29-09-2015

Polish-German Film Fund Launched in Warsaw

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    WARSAW: Polish Film Institute, Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung (MDM) and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg established a film production fund with a budget of 300,000 EUR available starting 2016. The first call is planned for 8 December 2015.

    The new film fund will develop the cooperation established in 2005 when the three institutions created the Polish-German Co-Development Fund. During a press conference held in Warsaw on 28 September 2015 the Director of PISF Agnieszka Odorowicz, the President of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg Kirsten Niehuus and the President of Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung (MDM) Manfred Schmidt announced the details of the new agreement.

    "The last 10 years brought a tremendous change in the Polish film industry. In Germany we've also witnessed a lot of changes. I hope that the development of our cooperation will not only fulfill the dreams of young filmmakers, but will also improve the way that the industry works", said Manfred Schmidt.

    The new fund will be able to grant financing both for project development and production of low budget feature films, debuts and projects with original narrative style. The applicants must be Polish producers with a German production partner from Central Germany and Berlin-Brandenburg region. The projects should have international distribution potential in Poland and Germany as well as other countries. Applicants for a project development grant will receive 70,000 EUR, while coproducers can apply for 150, 000 EUR.

    "Each of the institutions has to invest a minimum of 100,000 EUR. If we like a larger number of projects or a particular project that exceeds the budget limit we will be open to changes. Financing from the Polish-German Film Fund does not exclude the producer from receiving a grant from the Polish Film Institute or other general funds," said Agnieszka Odorowicz.