Gdynia Industry at the 50th PFF
Gdynia Industry is a programme addressed to professionals from the film industry. Its aim is to diagnose current challenges facing the industry, actively search for systemic solutions, network and support the exchange of experiences and information between more and less experienced professionals.
We are an event for the film community, a place for important, in-depth conversations, a space for working towards change. This wouldn’t have been possible without the extensive support of the film industry, for which I’m deeply grateful. Together, we’ve built a strong and relevant programme. This will be an important edition of Gdynia Industry – comments Joanna Łapińska, the Artistic Director of the Festival.
This year’s programme consists of several parts: Gdynia Campus – Class of 2025, industry debates and discussion panels, consultations and networking. The full Gdynia Industry programme is available at: www.festiwalgdynia.pl/gdyniaindustry/
During this year’s Gdynia Industry events, we are strongly focusing on the future of the industry. We will talk about how to make cinema more accessible, where to look for additional sources of financing, and how to reach audiences outside large urban centers. In addition, key film institutions will present the directions of their activities for the coming years. And we start the whole event with Gdynia Campus – a whole day of meetings and lectures for students of all film schools in Poland, whose films will be competing for the Golden Lions in a few years – says Ola Salwa, head of Gdynia Industry.
GDYNIA CAMPUS – CLASS OF 2025
For the second time, Gdynia Industry opens with a unique event, featuring a programme created by students from all Polish film schools and film departments – reflecting the motto of the Polish Film Festival: ‘Gdynia of Filmmakers’. Gdynia Campus – Class of 2025 will host workshops on pitching, conflict resolution on set, contract negotiation, and financing. The classes will be led by recognised experts from the film industry The highlight of the event is a networking lunch, organised in partnership with ATM Grupa, during which participants will meet representatives of film institutions, producers, creators, broadcasters, and distributors.
Thanks to the streaming service Netflix, the main partner of Gdynia Campus, fifty students received a scholarship to participate in the programme.
INDUSTRY DEBATES AND DISCUSSION PANELS
SECOND ACT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
In this conversation, we will discuss the topic of ‘extending’ a film’s life after its theatrical release – by showing it at events organised by festivals or by film discussion clubs outside major urban centres. Thanks to these initiatives and the commitment of filmmakers and cultural activists who work to build audiences, interest in Polish cinema as a whole is also growing.
FAIR FILM AWARD PRESENTATION
The Fair Film Award is a new initiative in the Polish audiovisual market – it will recognise film and television productions that promote equality, respect, and good practices. Film crews will decide who deserves the title of Most Fair through a nationwide, anonymous vote. Organised by the Filmmakers’ Trade Union in cooperation with Crew United Polska, the award and its criteria were developed in collaboration with twenty-nine industry organisations. The initiative is under the patronage of the Polish Film Institute and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
POLISH FILM INSTITUTE DEBATE: I CAN SEE NO OBSTACLES. DEBATE ON HOW TO MAKE POLISH FILM MORE ACCESSIBLE
A discussion about the measures taken by institutions in Poland and Europe to increase the accessibility of films for people with special needs. Participants in the debate will include representatives of: Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, British Film Institute, European Film Academy, Polish Film Institute, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute, Culture without Barriers Foundation, Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival.
Partners Polish Film Institute, European Film Academy
POLISH FILMMAKERS’ WORKING CONDITIONS 2023–2024: STUDY RESULTS PRESENTATION
The Working Conditions Study was conducted by the Filmmakers’ Trade Union (ZZF), in cooperation with Goodylabs, and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. According to representatives of the ZZF: ‘The need to conduct this research arose in 2020, at the beginning of the ZZF’s existence. We decided to describe the current working conditions, i.e., “how it is”, and what we as a union want to change, i.e., “how we want it to be”. However, it turned out that work on set is perceived differently by different people, and the need to conduct research – the first in several decades – proved indispensable. The research allows us to identify the need for change objectively and set the direction for it.’
ROUND-TABLE MEETING OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE WITH POLISH FILM INDUSTRY
The round-table event is organised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in collaboration with the Polish Film Institute, the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute, the Documentary and Feature Film Studios, and the Feature Film Studio in Wrocław. It will be divided into three parts: (1) A presentation of current and planned activities of the Ministry and the aforementioned institutions in are such as production financing, archives, cinemas, technological change, and accessibility. (2) A presentation of the results of market research, financed by the PFI and conducted by Olsberg SPI and the Jagiellonian University, a joint initiative ofthe Producers Guild of Poland, the Polish Filmmakers Association (main partner),the Polish Producers Alliance, Netflix, and TVN Warner Bros Discovery Poland.It will be followed by a presentation of the Jagiellonian University research project titled The Film Market in Times of Digital, Green, and Social Transformation: Models of Change, financed by the Foundation for Polish Science. (3) A discussion panelon strategies for the development of independent production in Poland, with the participation of representatives of film production organisations.
