Polish Cinema today - Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej

y Magdalena Piekorz, Oda do radości (Ode to Joy) from
the trio of Anna Kazejak-Dawid, Jan Komasa and Maciej
Migas, Warszawa (Warsaw) by Dariusz Gajewski, Symetria
(Symmetry) by Konrad Niewolski, Edi (Eddie) by Piotr
Trzaskalski, Z odzysku (Retrieval) by Sławomir Fabicki, Zmruż
oczy (Squint Your Eyes) and Sztuczki (Tricks) by Andrzej
Jakimowski, and Rezerwat (Preserve) by Łukasz Palkowski.
These films received multiple awards at film festivals
in Poland and abroad. The success of young Polish filmmakers
was once again confirmed at the latest Polish Film Festival
in Gdynia – four of the awarded films were made by first- or
second-time filmmakers: Rewers (Reverse) by Borys Lankosz
(Golden Lions Grand Prize, Best Leading Actress, Best
Supporting Actor, Best Photography, Best Music, Best
Make-up); Wojna polsko-ruska (Snow White and Russian Red)
by Xawery Żuławski (Silver Lions Jury Award, Best Lead Actor,
Best Sound, Best Costume Design); Dom zły (Dark House)
by Wojciech Smarzowski (Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best
Editing), and Galerianki (Mall Girls) by Katarzyna Rosłaniec
(Best Directorial Debut). The last of these films is also
in the Top 20 list of films released in 2009.
A film’s success is measured not only by the number
of awards, but also its popularity with cinema audiences.
When looking at mainstream production, it is impossible to
overlook the key role played by romantic comedies, which
often reach blockbuster success at the box-office and later
on the DVD market. The biggest hits of 2007 include Dlaczego
nie! (Why not!), Nigdy w życiu! (Never ever!), Tylko mnie
kochaj (Just Love Me), Ja wam pokażę! (I’ll Show You!),
and Francuski numer (French Number). In 2008 and 2009
this success was repeated by a few more titles: Jeszcze raz
(Starting Anew), Rozmowy nocą (Midnight Talk), Mała wielka
miłość (Expecting Love), Nie kłam kochanie (Don’t Lie,
Darling), To nie tak jak myślisz, kotku (It’s Not What You
Think, Honey), Idealny facet dla mojej dziewczyny
(The Perfect Guy for My Girlfriend), and Kochaj i tańcz (Love
& Dance). The best example of the popularity of comedies
in Poland is Lejdis (Ladies) by Tomasz Konecki and Andrzej
Saramonowicz, with over 2.5 million admissions. This film did
not only rank first in the Top 10 list (based on box-office data
for the period from 4 January 2008 to 4 December 2008), but
also became the most popular Polish comedy in 18 years.
FILM PRODUCTION GUIDE POLAND 2010
The introduction of the new Film Law
and the international activity of the Polish Film Institute
helped to increase interest of foreign filmmakers in Poland as
a potential partner for co-production. In recent years, Polish
firms co-produced films by several acclaimed directors: Strike
by Volker Schlöndorff, Nightwatching by Peter Greenaway,
Pope John Paul II by John Kent Harrison, It’s a Free World...
by Ken Loach, Karamazovi by Petr Zelenka, and most recently
Antichrist by Lars von Trier. The years 2006-2009 brought
Poland a total of almost 30 international co-productions.
Recent co-productions include 33 sceny z życia (33 Scenes
from Life) by Małgorzata Szumowska (Poland/Germany),
Cztery noce z Anną (Four Nights with Anna) by Jerzy
Skolimowski, Hel (The Rebound) by Kinga Dębska
(Poland/Czech Republic), Świnki (Piggies) by Robert Gliński
(Poland/Germany), Handlarz cudów (Miracle Seller)
by Jarosław Szoda and Bolesław Pawica (Poland/Sweden),
Janosik. Prawdziwa historia (Janosik. The True Story)
by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik
(Poland/Hungary/Czech Republic/Slovakia), and Operacja
Dunaj (Operation “Danube”) by Jacek Głomb (Poland/Czech
Republic).
Cinema attendance in Poland 2005-2009
Current trends in the Polish cinema market are similar
to those in other European countries. The biggest box-office
success goes to Hollywood blockbusters that reach similar
status worldwide. However, much like in other countries
of Central Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic) recent years
marked a significant rise in admissions to local films.
In Poland these were mainly medium-budget romantic
comedies. One thing unique in Poland is the incredible
popularity of biopics of Pope John Paul II (three Top 10 box
office hits of 2005-2006) and of epic films considered
historically significant.
2005 marked a global decrease in cinema attendance,
with an almost 30% drop in Poland when compared to
the record-breaking year 2004. Although the number of films
released in cinemas increased to a record 224, this found no
reflection in attendance or revenue. Total admissions were at
23.3 million, revenues at 331.6 million PLN (approx. 103
million USD). The share of European films in the market also
33
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