Toeplitz, Jerzy

(1909-1995)

   A prominent member of the START group in the 1930s, Jerzy Toeplitz became a renowned film critic, scholar, and film administrator after 1945. He served as the first head of the Łódź Film School from 1949 to 1952, and once again from 1957 to 1968. He lost his job as a result of the anti-Semitic campaign in 1968. He left for Australia in 1970 and worked as a consultant for the Interim Council for the National Film and Television Training School. From 1972 to 1973, he taught at La Trobe University in Melbourne. In 1973 he became the director of the Sydney Film School (AFTRS) until 1979. For his service in Australia he received the Award of Officer of the Order of Australia and Australian Film Institute Longford Life Achievement Award. The Sydney Film School Library bears his name (Jerzy Toeplitz Library). In 1995 he received the doctorate honoris causa from the Łódź Film School. He is the author of several books, including his edited volumes on the history of Polish cinema.

   Historical Dictionary of Polish Cinema by Marek Haltof