Szymon Roginski, Pomorze Zachodnie #01, photograph from Polans, Synthesis series 2003-2006, photo: courtesy of the artist
Poland's first ever film commission helps international productions shooting in Poland and touts the Tatra Mountains, the Baltic coast, theWieliczka salt mines, the primeval forest of Bialowieska and Poland's apocalyptic waste lands and modern, high-tech industrial sites as top filming locations
Nick Holdsworth publishes three articles about Polish cinema, production companies, studios and it's newly established film commission. The journalist recognises the growing success of Polish cinema of the international scene and while identifying Akson one of Poland's leading production companies, he observes the appearance of strong new production companies(Filmpolis, Federico Film and MD4). He points to Lukasz Barczyk, as a noteworthy director from the younger generation who is working on a new film under the provisional title Soyer.
Holdsworth describes Poland's system of film industry support as efficient and effective with the Polish Film Institute (PFI) "continuing to ensure a steady stream to local movies and international co-productions" such as Roman Polanski's Carnage and Agnieszka Holland's In Darkness. He mentions that on top of the existing three film commissions in Poland ( in the Malopolska and Silesia regions and in the city of Lodz), two more commissions, in Lower Silesia and Wielkopolska and eight film offices are also being set up.
In another article he describes the creation of Poland's first ever film-commision - the Polish Film Commission. It helps international productions shooting in Poland and promotes the country as a location. Aleksandra Szczerbak, one of the two newly appointed commissioners, says Poland is a natural partner for foreign producers, with a highly developed film industry, internationally acclaimed cinematographers, multilingual crews, state of the-art production facilities and competitive local prices compared with other parts of Europe.
Sources: Players, talent call attention to country's creative growth spurt, Natural partners (login required), Poland: PFI ensures steady stream of pics
Thumbnail credit: Szymon Rogiński, Śląsk #01, photograph from the Poland Synthesis series, 2003-2006, photo: courtesy of the artist
Editor: Marta Jazowska