18-12-2015

Polish Film Institute Introduces Funding for Minority Coproductions in 2016

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    WARSAW: The Polish Film Institute has decided to allocate 8 m PLN of production funding especially for Polish companies engaged in international projects as minority co-producers.

    The new funding option created by the Polish Film Institute will allow 5-10 international projects to access funding, provided they have a producer based in Poland. "For now, it works within the Operational Programme of the PISF, but offers a possibility of getting financing for minority coproductions within the framework of feature film production grants", Izabela Kiszka-Hoflik, the Head of International Relations at Polish Film Institute, told FNE.

    The minority co-production fund will have a separate three person expert committee headed by Andrzej Jakimowski who is joined by Jan Naszewski and Jakub Duszyński. "We wanted the experts to be experienced film professionals, who are connoisseurs of European and international cinema as well as frequent visitors to major film festivals and industry events. The committee will recommend selected projects to Director Magdalena Sroka and will distribute funds between 5 to 10 projects, with a maximum 2 m PLN of financing for one film. This budget is comparable to these types of funds available in other countries and will surely allow Poland to become even more engaged in both the European and international film market." Kiszka-Hoflik said.

    The application process for the new fund will have only one stage, but will be available through three grant sessions organised annually by the Institute. "The idea for this fund was a response to new generation of Polish film producers, who are interested in international projects. Poland has several coproduction agreements
    signed with other countries, most recently a contract with New Zealand, but this fund will open even more possibilities to co-operate with filmmakers and producers from all over the world," adds Izabela Kiszka-Hoflik.

    Similarly to big international coproduction funds, this grant is available for any project with a Polish partner that has allocated 30% of his own input in the production. The first grant session for 2016 at Polish Film Institute launched on 14 December 2015 and will last till 7 January 2016.