Polish cinematographer Witold Płóciennik found dead in Lubniewice at age 56
Emergency services in western Poland discovered the body of 56-year-old cinematographer Witold Płóciennik near Lake Krzywe on 3 September 2026, ending a four-day search after he went missing during production work in Lubniewice.
Discovery in Lubusz Voivodeship
Polish authorities located the body of 56-year-old cinematographer Witold Płóciennik on 3 September 2026 in Lubusz Voivodeship. The discovery concluded a multi-day search across the municipality of Lubniewice, where Płóciennik had been staying. Mariola Wojciechowska-Grześkowiak, spokeswoman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Gorzów Wielkopolski, confirmed that search teams found the body in a forest complex near Lake Krzywe. Investigators and forensic specialists conducted procedural activities at the site under prosecutorial supervision. Local authorities noted that the terrain where searchers found the body consisted of marshy and waterlogged ground.
The body of Witold Płóciennik was found today during searches in Lubusz Voivodeship.
Disappearance in Lubniewice
Płóciennik was visiting western Poland in connection with his work as director of photography on the Netflix production "Ołowiane dzieci". During his time off on Saturday, 29 August 2026, he went toward Lake Lubiąż to walk and spend time near the water. Family members received a final photograph sent from a trail surrounding the lake before all telephone and messaging contact ceased. The cinematographer failed to arrive on the film set on Monday morning, 31 August 2026, which prompted colleagues to report him missing to law enforcement. Sulęcin county police then issued a public appeal for information regarding his whereabouts around Lake Lubiąż and Lake Lubniewsko.
Search operation and deployment
The operation mobilized regional emergency services, forestry workers, and volunteers over four days of field operations. Sulęcin police coordinated efforts involving the State Fire Service (PSP), Volunteer Fire Service (OSP) units, and the Water Volunteer Rescue Service (WOPR). Specialized equipment was deployed across land, water, and air, including a police helicopter, quads, sonars, and thermal-imaging drones. Criminal division officers worked alongside tracking dog handlers and specialized search groups to sweep wetlands, forests, and local waterways. Crew members from the film production also joined search parties on the ground.
We found the body of a man, and procedural activities are currently underway at the scene under the supervision of a prosecutor.
- Płóciennik is last seen near Lake Lubiąż after sending a photo from a trail
- Filmmaker is reported missing after failing to appear on the Netflix set
- Search teams find Płóciennik's body in woodland near Lake Krzywe
Career and industry recognition
Płóciennik was a graduate of the Łódź Film School and a member of the Polish Cinematographers Association (Stowarzyszenie Autorów Zdjęć Filmowych). In 2019, he won the award for cinematography at the Gdynia Polish Film Festival for "Ikar. Legenda Mietka Kosza". In 2020, he received the Main Prize in the Polish Films Competition at the Camerimage International Film Festival in Toruń for "Zieja". His early work also earned industry recognition in 2002 for music videos for the rock groups Hey ("Cisza, ja i czas") and O.N.A. ("Niekochana").
His feature film portfolio included "Wymyk", "Carte Blanche", "Za niebieskimi drzwiami", "Jak pies z kotem", "Mistrz", "Prosta historia o morderstwie", and "Święto ognia". Across these projects, Płóciennik worked with directors Maciej Barczewski, Kinga Dębska, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Janusz Kondratiuk, Jacek Lusiński, and Maciej Pieprzyca. In television and streaming, he photographed series including "Klangor" and "Minuta ciszy" for Canal+, "Stulecie Winnych" for TVP, "Kruk", and Netflix projects "Idź przodem, bracie" and "Ołowiane dzieci".
