Tadeusz Ciesielski

(1954 - 2021)

Man with a moving camera Tadeusz (Ted) Ciesielski, was born in Warsaw, Poland on June 15, 1954. He spent his childhood and youth in Warsaw in the family with a twin sister and an older brother. From early days he was interested in photography and film, and his biggest dream was to make movies. He moved to Łódź and graduated from the famous Łódź Film Academy, with Roman Polanski being one of his teachers. After some initial successes in Poland, producing music videos for a number of prominent bands, he decided to direct his own films. And to move to the US. He thought that America was the best country for filmmakers. He came to the United States in 1989; fascinated by New York City and the fast-pace American life style he started making documentaries about the city. His film “My Empire” about the Empire State Building, shot using original time-lapse photography over a period of six years was presented on Tribeca Film Festival in 2006. His film material of the World Trade Center, produced before the attack of 9/11, turned into a short film “Requiem 2001” released by HBO; it became part of the “Witness 9/11” program, commissioned by National Geographic Television. In 2016 he received the first prize for cinematography at the Milan International Filmmaker Festival for film Bx3M about disturbed high school students in Bronx. Other films include “My Gates”, presented at Brooklyn Film Festival. His clients include HBO, National Geographic TV, PBS, Ralph Lauren, and Lady Gaga, although he was not interested in the commercial aspect of movie making, wanted for his films to express his view of the world. Ted moved to Taos, New Mexico, in 2012. There he produced another documentary, “Enchanted Landscapes of

Mieshiel” about local artist shaman. He loved the area, nature, local culture, and was very happy there. He was known for his great sense of humor, was liked by his friends and neighbors and made lasting friendships. A truly “hands on”, good-nature and earthy man, helping friends in need. He freelanced as an interior painter for some of his friends,repaired their cars, rocked and graveled his driveway; never afraid of hard work. Living off grid in the west rim of Taos was for Ted key to living more with nature. He died of cancer in Taos on December 30, 2021. He will be missed by his son Michał, ex-wife Jolanta, the twin sister Katarzyna, all living in Poland; by his older brother Maciej, living in Amherst, MA; and by all his close friends in Taos, the place he loved so much.