Bartek Gliniak – A Master of Emotions Encapsulated in Sound
Bartek Gliniak, born on December 25, 1973, in Przemyśl, is an outstanding Polish composer of film music. He is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Cracow. His work is a journey through emotions, where sounds tell stories as powerfully as images. His talent has been recognized by audiences, directors, and critics alike—he has been nominated five times for the Polish Film Awards Orły in the Best Music category: in 2005 for the film My Nikifor, in 2006 for The Collector, in 2007 for Palimpsest, and in 2017 for The Border.
His compositions accompany many significant film and documentary productions, creating a unique atmosphere and adding depth to them. Gliniak has an exceptional ability to capture the mood of every scene—from dramatic climaxes to subtle emotions hidden in silence.
What makes his music stand out?
- Full of emotion and depth – it moves, touches, and remains in memory.
- Perfectly harmonizes with the visuals, building tension and emphasizing the film’s drama.
- Rich in diverse inspirations – from classical orchestrations to modern sounds.
His body of work includes music for films such as:
- My Nikifor – a touching portrayal of the life of a brilliant primitivist painter.
- Joanna – a story of extraordinary female courage during wartime.
- The Collector – a film that explores morality and human transformation.
- The Magic Tree – a family production full of magic and extraordinary adventures.
- Katyn Oscar-nominated film by Andrzej Wajda
Bartek Gliniak is an artist who tells stories through his music as powerfully as actors do on screen. His compositions create mood and ensure that images linger in memory for a long time.
In 2022 he was nominated for the “The Bolts” 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards for music for the film “Nanny” (dir. Nikyatu Jusu), which also won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2022.
In 1994 he received an award in the 22nd International Electroacoustic Music Competition in Bourges (France).
In 1994 he had his debut at the International Festival of Contemporary Music Warsaw Autumn. Since 1996 he has been collaborating with the Experimental Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw where he composed and recorded numerous electronic and experimental compositions.
As the author of music adaptation, music consultant, and music recording supervisor he worked on the Oscar-nominated film “Katyn” by Andrzej Wajda. Since 1996 he has been cooperating with the Experimental Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw, one of the oldest electroacoustic music studios in Europe (founded in 1957).
A CD Album with a premiere performance of the oratorio „Seven Songs of Mary” (original title: ‘Siedem Piesni Marii’) with music by Bartek Gliniak to the libretto by Zbigniew Ksiazek released in 2007 became Double Platinum Album. In the years 2008-2009 the oratorio “Seven Songs of Mary” was numerously performed for capacity audiences. In 2009 a record with the premiere performance of “Calvarian Oratorio” (original title: ‘Oratorium Kalwaryjskie’) also created by the same authors became Golden Record just in the first month of release.
His compositions have been performed at such festivals as: the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”, Tage für Neue Musik in Zurich, Cracow Composers Festival, Synthèse Festival in Bourges, the 3rd International Contemporary Music Festival – Lviv (Ukraine), the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris (IRC).
Since 2006 Bartek has been a member of the European Film Academy (EFA).