Viewers – the greatest heroes of the PFF in Gdynia. The audience study results have been presented!

The Polish Film Festival is not only about films – it is the feeling of being part of the film world, which distinguishes it from other events. Festival viewers treat the event as a special, holiday time, at which they appreciate the possibility of meeting filmmakers as much as discussions with other involved viewers. The PFF attendees love watching films within a cinema space, but they are also eager to use streaming platforms that greatly extend the film offer.

The Pomeranian Film Foundation, the Faculty of Human Geography and Planning of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the Film and TV Production Organization Department of the Łódź Film School present the results of the project called “Profile of the PFF in Gdynia attendee. Qualitative study”. The project is a continuation of quantitative studies from 2018-2019 and 2022-2023. We recommend you to read the full version of the report – CLICK HERE.

The Festival is perceived primarily as a ritual – for many PFF attendees it is an annual mandatory point in their calendar, fulfilling a socio-cultural function. They emphasise the difference between Festival cinema and “everyday cinema” – Festival screenings are an intense experience, building a sense of community and emotional involvement.

Viewers are drawn to the Festival by the love of cinema, its unique atmosphere, but also by a wide selection of films, including productions that are difficult to watch in cinemas and meetings with their makers. The PFF is also a permanent element of annual plans, an extension of the holidays, and sometimes even the fulfilment of dreams.

Gdynia is a key element of the PFF atmosphere, festival tourists come here also because of the unique charm of the city, which, in the opinion of the attendees, is very well prepared to host the event. Some of the interviewees noted that although Gdynia is an integral part of festival, many residents are not aware of its existence or activities, so perhaps a better integration of festival with the urban space would be useful.

The main objective of the project was to conduct research on participation in culture from a specific perspective – the behaviours and preferences of the attendee of the Polish Film Festival. Project coordinators: dr hab. Krzysztof Stachowiak (Adam Mickiewicz University), dr inż. Malwina Balcerak (Adam Mickiewicz University), dr Anna Wróblewska (Lodz Film School), Agata Kozierańska and Agata Dzik (Pomeranian Film Founda.on in Gdynia).

The project “Profile of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia attendee. Qualitative study” received support from the Polish Film Institute from the operational programme Film Culture Promotion, objective – Audiovisual Market Research.