PAWEL PAWLIKOWSKI

Born in 1957 in Warsaw, Pawel Pawlikowski left Poland at 14, moved to London, Germany, Italy and finally settled in Great Britain. After studying literature and philosophy, he started his career directing documentaries, which are crowned by many prestigious awards. His transition to fiction came with medium-length film TWOCKERS in 1998.

His debut theatrical feature film, LAST RESORT, earned international critical acclaim and remarkable receptions at numerous festivals. It was awarded a BAFTA for Most Promising Newcomer.

His next film, MY SUMMER OF LOVE, won a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year, amongst a string of prestigious prizes.

Between 2004 and 2007, Pawel Pawlikowski was a Creative Arts Fellow at Oxford Brookes University. He is fluent in six languages: his native Polish, as well as French, English, German, Italian and Russian.

THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH is his third feature film. Its worldwide premiere will be presented at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

ETHAN HAWKE

Ethan Hawke, born in 1970, is probably best known for his acting on film and stage.  However, he is also an acclaimed screenwriter, film director, theater director, and novelist.

He has starred in over 30 films, including DEAD POETS SOCIETY, BEFORE SUNRISE, BEFORE SUNSET, REALITY BITES, GATTACA, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, HAMLET, TRAINING DAY, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD, and BROOKLYN’S FINEST.  He has been nominated for an Academy Award as both an actor and a writer.

On stage he starred in Lincoln Center’s Coast of Utopia, which was nominated for more Tony Awards than any play in history.  He also starred in Jack O’Brien’s production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, which won the Tony for best revival. Off Broadway he had a smash success in The New Group’s revival of David Rabe’s Hurlyburly. Recently, he has directed two plays for The New Group – Jonathan Marc Sherman’s Things We Want and Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind.  He has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award as both an actor and a director.

He has directed two films – CHELSEA WALLS, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and THE HOTTEST STATE, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

He has written two novels, The Hottest State and Ash Wednesday.

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS

Award-winning actress Kristin Scott Thomas has become internationally renowned for her talent, elegance, and commitment to her craft. Never shying away from challenging roles and determined not to repeat herself, Scott Thomas’ body of work is an extraordinary collection of acclaimed film, television, and theater performances.

Scott Thomas received a Cesar Award nomination for her performance in Gilles Paque Brenner’s SARAH’S KEY and was recently seen in Alain Corneau’s CRIME D’AMOUR. She will soon appear in Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod’s BEL AMI; Lasse Halstrom’s SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN; SOUS TON EMPRISE, Alain Corneau’s UNE FEMME PARFAITE, and DANS LA MAISON. In 2010, Scott Thomas co-starred in Sam Taylor Wood’s directorial debut, NOWHERE BOY. For her performance, she received a Best Supporting Actress British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award nomination and a British Film Independent Award nomination. Last year, Scott Thomas appeared in Catherine Corsini’s PARTIR. For her performance, Scott Thomas received a Cesar Award nomination for Best Actress.

In 2001, Scott Thomas was part of the ensemble for Robert Altman’s acclaimed, Oscar-winning film, GOSFORD PARK.
Scott Thomas first won over audiences and critics worldwide with her Academy Award–nominated performance in the late Anthony Minghella’s THE ENGLISH PATIENT, where she starred opposite Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. For her performance she was honored by the National Board of Review, and was nominated for a Golden Globe, the BAFTA, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.

Making her U.S. film debut in Prince’s UNDER THE CHERRY MOON, Scott Thomas went on to great acclaim in Mike Newell’s FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, where she won a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress. Other notable credits include: Philip Haas’ ANGELS AND INSECTS; Richard Loncraine’s RICHARD III; Brian DePalma’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; Robert Redford’s THE HORSE WHISPERER; Sydney Pollack’s RANDOM HEARTS; Irwin Winkler’s LIFE AS A HOUSE; Roman Polanski’s BITTER MOON; Paul Schrader’s THE WALKER and Justin Chadwick’s THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, EASY VIRTUE, and CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC.

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