Anna Karasińska graduated from the Lodz Film School where she studied direction. She also studied philosophy at Lodz University and at the Fine Arts Academy in Lodz. She is a theatre director and a playwright. Her student films made at the Lodz Film School – "Universal Spring" and "Obowiązki" were prize winners at film festivals. Her theatre debut from 3 years ago was the play “Ewelina is Crying” at TR Warszawa, as part of the Teren TR contest, which was followed by "Drugi spektakl" staged at the Polski Theatre in Poznań, "Fantazja" at TR Warszawa, and "2118. Karasińska" at the Nowy Theatre in Warsaw. Witold Mrozek nominated her in recognition of her "sensitivity to the actor and extraordinary imagination". Dariusz Kosiński wrote: " In a seemingly light form, she makes a deep reflection on the situation of people as actors in the great theatre of the world". She herself replies to the question what she needs theatre for, in those words (in Dwutygodnik.com): "I am less interested in art which functions within the so-called agreed reality, no matter how revolutionary and wise its content would be. I am interested in how to go beyond the agreed reality".

Apart from Anna Karasińska two other nominees in the THEATRE category are: Marta Górnika and Weronika Szczawińska.

Nominations were decided by: Michał Centkowski ("Newsweek"), Łukasz Drewniak (Teatralny.pl), Dariusz Kosiński ("Tygodnik Powszechny"), Monika Kwaśniewska-Mikuła ("Didaskalia"), Witold Mrozek ("Gazeta Wyborcza"), Przemysław Skrzydelski ("Sieci", "Do Rzeczy", TVP Kultura), Jacek Sieradzki ("Dialog"), Izabela Szymańska ("Co Jest Grane 24"), Jacek Wakar (PAP), Kalina Zalewska ("Teatr").

Polityka's Passports - a prestigious award of the Polityka magazine has been awarded annually for 26 years.

The award granting ceremony takes place on 8 January, 2019.

photo: Małgorzata Szyłak, from the contest organizor’s archive