The accident occurred on road 240 between Lubiewice and Bysław in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Tomiak died on his way to the Youth and Film festival taking place in Koszalin. “Our friend and mentor passed away yesterday. An outstanding cinematographer and an authority among students. A beautiful man. Our man. We are in despair,” the Koszalin event wrote on the social media.
According to the prosecutor's office, the accident occurred when a 24-year-old BMW driver, traveling in a line of cars, decided to overtake the vehicles in front of him. Unfortunately, he did not check whether he could safely perform this maneuver. Moreover, he was driving at excessive speed.
“Only when he was in the opposite lane did he realize that there was a truck coming from the opposite direction. He tried to hide in the right lane and then he hit the Toyota and pushed it straight in front of the truck,” said prosecutor Agnieszka Adamska-Okońska, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office in Polsatnews.pl Bydgoszcz. Tomiak was driving the Toyota. As a result of the collision with the truck, he died on the spot.
The 24-year-old BMW driver was detained after the tragedy. He was sober at the time of the incident. According to police findings, he did not comply with road traffic rules and significantly exceeded the speed limit. According to Adamska-Okońska, the BMW driver “was charged with intentional violation of road traffic rules and causing a fatal accident.” He faces up to eight years in prison. He will remain in custody until the trial begins.
The outstanding Polish cinematographer was born on February 20, 1968. In 1995, he graduated from the Cinematography Department of the National Film School in Łódź.
He began his professional career working on the set of Jan Jakub Kolski's films: “A Wonderful Place”, “Playing from a Plate” and “Szabla od Kommandant”. He made his debut as a cinematographer in 1997 in the film “Przystań” directed by Jan Hryniak.
He was a two-time winner of the award for the best cinematography at the Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia. In 2000, he was appreciated for “Far from the Window”, and six years later for “Extras” and “Palimpsest”. Moreover, he was awarded the Polish Film Award – Eagles twice. In 2013 for “Obława”, and three years later for “Karbala”.
He was also the cinematographer of such films as “Silence”, “Symmetry”, “Bright Blue Windows”, “Zero”, “Enen”, “Mystification”, “Daas”, “Girl from the Closet”, “The Photographer”, ” Legions”, “Black Mercedes” or “The Pilecki Report”.
His last film was “Pani od polskiego” directed by Radosław Piwowarski, which will soon be released.
“I remember everything. How you lay down with pillows on your head and said: 'Wait a minute, I'll think of something'. I remember our holidays, your deliveries of eel and your warmth. And the light in your films. And your eyes. Agnieszka, Girls… there are no words. There is light left” – this is how director and screenwriter Joanna Kos-Krauze said goodbye to Arkadiusz Tomiak.
“I have no words,” wrote Borys Szyc. “Terribly sad,” added Karolina Gruszka. “There are no words. We debuted together,” recalled Maja Ostaszewska. “I can't get over it. I'm so sorry,” assured Jowita Budnik. “Terrible news. I feel sorry for the relatives,” admitted Magdalena Łazarkiewicz. “Shock and terrible sadness” – wrote Kasia Adamik.