Meet Michał Sobociński: The Visionary Cinematographer Bringing Chopin, Chopin to Life
Michał Sobociński is an award-winning Polish cinematographer whose work spans internationally acclaimed feature films, television series, and documentaries. Born in Łódź, Poland, he graduated from the Cinematography Department of the prestigious Łódź Film School and began working on professional film sets in 2005. His student short The Fatherearned the Bronze Tadpole and the Panavision D. Samuelson Special Mention at CAMERIMAGE, signaling the emergence of a distinctive visual voice.
Sobociński was featured in the 2017 Variety Artisans Impact Report and named one of the “10 Rising Stars of Cinematography” by American Cinematographer. That same year, he received the Golden Frog at CAMERIMAGE for The Art of Loving. Story of Michalina Wisłocka, establishing his reputation for bold and precise visual storytelling.
He gained international acclaim for The Disciple (2020), directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and executive produced by Alfonso Cuarón. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning the FIPRESCI Prize and Best Screenplay Award, and received critical acclaim worldwide. Sobociński earned the Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Cinematography, while The Disciple appeared on “best of the year” lists in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Time, and The New Yorker. He was also highlighted by the Los Angeles Times in pre-Oscar predictions for Best Cinematography.
His cinematography for Filip (2022), a wartime drama directed by Michał Kwieciński and based on Leopold Tyrmand’s novel, earned the Polish Academy Award (Golden Eagle) and the Golden Lions Award at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The film also competed in the Main Competition at CAMERIMAGE. Sobociński’s feature work includes Convoy, Love Is in the Air, Warsaw by Night, Kamchatka, and The Art of Loving. Story of Michalina Wisłocka, while his television credits include The New Look (Apple TV+) and The Serpent Queen (Lionsgate), among others.
Most recently, he served as director of photography on Chopin, a Sonata in Paris (Chopin, Chopin), receiving the Bronze Frog at CAMERIMAGE 2025 and multiple nominations from the Polish Film Academy. The production, filmed across Poland, France, and Mallorca, involved hundreds of actors, thousands of extras, and one of the largest crews in Polish cinema history. Sobociński’s intimate visual approach draws inspiration from Caravaggio and Rembrandt, blending chiaroscuro with wide-angle, long-take compositions to capture Chopin’s life and artistry.
A member of PSC, EFA, PAF, and IATSE Local 600, Sobociński continues a distinguished family legacy as the grandson of Witold Sobociński and son of Piotr Sobociński.
Chopin, Chopin will be screened on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema as part of the KF Washington DC Polish Film Festival.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Michał Sobociński and renowned pianist Brian Ganz, recognized for his lifelong artistic exploration and deep understanding of Chopin’s music and life.
I. E.
Photo by Jaroslaw Sosinski
Meet Michał Sobociński: The Visionary Cinematographer Bringing Chopin, Chopin to Life
Meet Michał Sobociński: The Visionary Cinematographer Bringing Chopin, Chopin to Life
Michał Sobociński is an award-winning Polish cinematographer whose work spans internationally acclaimed feature films, television series, and documentaries. Born in Łódź, Poland, he graduated from the Cinematography Department of the prestigious Łódź Film School and began working on professional film sets in 2005. His student short The Fatherearned the Bronze Tadpole and the Panavision D. Samuelson Special Mention at CAMERIMAGE, signaling the emergence of a distinctive visual voice.
Sobociński was featured in the 2017 Variety Artisans Impact Report and named one of the “10 Rising Stars of Cinematography” by American Cinematographer. That same year, he received the Golden Frog at CAMERIMAGE for The Art of Loving. Story of Michalina Wisłocka, establishing his reputation for bold and precise visual storytelling.
He gained international acclaim for The Disciple (2020), directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and executive produced by Alfonso Cuarón. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning the FIPRESCI Prize and Best Screenplay Award, and received critical acclaim worldwide. Sobociński earned the Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Cinematography, while The Disciple appeared on “best of the year” lists in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Time, and The New Yorker. He was also highlighted by the Los Angeles Times in pre-Oscar predictions for Best Cinematography.
His cinematography for Filip (2022), a wartime drama directed by Michał Kwieciński and based on Leopold Tyrmand’s novel, earned the Polish Academy Award (Golden Eagle) and the Golden Lions Award at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The film also competed in the Main Competition at CAMERIMAGE. Sobociński’s feature work includes Convoy, Love Is in the Air, Warsaw by Night, Kamchatka, and The Art of Loving. Story of Michalina Wisłocka, while his television credits include The New Look (Apple TV+) and The Serpent Queen (Lionsgate), among others.
Most recently, he served as director of photography on Chopin, a Sonata in Paris (Chopin, Chopin), receiving the Bronze Frog at CAMERIMAGE 2025 and multiple nominations from the Polish Film Academy. The production, filmed across Poland, France, and Mallorca, involved hundreds of actors, thousands of extras, and one of the largest crews in Polish cinema history. Sobociński’s intimate visual approach draws inspiration from Caravaggio and Rembrandt, blending chiaroscuro with wide-angle, long-take compositions to capture Chopin’s life and artistry.
A member of PSC, EFA, PAF, and IATSE Local 600, Sobociński continues a distinguished family legacy as the grandson of Witold Sobociński and son of Piotr Sobociński.
Chopin, Chopin will be screened on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema as part of the KF Washington DC Polish Film Festival.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Michał Sobociński and renowned pianist Brian Ganz, recognized for his lifelong artistic exploration and deep understanding of Chopin’s music and life.
I. E.
Photo by Jaroslaw Sosinski
