Chicago Film Festival Founder Michael Kutza to Receive Prestigious Polish Cultural Honor April 14
CHICAGO — Michael Kutza, the legendary Founder and longtime Director of the Chicago International Film Festival, will be awarded the Honorary Badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture” on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago
The honor will be presented by Consul General Regina Jurkowska in recognition of Kutza’s decades-long dedication to promoting Polish cinema and culture in the United States. Through his leadership of the Chicago International Film Festival, Kutza introduced American audiences to major Polish filmmakers and their work—particularly during the 1970s through the 1990s, when Polish cinema was at the height of its global influence.
Under Kutza’s direction, the Festival screened nearly 200 Polish films and hosted numerous filmmakers from Poland. Today, Polish cinema remains a vital part of the Festival’s annual October programming.
Among the acclaimed directors championed by Kutza are Krzysztof Kieślowski (“The Decalogue” “The Three Colors Trilogy: Blue, White Red”), Andrzej Wajda ( “Ashes and Diamonds” “The Promised Land” “Man of Iron”), Krzysztof Zanussi (“The Illumination” “Family Life”), Agnieszka Holland ( “Europa Europa” “Franz”), and Roman Polanski(“Chinatown” “Rosemary’s Baby”). These influential filmmakers were showcased in Chicago years before achieving widespread recognition in the United States, reflecting Kutza’s keen eye for international talent and his deep personal connections within the global film community.
The Honorary Badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture” is awarded to individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to promoting or preserving Polish culture in Poland and abroad. Past recipients include Polish-American Actor and Singer Bobby Vinton (“Blue Velvet”), Author-Historian Norman Davies (“God’s Playground”), andPBS travel broadcaster Rick Steves among other distinguished cultural figures, scholars, and artists.
Kutza is widely regarded as a passionate and charismatic cultural ambassador whose work helped place Chicago at the center of the international film world. His memoir, “Starstruck: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More Than Fifty Years,” offers a vivid, behind-the-scenes account of his extraordinary career, featuring rare photographs and entertaining stories from decades in the film industry.
