Ryszard Bugajski (27 April 1943 – 7 June 2019)[1] was a Polish film director and screenwriter.

His father was Edward Bugajski, a member of the pre-war Polish Socialist Party (PPS).

Bugajski had numerous interests as a youth, initially aspiring to become a musician, but he later thought he would become a painter.

He studied philosophy at the University of Warsaw for three years, but an accidental viewing of 8½ spurred him into wanting to become a filmmaker.

In June 2008, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for "his outstanding contributions to the democratic transformations in Poland as well as for achievements for the country in his professional and social work".