Jan Holoubek is one of the most sought-after directors in Poland. Since his directorial feature debut in 2018 his career could be described only with one word “meteoric”. Each of his movies has been highly recognized by both critics and audiences in Poland and abroad, which resulted in many prestigious awards. Within two weeks, his latest Netflix production, has reached number one position in the global ranking of non-English productions.
Being the son of two acting legends of Polish cinema, his ability to work with actors is second to none. With his natural sensitivity, excellent storytelling, experience as a DOP, passion for music, Jan has a unique set of talents and skills to translate complex emotions into the language of the film.
Jan, a graduate of the prestigious Cinematography Department Lodz Film Academy, started a DOP in 2003 and worked on a variety of artistic and commercial projects, very quickly establishing himself as one of the best in Poland. In 2011 he became a member of Polish Society of Cinematographers (PSC).
His directorial debut came in 2007 with the award-winning documentary "The Sun and the Shadow". In 2014, he made the mockumentary "Postcards from the Republic of Absurd”.
A real breakthrough in his career was his famous crime drama series "The Mire (Rojst)", written together with Kasper Bajon. The second season “The Mire” got the Polish Film Award in the category best drama series, and third part “The Millennium” is currently in production.
His first feature film "25 Years of innocence" (TVN Discovery Group) was very well received both by critics and the audience. The picture was appreciated at many film festivals and honored with over 30 awards in the country and abroad, such as award for directing debut at the 45th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, for the best Director at the Polish Film Awards, best director's debut at the Camerimage Festival, and the Special Mention at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn. The film was released as a TV series, directed also by Jan.
One of Jan’s most recent projects is the Polish drama series “High Water”, inspired by the catastrophic floods that struck parts of Poland and Central Europe in 1997. Within just two weeks of its release, the series became the number one non-English title on Netflix worldwide, earning both international acclaim and enthusiastic reviews from critics.
His feature film “Doppelgänger. Sobowtór”, which premiered in September 2023, earned Jan the Best Director Awardat the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. The film also received accolades in several other categories, including art direction, cinematography, costume design, supporting actor, and an honorable mention for sound design. The story draws inspiration from real-life PRL-era special agents who assumed other people’s identities, building false relationships and careers in intelligence on deception.
The TV series “Rojst Millenium” premiered globally on Netflix in February 2024. A continuation of the original series released almost six years earlier, it returns to the 1960s to explore previously untold aspects of the lives of the protagonists in a small southwestern Polish town, confronting the consequences of their youthful choices.
Jan Holoubek has recently directed the five-episode series “Heweliusz”, inspired by the tragic sinking of the Jan Heweliusz ferry on January 14, 1993, in the Baltic Sea. Since Wednesday, November 5, the long-awaited production has been available on Netflix, and it quickly became the platform’s most-watched title in Poland. In the global ranking of non-English-language productions, it reached fourth place, recording around 3.3 million views and more than 17 million hours watched.
The series has been met with enthusiastic reception from both critics and audiences, who praise its meticulous craftsmanship, evocative atmosphere, and the way it portrays the scale of the tragedy. Viewers admit that watching „Heweliusz” brought intense emotions and left a lasting impression.
The production has also achieved significant festival success. At this year’s BNP Paribas Warsaw SerialCon, “Heweliusz” received four major awards, reaffirming its status as one of the most acclaimed Polish productions of the season. Jan Holoubek was honoured with the award for Best Direction, recognising his artistic vision and creative leadership, while Bartosz Kaczmarek won Best Cinematography for the series’ exceptional visual language. Additionally, “Heweliusz” was named the Best Polish Series of 2025 and received the Audience Award, reflecting its strong impact on viewers and the enthusiasm of its growing fanbase. Jan together with Kasper Bajon is a laureate of the O!Lśnienia Award in the TV Series category for "Heweliusz" tv series: “For the script’s perfection in translating a true story into the language of fiction. For the mastery of craft in controlling a complex cinematic machinery.”
In 2026, the tv series was further recognised when it received the Polish Film Award – Eagle (Orzeł) for Best Drama Series, confirming its outstanding artistic and production achievements.
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Agent: Aleksandra Sikora
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