Hotel Le Royal Meridien Bristol hosted a charitable auction of photographs made by Judyta Papp during the filming of the movie Karol-człowiek, który został papieżem (Karol-the Man Who Became Pope) Feb. 27.

Papp's 15 photographs went under the hammer, including portraits of movie stars: Grażyna Szapołowska, Piotr Adamczyk, Raul Bova, Edward Linde-Lubaszenko and director Giacomo Battiato, as well as a portrait of the late Pope John Paul II. The auction was conducted by Edward Linde-Lubaszenko and Olaf Lubaszenko.

The auction was combined with the opening of an exhibition of 20 photographs, largely put up for auction. "These photographs speak volumes. First and foremost they show memories from the production of the movie Karol-człowiek, który został papieżem. The production was filmed in Cracow and involved the cooperation of many Poles: the crew, technicians and actors, starring Piotr Adamczyk as Karol Wojtyła and Małgorzata Bela as Hania," said Gian Franco Svidercoschi, the author of the book Stories of Karol: The Unknown Life of John Paul II, on which the movie was based. Papp devoted special attention to her work on the film set. Since she had already photographed John Paul II himself, she succeeded in capturing the most distinguishing scenes portrayed by the actor.

The photographs will be displayed through March 12. Notably, the artist will donate the money from the auction to the Nie jesteś sam (You Are Not Alone) TVN Foundation to support orphanages. Similar initiatives involving exhibitions and photograph auctions of Papp took place in the Cracow City Office and the Multikino multiplexes in Cracow and Warsaw.

"Look at the photographs carefully and you will find the most significant marks of the unusual spiritual adventure of Karol the Great," adds Svidercoschi.