GIUSEPPE IN WARSAW, BUT FILMS IN WROCŁAW
Wroclaw Feature Film Studio (WFFS) – a state cultural institution with over 70 years of tradition – invites you to a presentation on the possibilities of film production in collaboration with the WFFS. The institution boasts film studios and infrastructure that have been appreciated over the years by renowned filmmakers, such as Andrzej Wajda (Ashes and Diamonds), Wojciech Jerzy Has (The Doll), and Michał Kwieciński (Chopin, Chopin!). WFFS also provides in-kind support and conducts recruitment for co-productions of arthouse projects, aimed at producers and creators, including debutants.
ADDITIONAL FILM FINANCING –WHERE AND HOW TO FIND IT?
During this meeting, representatives of the Polish Producers Alliance, the Producers Guild of Poland, the Polish Film Institute, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and the streaming service Netflix will discuss potential sources of additional funding for film production in the coming months and years. Instead of mapping the current situation, which is already well known to producers and the market, we will focus on future opportunities and solutions designed to strengthen audiovisual production. The event is co-organised by Creative Europe Media Desk Polska.
Partners: Polish Producers Alliance, Producers Guild of Poland
20/20 DOK – PRESS BRIEFING
During this meeting a unique anniversary project by the Polish Film Institute, prepared in collaboration with Millennium Docs Against Gravity, featuring twenty of the best documentary films co-financed by the Polish Film Institute over the past two decades will be presented.
PRESENTATION OF THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE’S OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR 2026
During the meeting, the Polish Film Institute’s Operational Programmes for 2026 will be presented.
POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION FORUM
The Gdynia Forum of the Polish Filmmakers Association – the largest organisation for film professionals – has for years been a venue for heated discussions on the most pressing issues facing the film community. In the face of market changes, the greatest challenge our film industry faces is reforming film production financing. The goal is to protect small and medium-sized producers, as only they can guarantee the production of ambitious Polish cinema. Other key topics we’ll discuss during the Forum include restructuring public media, amending the list of blank tapes, and adopting a law on social security for people working in the arts.
CONSULTATIONS
TALKS WITH POLISH FILM INSTITUTE EXPERTS AT THE PFI STAND
During this year’s event, young filmmakers will have a unique opportunity to consult directly with experts and staff of the Polish Film Institute. The PFI stand will host a series of individual meetings and thematic panels introducing the practical aspects of the film industry and the rules for applying for project funding.
• Consultations with the PFI finance and production departments;
• Advice on project accounting and application submission;
• Meetings with PFI Director Kamila Dorbach;
• Specialised panels on co-productions, legal pitfalls, and the promotion of Polish works abroad.
ASK ZAPA! FIND OUT IF YOU’RE OWED ROYALTIES AND HOW TO CLAIM THEM
Open consultations with experts from the Union of Audiovisual Authors and Producers (ZAPA), who will answer any questions – even the most probing ones– about royalties, collective management, and copyright. Do you have doubts regarding your current or future productions? Would you like to know your rights? How can you best protect your interests? Come and meet our experts! No registration required.
POLISH ACTORS’ TRADE UNION CONSULTATIONS
Individual consultations for actors – covering everyday challenges at work, available forms of support, and the role of the Polish Actors’ Trade Union. Karolina Wiecheć, Manager of the Polish Actors’ Trade Union, and Maria Karaś-Tęcza, Communication and Administration Specialist, invite you to join them for a conversation. No registration required.
NETWORKING
HAPPY HOUR
We invite you to a relaxed chat and festival day wrap-up in an informal atmosphere, over snacks and drinks, from Tuesday to Friday in the welcoming Gallery of the Gdynia Film Centre. Admission is by ‘industry’, ‘basic industry’, ‘media’, or ‘foreign guest’ accreditation.
Partners: European Film Academy, ORKA, PPolish Post-Production Societ, Kino Świat, Canal+, Kino Polska
POLISH ACTORS’ TRADE UNION AWARD CEREMONY
The first Award Ceremony of the Polish Actors’ Trade Union will take place on 23rd September 2025. During the event, actresses and actors will receive awards for their unforgettable, inspiring, and authentic roles. The name of the award – Pulsar – is derived from astronomy and denotes an object that emits strong, rhythmic pulses of light, leaving a lasting mark. A special award will be given to a casting director – someone who supports actors professionally, attentively, and ethically, and who has a real impact on acting performances. By invitation only.
