieved at the biggest National Polish Film Festival in Gdynia awards for Best Debut, Best Actress Debut and Best Cinematography and also Audience Award at Fresh Film Fest in Prague, Czech Republic. His film also won Polish Films Competition at 22. Camerimage International Film Festival, Jury Special Mention for Best Director at 14.Sopot International Film Festival, Special Jury Mention at 19. Forum of European Cinema Cinergia in Łódź – Competition fot Best European Debut and gained him many other distinctions. As a result Krzysztof has been selected to take part in Summer Academy at 67. Locarno International Film Festival (August 2014).
He studied the History of Art at the University of Wrocław (2002-2004) and graduated with honors from the Faculty of Acting at the Theatre Academy in Warsaw (2008). For his graduating performance in They by Witkacy he was honoured with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Award and Jan Machulski Award for The Most Interesting Personality at the XXVI Theatre Schools Festival in Łódz, Poland.
He performed in numerous films, among them directed by Agnieszka Holland (In Darkness, starring one of the leading roles, Oscar 2012 Academy Awards nomination) and Andrzej Wajda and theatre performances by acclaimed directors. He was an actor of the Studio Theatre in Warsaw (2007-2009 ) and also collaborated with many theatres (TR Warszawa, Nowy Teatr in Warsaw, Teatr Polski in Wrocław, Polish National Opera in Warsaw.), also alternative ( komuna//warszawa, Teatr Usta Usta/2xU).
He is founder of artistic conglomerate – głębokiOFF (deepOFF). He was also a co-founder and member of Association of Fine Artists of All Arts.
Acclaimed music video director (Jamal – Defto, Mister D. – Chleb, Projekt Warszawiak – Nie ma cwaniaka na Warszawiaka, Muzykoterapia – Komedia), experimental and documentary filmmaker (including one dedicated to the work of Bruno Schulz), and creator of several theatrical performances (including Magnolia based on the screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Jesteś bogiem. Paktofonika-bohaterowie czasów transformacji and On the silver globe inspired by the film by Andrzej Żuławski).
Winner of numerous awards in various fields, including numerous awards for Blinded by the Lights and Hardkor Disko, PromaxBDA, Gwarancje Kultury TVP Kultura, Olśnienia Onetu, Człowiek Roku Gazety Wyborczej, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award, Drewniany Yach for Lifetime Achievement, Fryderyk, and many others.
