Robert Gonera

Actor, director, cultural animator. He grew up in Twardogóra, graduated from the Juliusz Słowacki First Secondary School in Oleśnica. He studied acting at the Ludwik Solski Academy of Theatre in Wrocław, graduating in 1991.

On 21 June 1991 he made his debut on the stage of Wrocław Operetta (currently Capitol Musical Theatre) in the role of Motl Kamzoil in Jerry Bock’s musical Fiddler on the Roof directed by Jan Szurmiej. He performed on the stage of the Wrocław Operetta (1991-1992), the Polish Theatre in Wrocław (1992-1999), the Helena Modrzejewska Theatre in Legnica (2003-2004), the Song Theatre in Wrocław (2005) and the New Praga Theatre in Warsaw (2006).

On the big screen, Gonera debuted in 1989 in Radosław Piwowarski’s “Marcowe migdały” (the film’s location shooting took place in Bardo). He appeared in numerous films by Wrocław directors. In Wiesław Saniewski’s “Obcy musi fruwać” (1993) he played a skink, in “Bezmiar sprawiedliwości” (2006) he appeared as Wadecki and in “Wygrany” (2011) as Father Andrzej. Waldemar Krzystek engaged Gonera in “Nie ma zmiłuj” (2000), where he played the sales representative Robert. In 1999, in turn, he appeared as Janusz, a flat owner in Przemysław Wojcieszek’s first semi-amateur film, “Zabij ich wszystkich”. He later met the director on the set of “Głośniej od bomb” (2002). The actor also readily accepts proposals for roles in Wrocław’s off-Broadway productions. He appeared in Dominik Matwiejczyk’s “Krew z nosa” (2004) and in Piotr Matwiejczyk’s “Homo father” (2005).

Gonera was most famous for his leading role in Krzysztof Krauze’s “Dług” (1999). His bravura performance as a young businessman, Adam, terrorised by a gangster, was awarded the Polish Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1999. His performance as commissioner Jerzy Pawlak in Władysław Pasikowski”s series “Glina” (2003-2004) was also critically acclaimed. On television, Gonera has also appeared in “Officers” (2006), “Licencja na wychowanie” (2010-2011), “Czas honoru” (2011) and “Bodo” (2016), among others.

He is one of the co-founders of the Lower Silesian Filmmakers Forum, an association of people from the region active in the film industry.

photo: Highspot