Anna Draniewicz, Ph.D.
was the 2019-2020 Research Fellow in Polish Studies and received her doctoral degree in Media Communication from the University of Bradford, UK in 2018. Dr. Draniewicz researched how Polish cult films helped to overthrow communism and used her extensive experience in organizing film festivals to help VOC engage America’s youth via cultural means.
Led by Dr. Draniewicz, the Polish Studies program convened an outstanding virtual film festival, due to the pandemic, Comedy vs. Communism: A Retrospective of Polish Cult Comedies from Communist Times, which celebrated film as a tool of resistance to totalitarian tyranny and political satire as a means of beginning the process of reestablishing political liberty. Each film was introduced by Research Fellow Dr. Anna Draniewicz and followed by a Q&A during which she answered the inevitable questions arising from the films and their portrayal of the surreal life in communist Poland. The virtual event was attended by 233 people and received an Honorary Patronage from His Excellency Piotr Wilczek, Poland’s Ambassador to the U.S.
More information on the recorded film session and discussion moderated by Dr. Anna Draniewicz is available on VOC’s event page.
