24-11-2009

FNE VISEGRAD FORUM: Domestic film production in Poland

By FNE
    Despite the economic crisis, 2009 was a strong year for Polish film production. with 48 features completed.

    {mosimage} {mosimage} While the number is a drop from the 60 produced in 2008, this year's productions included big international projects and several internationally acclaimed titles. An additional 22 movies are in the post production.

    The biggest international co-production was Janosik. A true story directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, produced by Apple Film Production (www.applefilm.pl), In Film, Telewizja Polska S.A., Charlie's,Eurofilm Studio and HBO Central Europe with a budget of 23 million PLN. The most expensive domestic production was Popiełuszko. Freedom is within us directed by Rafał Wieczyński produced by Focus Producers(www.popieluszko.pl) with a 11.5 million PLN budget.

    2009 saw strong directing debuts, including Reverse, a 50's style drama from Borys Lankosz, the multi-plotted drama Zero directed by Paweł Borowski and social drama Mall Girls directed by Katarzyna Rosłaniec, and The Forest, a feature debut from animator Piotr Dumała.

    {mosimage} The most important domestic productions planned for 2010 include: Dream of a Butterfly (Sen motyla) directed by Jacek Bławut, produced by "Rabarbar" Film Studio (www.studiofilmowerabarbar.com) with a budget of 3.6 million PLN and 2.5million funding from PISF; Dukedom (Księstwo) directed by Andrzej Barański, produced by Scorpion Art (www.skorpionart.pl) with a budget of 2.8 million PLN including 2 million from PISF; Rose of Masuria ( Róża z Mazur) directed by Wojciech Smarzowski, produced by WFDiF (www.wfdif.com.pl) with a budget of 5.3 million PLN and 2.6 million from PISF; Historia Roja czyli w ziemi lepiej słychać directed by Jerzy Zalewski, produced Dr Watkins Film Studio with a budget of 12 million PLN and 4 million PLN from PISF; and the sequel to a cult Polish comedy Cruise 2 ( Rejs 2) directed by Marek Piwowski, produced by Anna Pupin "Boom!Group" (www.boom-group.pl) with a budget of 6 million PLN and half of this amount funded by PISF.