Marcin Mamoń

(b. 1968) – a journalist, documentary film director and writer.

Mamoń is mainly known as a director of numerous documentary films, including ‘Prawdziwy ojciec chrzestny’ (The Real Godfather), The Smell of Paradise and Brüder des Jihad. He is admired for his reports on war-torn areas. He has worked with many television stations, both in Poland and abroad, including TVP, TVN, WDR, BBC and Channel 4. He has written reportage from Chechnya, and shot the film Chechnya: The Dirty War, which got him banned from the Russian Federation.

He has directed films showing life and conflicts in such countries and regions as North Africa, Afghanistan, Somalia, Congo, Gaza, Iraq and the Caucasus.

In 2017, he released his book debut, ‘Wojna braci’ (Fraternal War), covering informal warrior societies bound by shared ideals. The Jihadists Mamoń writes about call each other brothers, even if they have never met. They do not know each other’s name, only pseudonyms, at best. They fight on various fronts, in various organisations, they speak various languages. Everything is stacked against them, yet they do not give in. In his book, Mamoń tries to discover who these Jihadists are, what their aims are, and what their world of values is. He also recounts the story of his abduction and release by the Al-Nusra Front, and gives a first-hand report of the conflict in Syria, the crimes of the Al-Assad regime and the rebels’ struggle.

Marcin Mamoń has been covering the Near East and terrorism for over twenty years. He is the only Polish author who has gained access to many important Islam warrior leaders and got them to speak of their activities. He has received numerous awards, including the Polish Journalists’ Association and the Grand Prix at the HumanDOC Documentary Film Festival. He received the Gold Cross for Service in 2010, and in 2020, the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.