10-08-2015

Magdalena Sroka Appointed New Head of Polish Film Institute

By
    Magdalena Sroka Magdalena Sroka

    WARSAW: Cultural manager and producer Magdalena Sroka will replace Agnieszka Odorowicz as the new Head of the Polish Film Institute starting 3 October 2015. Agnieszka Odorowicz is stepping down after 10 years as head of PISF which is the longest period a director can serve under the statutes of the organisation.

    Magdalena Sroka was unanimously recommended to the Minister of Culture and National Heritage by a special committee created by Małgorzata Omilanowska and consisting of film professionals including: Agnieszka Holland, Borys Lankosz, Juliusz Machulski, Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi, Andrzej Fidyk, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Roman Gutek, Katarzyna Janowska, Jakub Szurmiej and Robert Kijak.

    "One of the key elements in my presentation was to showcase the role and significance of the regional film funds and local film commissions and how cooperation with the Polish Film Institute could help them develop. I also presented my ideas on how to introduce legislative reforms that will facilitate the activities of regional funds and film funds and how we should implement the new European directives on public commissions that will take effect in 2016", Sroka said during the recruitment process.

    A Jagiellonian University graduate in 2003, Magdalena Sroka was a part of the Krakow Festival Office 2000. She was responsible for several cultural projects organised when Krakow was the European Capital of Culture in 2000, including the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, the Opera Film Festival and Crossroads Festival Krakow. In 2008-2010 she was the Director of the Krakow Festival Office. She is also one of the creators of Krakow Film Commission, the Krakow Regional Film Fund and the Polish Culture Congress. She is currently the Deputy President of Krakow for Culture and Promotion.