Entertainment · Film · 1 hr ago
Janusz Kamiński Receives 2026 Visionary Award for Cinematography
Janusz Kamiński received the 2026 Visionary Award for excellence in cinematography at the Camerimage festival.
Kamiński grew up in Ziębice, Poland, and says theater and movies made him want to leave for a more colorful life.
He left Poland as a political refugee in 1981 and arrived in Chicago without speaking English.
After learning the language, he studied filmmaking at Columbia College and discovered a passion for creating images.
He built early experience by filming student movies and taking camera-related work, while listings of productions in The Hollywood Reporter helped him find his first two feature-film jobs.
The award recognizes his achievements as a cinematographer, a role focused on creating the images audiences see on screen.
Janusz Kamiński received The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Visionary Award for excellence in cinematography.
The award was presented at the Camerimage festival on Saturday.
Kamiński grew up in Ziębice, Poland, and left the country as a political refugee in 1981.
After arriving in Chicago, he learned English and studied part-time at Columbia College.
He began working as a cinematographer on student films and later got his first two feature-film jobs through listings in The Hollywood Reporter.
- Who
- Janusz Kamiński, a Polish cinematographer.
- What
- He received The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Visionary Award for excellence in cinematography.
- When
- 2026; the award was presented on Saturday.
- Where
- At the Camerimage festival. The festival’s location is not stated.
- Why
- The award recognized his excellence in cinematography.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kamiński left Poland as a political refugee.
He spent two years learning English before enrolling part-time at Columbia College.
He began shooting student films and working on commercial projects.
He found his first two feature-film jobs through production listings in The Hollywood Reporter.
Kamiński received The Hollywood Reporter’s Visionary Award at the Camerimage festival.
- Award
- The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Visionary Award
- Award reason
- Excellence in cinematography
- Award event
- Camerimage festival
- Hometown
- Ziębice, Poland
- Departure from Poland
- 1981
2 sources
What people are saying
The primary reason I left home is because of the theater and movies, and a life of color.
I found out I really enjoyed creating images.
That’s how I got my first jobs, through The Hollywood Reporter.