Gdynia Industry: Discussions and Panels

  • GDYNIA CAMPUS 2024
    Tuesday, 24th September 2024, 10.00 a.m.| Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

This year’s Gdynia Industry opens with a unique event. Its programme was created by students of Polish film schools and film departments in line with the motto of the Polish Film Festival,‘Gdynia for Filmmakers’.

Gdynia Campus 2024 will host workshops on the financial aspects of film production and masterclasses with renowned creators.

The highlight of the event is a networking lunch sponsored by Filmmakers, during which participants will meet with representatives of such key players as the Polish Film Institute, Polish Filmmakers Association, PFA Young Club, Polish Producers Alliance, PPA Young Producers Club, Producers Guild of Poland, Directors Guild of Poland, Union of Audiovisual Authors and Producers,as well as representatives of broadcasters and distributors.

Thanks to the streaming service Netflix, a partner of the Gdynia Campus, 49 students received a scholarship to participate in the programme.

MAIN PARTNER: Netflix

ORGANISERS: Gdynia Film School, Lodz Film School, Wajda School, Warsaw Film School, Faculty of Radio and Television of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Production of Audiovisual Forms of the University of Gdansk

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: Producers Guild of Poland, Filmmakers, PPA Young Producers Club, Directors Guild of Poland

  • A CONVERSATION WITH GRZEGORZ ŁOSZEWSKI, PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION
    Tuesday, 24th September 2024, 3.00-4.30 p.m. | Omega 3 Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

This year’s Gdynia Industry programme features a new event: a meeting with the President of the Polish Filmmakers Association, Grzegorz Łoszewski. We will discuss the most important and urgent topics related to the functioning of the Polish film industry. The President of the PFA will also answer questions from the audience.

Moderator: Błażej Hrapkowicz

     LET’S WORK FOR THE FUTURE: HOW TO WISELY CREATE CINEMA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES AND MAKE THEM GROW WITH IT?
Wednesday, 25th September 2024, 10.30 a.m. | Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Gdynia for Children section, we will explore developments in the production market for young audiences and challenges and ways to address them while building a relationship with an adolescent audience. Domestic production for young audiences is on an upward wave, with a steady increase in the box office for such titles. It is the right time to ask questions about the condition of the Polish market and the needs of producers and young audiences. We will also look at domestic animation slowly blazing a cinematic trail.

In part one, we will discuss the financing options for films made for young audiences in Poland and Europe, the potential of this sector and the opportunities and risks for producers.

In part two, we will focus on audience engagement. Concerns over the declining presence of young audiences in cinemas following the pandemic have led to increased research in Poland and Europe. We will review the findings and consider which global trends in working with young audiences can be adapted to Poland, which ones are already in place, and what systemic solutions could further support these efforts.

AGENDA:

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Production of films for young viewers: how to tell stories to those who are too old yet not too old for fairy tales?

Moderator: Maciej Jakubczyk

Guests: Karolina Goluba (producer), Grzegorz Wacławek (producer), Mikołaj Pokromski (producer)

12:15 p.m. – 13:45 p.m. Young people at the cinema: research, practices, perspectives.

Moderator: Zofia Małkiewicz

Guests: Marta Jodko (ALE KINO! MIĘDZYNARODOWY FESTIWAL FILMÓW MŁODEGO WIDZA), Agata Sotomska, Katarzyna Ślesicka (CKF IM. ANDRZEJA WAJDY)

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: Young Horizons, Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film Festival

     FILM MUSIC: A BUDGET ITEM OR AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR A FILM TO BE SUCCESSFUL? THE CONDITION OF POLISH FILM MUSIC MARKET AND GOOD PRACTICES FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN FILM PRODUCERS AND COMPOSERS
Wednesday, 25th September 2024, 3.30 p.m. |Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

Film music composers are full-fledged filmmakers. They contribute to the narrative layer of the film, help tell the story, enhance the drama and emotional aspects, and shape the psychological profiles of the characters. Music in the film acts as an invisible actor, significantly influencing the viewer’s perception of the work. Through music, many scenes gain additional depth and meaning, which allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the world on screen. However, in film production, music is often viewed primarily in terms of budget and limitations. We will discuss how music can substantially impact the film’s final artistic and commercial outcome by strengthening its role throughout various production stages. We will highlight best practices for collaboration between film producers and composers, covering topics such as the creative process, communication, and negotiations around budgets and contracts. We will also explore ways to strike a balance between the creators’ artistic vision and the production’s practical requirements.

Moderator: dr Maja [Maya] Baczyńska, management of the Polish Filmmakers Association Directors Club, initiator of the PFA “Music in film” project

Guests: Irena Strzałkowska (Polish Producers Alliance), Tomasz Gąssowski (director), Maciej Zieliński (Polish Filmmakers Association Film Music Composers Club), Robert Piaskowski (NCK, FMF)

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: National Centre for Culture, Polish Producers Alliance, Film Music Forum, PFA Young Club

  • GOLDEN PRODUCTION OR WHAT’S GOLD GOT TO DO WITH IT?
    Thursday, 26th September 2024, 10.30 a.m. | Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

Tavex, the leader of the precious metals market, invites you to a presentation on investing in gold. For almost 30 years, the company has delivered products widely recognised as a safe haven for capital. Have you thought about gold as an alternative source of financing films? Learn the secrets of investing, strategies and tax benefits. Together with the festival partner, Tavex, we invite you to discover the world of gold!

