The selection process for the person responsible for the film selection and direction of the most significant Polish film event was closely monitored by the Polish film community and attracted some controversy. After a two month search, The PFF's Organization Committee originally chose journalist Janusz Wróblewski on a 1 February 2011 vote, but the near-tie results led to a second vote on 15 February which was won by Chaciński.

"His vision of the festival seemed more modern, more open to the world and young filmmakers, than the one presented by Janusz Wróblewski," said Leszek Kopeć, the Chairman of PFF. "Chaciński was better at explaining his critical opinion of the festival's current form. Apart from that, his proposition is much more appropriate to the financial abilities of this event, and this is not without significance," he added.

" My idea entails a radical change for the festival in Gdynia," Chaciński, a renowned Polish film journalist and film critic for public station TVP Kultura, said. " I want PFF to stop being an event only for elderly gentlemen. It is unacceptable that presently the youngest person on the jury for the Golden Lions is 55 years old. I would like to open Gdynia not only to the younger generation but also actors and directors, producers and international guests, who could be members of the jury and conduct master workshops for the younger filmmakers. Secondly, I would like Gdynia to be a place of communication for the Cent-East Europe countries: Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic or Russia, and let them get to know their film works as well as integrate their artistic communities," he added.