PRODUCTION TEAM

MARIUSZ KOTOWSKI

Producer/Director

Mariusz Kotowski is the award-winning director, author and CEO of film production company Bright Shining City Productions based in Austin, Texas. Born and raised in Olsztyn, Poland, he was first inspired by the art of film-making at the age of 10 and vowed he would someday make his own movies in America, but before that was to happen, he had many artistic endeavors to experience.

In Europe, he received his Masters of Education in Poland. Later Kotowski had the distinction of being the first person from Poland to achieve a Triple Fellowship in dance from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. Kotowski became an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, who studied classical ballroom, ballet, jazz, modern dance and Latin dance in London; he performed and competed throughout Europe, but his dream to move to America still burned bright. He used dance as the vehicle to get there.

In 1988, Kotowski moved to America where he worked as a dance instructor in New York. He began to study English and Directing at night, teaching dance during the day; he matriculated to NYU where he honed his craft with an “A” average, and received a Certificate in Directing.

Now, residing with his wife in Austin, Texas, Kotowski is the CEO of LLC Bright Shining Productions. The company’s first Independent film project was the documentary, Pola Negri: Life is a Dream in Cinema. The film is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Hayley Mills and Golden Globe nominated actor, Eli Wallach. The film premiered at the Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles to sold-out audiences in 2006. In 2006, Life is a Dream in Cinema also received the Best Documentary Award at the DixieFest in Atlanta and a Special Remi Jury Award at the Worldfest in Houston. In 2010, the European premiere was held in Paris at Cinemateque Francaise as part of a Negri tribute. It continues to be screened at festivals around the world.

Mariusz’s next venture, in 2007, was a dramatic feature length film, Esther’s Diary (formally titled Forgiveness) about two successful modern day American women, brought together by a connection they never knew they had; their mothers were best friends during the War - one a Polish Christian, the other a Jewish victim of the holocaust. The script was based on Kotowski’s story and written by Allan Knee. The film has been screened at festivals in the USA and Ireland and won some acclaim.

In 2009, he completed his first foray into the pycho-thriller genre with Deeper and Deeper starring EMMY award actor David Lago and Independent Spirit Award’s Best Actress Nominee, Cyndi Williams who was also the screenwriter. It premiered at the 2010 Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles and has been screened at festivals across the country.

Kotowski has also authored the biography Pola Negri: Legenda Hollywood published in Polish by Prozsynski Media in 2011 which won “Book of The Year” biography category from Ksiazki magazyn literacki (Books Literary Magazine). Also in 2011, his film company produced a collector’s DVD Box Set of four rare films of Negri’s from her days in Europe - Pola Negri: The Iconic Collection “The Early Years”. The films have been re-mastered, translated into English and re-scored with original piano music composed by Rick Dejonge and is distributed by Emphasis Entertainment Group www.emphasisentertainment.com.

Mariusz continues to develop his skills and vision as a Director and as a Producer continues to find new stories with writers keeping his eye on bigger budgets and bigger stars!

Close full biography.