ANNUAL HELENA MODJESKA FESTIVAL • LOS ANGELES

Anna Biedrzycka-Sheppard is one of the world’s most distinguished and highly acclaimed costume designers. For many years, she has worked across Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom, combining a distinctly European artistic sensibility with the scale and ambition of major international productions. Her costumes not only captivate visually but also shape the psychology of the characters, evoke the atmosphere of a particular era, and become an integral part of cinematic storytelling.

Her remarkable career includes collaborations with some of the most celebrated directors and artists in contemporary cinema. She has worked with Steven Spielberg on several occasions, including Schindler’s List and the acclaimed miniseries Band of Brothers. With Roman Polanski, she created costumes for The Pianist and Oliver Twist; with Quentin Tarantino, for Inglourious Basterds; and with Angelina Jolie, for Maleficent.

Her long-standing collaborations with masters of Polish cinema hold a special place in her career. She worked with Krzysztof Zanussi on twelve productions and completed two projects with Agnieszka Holland. Her exceptionally diverse filmography encompasses both historical and auteur cinema, as well as major international productions such as Supergirl, Spider-Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Bob Marley: One Love.

Anna Biedrzycka-Sheppard has received three Academy Award nominations for her costume designs for Schindler’s List, The Pianist, and Maleficent. She is also a recipient of the Polish Film Awards – Eagles, a BAFTA Award nominee, and an artist honored by the Polish Filmmakers Association and other prestigious institutions.

In her work, she combines historical knowledge, artistic intuition, and a profound understanding of cinematic narrative with exceptional precision. Through color, texture, silhouette, and the smallest details, she conveys a character’s origins, emotions, and transformation. As a result, her designs remain in audiences’ memories long after the film has ended and are recognized by viewers and critics around the world.

Her extraordinary imagination, masterful craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail give every project its own distinctive visual language. Her costumes transcend the boundaries of time, culture, and cinematic genre. Anna Biedrzycka-Sheppard belongs to an exceptional group of Polish artists whose talent, dedication, and international achievements help shape the history of world cinema while enhancing the global prestige of Polish film artistry.

Abel Korzeniowski is a multi-award-winning composer whose work in film music continually expands the boundaries of orchestral expression and the art form itself.

His most recent project is Jan Komasa’s multi-layered psychological thriller Good Boy, starring Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Anson Boon. He also composed the music for Chinonye Chukwu’s acclaimed feature Till, starring Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, and Whoopi Goldberg, as well as Frances O’Connor’s Emily, starring Emma Mackey, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Fionn Whitehead.

Korzeniowski is perhaps best known for his scores for Tom Ford’s films Nocturnal Animals, starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, and A Single Man, starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. His moving score for A Single Man quickly established him as one of the leading voices of a new generation of film composers. The score received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination.

His work also caught the attention of Madonna, who invited Korzeniowski to collaborate on the film W.E. His score earned him a second Golden Globe nomination. The solo piano piece “Evgeni’s Waltz” became the basis for a new arrangement of Madonna’s hit “Like a Virgin,” performed during her 2012 MDNA World Tour. The multidimensional score for Nocturnal Animals was widely praised for combining classic mid-century scoring techniques with ultra-modern minimalism.

For his work on Showtime’s acclaimed series Penny Dreadful, Korzeniowski received a BAFTA Award and three Emmy nominations. He also earned a BAFTA nomination for his score for Nocturnal Animals. In addition, he has received three World Soundtrack Awards, including “Discovery of the Year” for A Single Man. In 2013, he was named IFMCA Composer of the Year for his work on Romeo & Juliet and Escape from Tomorrow.

Born in Kraków, Poland, Abel Korzeniowski studied classical composition under the world-renowned composer Krzysztof Penderecki. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and collaborator, Mina Korzeniowski.

Mona May doesn’t simply design costumes — she creates characters, cultural moments, and images that stay with us for generations.

One of Hollywood’s most distinctive and influential costume designers, Mona May has spent more than three decades transforming the way fashion tells stories on screen. Born in India to a Polish-German family, raised in Warsaw and Berlin, she built her remarkable career in the United States. Her work combines European sophistication and artistic sensitivity with the bold imagination and vibrant energy of American pop culture.

Her breakthrough came with Amy Heckerling’s iconic Clueless (1995). May’s costumes became a global phenomenon, with Cher Horowitz’s legendary yellow plaid ensemble entering the history of both cinema and fashion. Three decades later, the Clueless aesthetic continues to inspire designers, reappear on international runways, and remain an influential reference point in contemporary pop culture. May is also the author of The Fashion of Clueless, offering a fascinating look behind the creation of the style that influenced an entire generation.

Her impressive body of work includes Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, The Haunted Mansion, Enchanted, The House Bunny and Santa Clarita Diet, demonstrating her remarkable versatility and ability to tell stories through costume.

Throughout her career, May has created memorable screen identities for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Alicia Silverstone, Drew Barrymore, Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Adam Sandler and Amy Adams. Her decades-long creative collaboration with Drew Barrymore holds a particularly special place in her career.

For her costume design on Disney’s Enchanted, May received a 2008 Costume Designers Guild Award nomination for Excellence in Fantasy Film, recognizing the exceptional artistry and versatility of her work.

For Mona May, costume is never simply clothing. It is character, storytelling and psychology. Sometimes, it becomes history. Her extraordinary career demonstrates that costume can transcend the screen, influence culture, and define how an entire generation sees itself.

Pola Benke is an acclaimed Polish conductor known for her innovative approach to orchestral leadership and her commitment to creating diverse concert programs. She was recently appointed Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony, further strengthening her presence on the Southern California music scene.

She previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Long Beach Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic, earning recognition for her precision, musicality, and ability to build genuine connections with musicians and audiences alike.

Born in Poland, Pola began her artistic journey as an instrumentalist. She earned master’s degrees in both cello performance and orchestral conducting. This versatile background allows her to combine the analytical skills of a conductor with the sensitivity, experience, and empathy of a performer.

Pola believes that orchestras should reflect the diversity of the contemporary world. She is a strong advocate for thoughtful and inclusive programming that combines masterpieces of the classical canon with works by historically underrepresented composers. Through imaginative repertoire choices, compelling storytelling, and fresh interpretations, she creates concert experiences that are artistically inspiring, emotionally resonant, and welcoming to all.

Her professional development has been shaped by collaborations with distinguished conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Sian Edwards, and Paavo Järvi, as well as participation in prestigious programs such as the Järvi Academy in Estonia, the Dartington Music Festival in England, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

Pola Benke’s leadership style is rooted in kindness, collaboration, and an ability to inspire musicians of all generations. Whether conducting monumental symphonic works or working with chamber ensembles, she brings energy, precision, and exceptional sensitivity to every performance.

Her artistic imagination is inspired by composers such as Joseph Haydn, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jennifer Higdon, and Igor Stravinsky. Combining a deep respect for tradition with curiosity and openness to new ideas, Pola’s greatest passion is sharing music and using it to build meaningful connections between artists and audiences.