After working with Kieślowski on ', Preisner was hired by the producer Francis Ford Coppola to write the score for "The Secret Garden", directed by Polish director Agnieszka Holland. Although Preisner is most closely associated with Kieślowski, he has collaborated with several other directors, winning a César in 1996 for his work on Jean Becker's "Élisa". He has won a number of other awards, including another César in 1994 for ', and the Silver Bear from the 47th Berlin International Film Festival 1997 for "The Island on Bird Street". He was nominated for Golden Globe awards for his scores for "" (1993) and At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991).