A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the façade of a building at Market Square No. 3, where Zinnemann had lived with his parents.
Zinnemann, who passed away in 1997, never spoke of his Polish roots.
Tim Zinnemann, the director's only son, only discovered his father's origins while organizing Fred's documents after his death.
This revelation was particularly poignant since Fred's parents were victims of the Holocaust in Poland.
The plaque, resembling a film strip, was unveiled on Monday by Tim Zinnemann, who traveled from Los Angeles for the ceremony despite his advanced age.
Fred Zinnemann, born 1907 to a Jewish family in Rzeszów, then located in the Austro-Hungarian empire's part of partitioned Poland, had a profound impact on cinema.
His notable works include the documentary Benjy, which earned him his second Oscar in 1951.
Zinnemann made a total of 25 high-profile pictures with some of the biggest stars of his day, directing 19 of them to Oscar nominations.
His multi-award-winning films included High Noon, From Here to Eternity, The Day of the Jackal and A Man for All Seasons.
Fred Zinnemann, Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, "From Here to Eternity," 1953 Columbia. Photo: PAP/Photoshot
Fred Zinnemann and Gary Cooper during the making of "High Noon," 1952 Universal Cinema. Phot PAP/Photoshot
Despite his achievements, Zinnemann identified Vienna as his birthplace, likely due to the painful association with his parents' fate during the Holocaust.
Rzeszów's mayor, Konrad Fijołek, highlighted the ceremony as a tribute not only to Zinnemann's legacy but also to the Jewish community of Rzeszów, acknowledging their significant contribution to the city's cultural heritage and economic prosperity.
The story of Fred Zinnemann and his Rzeszów roots is extensively chronicled in Dr. Grażyna Bochenek's book Fredek, Rzeszów, Hollywood: Stories About Fred Zinnemann.
The book includes letters written to Zinnemann in Polish by his parents in the 1930s. The letters stopped during the war.
Fred Zinnemann's story resonates with the broader narrative of Jewish history in Poland, adding a profound layer to his celebrated cinematic legacy.
A number of iconic Hollywood directors, producers and studio owners had Polish-Jewish roots, including Samuel Goldwyn, the Warner Brothers and Billy Wilder.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP