Aleksander Sokurov and professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski PhD. Hab. enter the laureates fellowship of the Pontifical Council for for Culture.

The  Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been awarded for 13 years at the Targi Kielce’s SACROEXPO. The  Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been awarded by the Pontifical Council for since 2005; it is bestowed to those who enhance dialogue between the diversity of cultures in the contemporary world.    The gala ceremony will feature the laureates – Rev. Father Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski for “For a profound engagement in the discovery and knowledge dissemination about undiscovered links between theology, philosophy and psychology” and Aleksander Sokurov “For the consistent use of the powerful artistic authority in quest for answers to questions related to religion in art”.

This year’s laureates will be resented the medals during the Gala Ceremony on 11 June 2018.

Professor   Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski is a Dominican, a theologian, a professor of philosophy who has been decorated with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Kłoczowski he graduated from the Institute of Art History of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and philosophy at the Catholic University of Lublin.  He teaches philosophy of God and religion as well as the 19th and 20th century philosophy history at the College of Philosophy and Theology of the  Dominicans in Krakow.  He was also the Department of Philosophy of Religion head at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. Kłoczowski is also the books author, and amon them “More than a myth. Leszek Kołakowski’s dispute over religion “,” Between loneliness and community.  Introduction to philosophy of religion “,” Man’s ways of mysticism”,” Philosophy of dialogue “. Kłoczowski is the chairman of the Program Board of the Józef Tischner Institute . In 2014 Kłoczowski received the title of Master of Sacred Theology – the highest Dominican academic title. In the 1970’s and 1980’s Fr. Kłoczowski was involved in the Dominican “Beczka” pastoral ministry,  he was also actively involved in anti-communist opposition,  including through the Student Solidarity Committee).  In 2015 the “Kłocz. Autobiography” book was out – this is the interview with Father Kłoczowski authored by Artur Sporniak and Jan Strzałka.

Aleksander Sokurov – a Russian director and screenwriter, the winner of the Golden Lion at the 68th  Venice International Film Festival for his adaptation of the Faust.  By the resolution of the European Film Academy, Sokurov was pronounced one of the 100 best directors.  Aleksander Sokurov graduated from the Faculty of History at the University of Gorky. In the years 1975-1979 Sokurov studied at the Moscow’s WGIK famous film school, the documentary film studio.  He did not finish his studies as he was accused of anti-Soviet political views.  Sokurov worked in “Leningrad” documentary film studios.  He eventually gained recognition in the 90’s.  He lectured at the LenFilm Studio and hosted his own TV program “Sokurov’s Island”. In Saint Petersburg Sokurov opened a film production company  “Bereg”  whose objective was to support independent artists.  Starting from “Moloch”, none of Sokurov’s films has gone unnoticed. Almost all his films have competed at the Cannes’ IFF main competition for the Golden Palm.  In 2003 he was also honoured with the Andrzej Wajda “Freedom” Award presented by the American Cinema Foundation.