The Dragon of Dragons award is granted since 1998 by Krakow Film Foundation Programme Council to the makers of documentary and animated films, whose work had a significant influence on the development of the world cinema in these genres. Among the previous winners of the Dragon of Dragons award there are such renowned film makers as: Kazimierz Karabasz, Allan King, Albert Maysles, Werner Herzog, Stephen and Timothy Quay, Raoul Servais, Jerzy Kucia, Marcel Łoziński.
Winners
2025
Jean-François Laguionie
1939
Born in 1939 in Besançon, France, Jean-François Laguionie initially pursued drawing, painting, and theatre. He studied stage design at the École de la rue Blanche in Paris before turning to acting. In 1963, he met Paul Grimault (1904–1994), one of France’s most celebrated animation directors. That encounter prompted Laguionie to alter the course of his artistic development. Grimault became his mentor, providing him with studio space and imparting not only the technical aspects of animation but also the principles of constructing narratives. Most importantly, he demonstrated that animation need not be confined to merely entertainment; it could also serve as a profound artistic medium exploring human emotions and experiences.
ph. Tomasz Korczyński
ph. Agnieszka Fiejka