  • BY THOUGHT, WORD OR DEED – HOW CAN PUBLIC MEDIA SUPPORT FILMMAKERS?
    Thursday, 26th September 2024, 10.50 a.m. |Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

The promotion of films and works of individual filmmakers is one of the aspects in which the media have accompanied cinema since the beginning, producing creative and often authorial stories about the meanings of cinema. It is certainly not the only form of co-operation in the cultural-media ecosystem. How can the media support filmmakers, and how can filmmakers enrich the story of their films with the help of journalists and cultural programme editors? In this conversation, we will also try to define the mission of the public media and whether we should view every film (which is, after all, art) from a political and social perspective. The conversation between Polish Television and Radio Poland representatives and the film community is organised in partnership with Radio Poland 3.

Moderator: Katarzyna Borowiecka

Guests: Agnieszka Szydłowska (Radio Poland 3), Kinga Dębska (director), Bartosz M. Kowalski (director), Anna Karny (TVP)

  • GRANT SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR FILM CRITICS
    Thursday, 26th September 2024, 12.30 p.m.| Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

We will discuss a pioneering European grant project aimed at film critics. For market reasons, the professional activity of this group is increasingly becoming a hobby. Funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute programme aims to support professionally active critics and to facilitate entry into the market for adepts of the profession.

  • MASTERCLASS: COUNCIL OF EUROPE FUND SUPPORTS CO-PRODUCTION OF SERIES
    Thursday, 26th September 2024, 3.30 p.m. | Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

The Council of Europe’s Fund to support European co-produced series intends to strengthen the European audiovisual producers and the intellectual property they create (European IP) in an era of competition with the productions of global media companies and streaming platforms. Administered by Eurimages, the new Fund will operate in pilot form for three years starting in October 2023.

HOSTS: Alex Traila, Programme Manager, Council of Europe

  • EVENT BOOSTER: WHEN EAST MEETS WEST
    Thursday, 26th September 2024, 4.45 p.m.| Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

Event Booster prepares producers for active participation in international industry events, teaching them to network and present the individual business needs of Polish companies. Encouraging producers to use the opportunities to participate in foreign events is also one of the Gdynia Industry priorities.

When East Meets West is an important event supporting co-operation between Eastern and Western Europe, held annually in January during the IFF in Trieste. It includes a Co-Production Forum for projects in the development phase, a WEMW Slate Market with consulting and B2B meetings, WEMW Business Angels with one-to-one meetings with experienced professionals, and WEMW Inspirational Labs to inspire new content creation and discover new markets.

HOSTS: Alessandra Pastore, WEMWMarket Manager

The Focus on Poland project was co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Creative Sectors Development program, operated by the Centre for the Development of Creative Industries

  • CINEMA OF THE FUTURE. HOW CHANGING BUSINESS MODELS ARE RESHAPING THE CINEMA LANDSCAPE IN POLAND AND EUROPE
    Friday, 27th September 2024, 10.30 a.m.| Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

Among the representatives of the major art house cinema organisations, i.e. Europa Cinemas, CICAE and the Art House Cinemas Association, we will talk about numbers, what the role of such cinemas should be today, and what actions are being taken at the international and local level to strengthen their position in the market. We will also touch upon the expectations of today’s audiences, the need for diversity, and the conscious programming of cinema repertoire.

Moderator: Joanna Piotrkowiak

Guests: Hannele Marjavaara (CICAE), Patrycia Blindow (Żeglarz cinema), Fatima Djoumer (Europa Cinemas)

The event is co-organised by Creative Europe Media Desk Polska.

  • ALL VOICES ARE INCLUDED – HOW TO ENSURE DIVERSITY AND
    INCLUSIVITY IN POLISH FILM INDUSTRY
    Friday, 27th September 2024, 12.15 p.m. | Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

In the spirit of pars pro toto, a film is a world in a nutshell, but it doesn’t always reflect its diversity and complexity. In a panel prepared in collaboration with the European Film Academy, we will address the representation of queer people on screen and in the film industry. We will discuss what strategies for ensuring diversity of inclusivity, i.e. the inclusion of overlooked minorities, are used in different parts of Europe and promoted by the EFA.

Moderator: Aleksandra Aleksander

Guests: Fatih Abay (EFA), Dawid Nickel (director), Zuzanna Banasińska (director), Filip Bałdyga (producer, Canal+)

  • A CONVERSATION WITH KAROLINA ROZWÓD, DIRECTOR OF THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE
    Friday, 27th September 2024, 3.00 p.m. | Omega Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

During this meeting, Karolina Rozwód, the Polish Film Institute Director will present the assumptions and the directions of changes in the Operational Programs for 2025. The second part of the meeting will be open to questions from the representatives of the Polish film industry.

Moderator: Ola Salwa

 

  • POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION FORUM
    Saturday, 28th September 2024 | Orion Room, Mercure Gdynia Centre

The forum of Polish Filmmakers Association – the largest organization for film professionals – held in Gdynia have been a place of heated discussions on the most important issues concerning the film community for years. After several years of battle, Polish filmmakers have finally seen an amendment to the copyright law, which introduces royalties from the Internet. Issues related to the introduction
of this regulation will be part of this year’s discussion. However, there are definitely more challenges that the industry is facing. They can all be summed up in the one sentence: “Certainty of financing for film production in Poland”. The forum will also be an opportunity to meet the new President of the PFA, Grzegorz Łoszewski, and the new director of the PFA Office, Agnieszka Parzuchowska-Janczarska. We invite you to the discussion.