FAM TOUR WITH GDAŃSK FILM COMMISSION
What makes filmmakers keep coming back to Gdańsk? During a familiarisation tour, the Gdańsk Film Commission will show you unique parts of the city — off the beaten track, industrial, and full of character. This inspiring event in the Festival programme offers a chance to see the city from a filmmaker’s perspective and to learn about projects realised in Gdańsk. The fam tour, guided in Polish by an industry-savvy expert, includes lunch and transportation from Gdynia to Gdańsk and back. Registration: https://gdanskfilmcommission.pl/fam-tour/
MENTAL POINT
The modern film industry is increasingly recognising the importance of mental well-being. The fast pace of work, constant pressure, and uncertainty mean that filmmakers need effective tools to cope with rising tension. During the Festival, for the third time, you can pause for a moment and take care of yourself at the Mental Point, run by the Centre for Performance Psychology. The workshop will be led by psychologists Aleksandra Zienowicz-Wielebska, PhD, Ewa Serwotka, Pola Weiner, and Martyna Harland. The Mental Point is a space where participants can learn selected self-regulation techniques. These exercises help build a connection between body and mind, regulate the nervous system, manage energy, and stimulate oneself appropriately – both before and after intense creative work.
NETWORKING BREAKFAST WITH STORYLAB.PRO, POLISH SCREENWRITERS’ GUILD, AND POLISH ACTORS’ TRADE UNION
We invite you to enjoy a cup of morning coffee and healthy snacks in the company of fellow filmmakers. A networking game and surprise fortune-telling will help you break the ice and make new industry friends. It’s a perfect opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere and talk about our projects.
Event partners: StoryLab.pro, Polish Screenwriters’ Guild, Polish Actors’ Trade Union
REGIONAL FILM FUNDS LUNCH
Regional Film Funds invite you to an industry lunch. It will be an opportunity to meet filmmakers, producers, and representatives of film institutions. The lunch is an excellent occasion not only to discuss the current state of the Polish audiovisual market, but also to network, exchange experiences, and find inspiration. Participants will have the chance to speak with fund representatives about cooperation opportunities and financial support systems. The lunch will encourage informal discussions, which often lead to new initiatives and partnerships.
THE 1ST BIRTHDAY OF THE PFA FILM MUSIC COMPOSERS’ CIRCLE
The PFA Film Music Composers’ Circle invites you to a glass of wine and refreshments. It will be an opportunity to meet and celebrate together with film composers, directors, producers, and other representatives of the film industry, as well as a great opportunity for mutual inspiration, networking, reflection on the audiovisual market, and discussions about the future of Polish cinema and the role played by film music.
PPA YOUNG PRODUCERS’ NETWORKING BREAKFAST
The Young Producers Section of the Polish Producers Alliance invites emerging creators to a networking breakfast, where they will have the opportunity to meet producers actively working in the industry who are open to new film projects. During breakfast, the event partner, SKP Ślusarek Kubiak Pieczyk, will present current legal challenges in the industry and topics likely to be relevant in the coming year, in a ten-minute segment called ‘Legal Espresso by SKP’.
Event partners: PPA Young Producers Section, SKP Ślusarek Kubiak Pieczyk
MENTORING LUNCH WITH THE PFF PROGRAMME COUNCIL
During a special intergenerational lunch with the Programme Council, its members will share their experiences with younger colleagues. This mentoring session will be an opportunity to ask questions about working in the film industry and to discuss a passion for cinema. Registration is required and opened in the first half of September at festival website.
Event partner: Union of Polish Stage Artists
1:1 MEETINGS POWERED BY THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE
1:1 is a series of individual meetings with key figures from the film industry, aimed at emerging filmmakers, and co-organised with the Polish Film Institute. It provides an opportunity to speak with experts and practitioners from the Polish film industry, who will answer questions, clarify aspects of the industry’s inner workings, and offer advice on building a film career. Registration is required and opened in the first half of September at festival website.
GDYNIA PRO
A new mentoring programme aimed at a select group of five debut filmmakers, whose films are screened in the Main Competition and Perspectives Competition, and five film music composers, finalists of the Jan A.P. Kaczmarek Award – Dreamer. The programme’s activities will be tailored to the needs of the selected participants.
The 50th Polish Film Festival will take place from 22nd to 27th September 2025 in Gdynia. The Festival is produced by the Pomeranian Film Foundation in Gdynia.
