Rules and Regulations

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF THE 51ST POLISH FILM FESTIVAL

as approved by the Organising Committee
on 28th November 2025

 

§ 1.

 

  1. The Polish Film Festival, hereinafter referred to as the “Festival”, is a nationwide competition reviewing the best achievements in Polish feature filmmaking over the past year.
  2. The Festival presents all film genres, and the basic criteria for selecting competition films include their artistic value and professional production.
  3. The aim of the Festival is to promote Polish film art in Poland and abroad, as well as to recognise the best feature films and their creators.
  4. The Organising Committee and the Festival Management are responsible for ensuring the proper conduct of the selection process for the Main Competition and other sections, as well as for the programme, rules and regulations of the Festival and its organisation.
  5. The Festival takes place every year in Gdynia on a date set by the Organising Committee.

§ 2.

 

  1. The Organising Committee supervises the substantive and organisational preparations for the Festival.
  2. The Festival Organising Committee consists of:
  1. the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage,
  2. the Polish Film Institute,
  3. the Polish Filmmakers Association,
  4. the Local Government of the Pomerania Province,
  5. the City of Gdynia,

hereinafter referred to as the “Organisers”,

and Co-organisers and Festival Management.

  1. The Festival is co-organised by:
  1. Telewizja Polska SA,
  2. the National Centre for Culture,
  3. other partners of the Festival, accepted at the request of a member of the Organising Committee, with the consent of the majority of the Organisers.
  1. Each Organiser and Co-organiser shall delegate one representative to the Organising Committee.
  1. The work of the Organising Committee is directed by the Chairperson, who is elected by the members of the Organising Committee by an absolute majority of votes in an open ballot. The Chairperson is appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage at the request of the Organising Committee. If the Chairperson is unable to manage the work of the Organising Committee, his or her powers shall be exercised by a person from the Organising Committee designated by him or her, and in the absence of such a person, by the oldest member of the Organising Committee. In the event of the expiry of the Chairperson’s term of office, the oldest member of the Organising Committee shall convene and chair a meeting of the Organising Committee for the purpose of electing a new Chairperson.
    The responsibilities of the Chairperson of the Organising Committee shall include, in particular:
  1. opening and closing meetings,
  2. supervising the course of discussions,
  3. managing the vote and supervising its proper conduct,
  4. announcing the results of votes.
  1. The Organising Committee’s responsibilities include:
  1. announcing a competition for the position of Artistic Director,
  2. approving nominations for members of the Competition Committee selecting the Artistic Director, chosen by the Festival Programme Council,
  3. approving the composition of the jury panels for the Main Competition, the Perspectives Competition, the Short Film Competition and the Award for a director’s debut or second film, at the request of the Artistic Director,
  4. approving the programme, budget and media patrons of the Festival,
  5. participation in the selection of films for the Main Competition in accordance with the rules set out in Article 7,
  6. approving out-of-competition events within the Festival, including, in particular, special film screenings of particular media significance,
  7. approving the Rules and Regulations of the Festival.
  1. The Organising Committee holds meetings on dates agreed at meetings or in working mode, in person or online via a selected communication platform. The proceedings of the Organising Committee meetings may be recorded with the consent of those present at the meeting.
  1. The Organising Committee makes decisions in the form of resolutions, by an absolute majority of votes. Each member of the Organising Committee shall have one vote.
    In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
  1. Draft resolutions shall be submitted to all members of the Organising Committee by e-mail or in writing.
  1. A resolution may be adopted if at least 50 per cent of the members of the Organising Committee, plus one person, are present at the meeting.
  1. In exceptional circumstances, the Organising Committee may adopt a resolution by circulation outside of a meeting, including by e-mail. Such a resolution shall be valid if at least 50 per cent of the Committee members, plus one person, have participated in the electronic vote within a maximum of 5 working days. The adoption of the resolution is confirmed by the signature of the Chairperson of the Organising Committee.
  1. The Organisers and Co-organisers invite other state, social and private entities, both domestic and foreign, which intend to contribute materially or financially to the preparation and implementation of the Festival, to participate in its organisation.

    § 3.

  1. The Festival’s Honorary Committee consists of:
  1. the Minister of Culture and National Heritage – the Chairperson of the Honorary Committee,
  2. the Governor of the Pomerania Province,
  3. the Mayor of the City of Gdynia,
  4. the President of the Polish Filmmakers Association,
  5. representatives of the Co-organisers,
  6. other important public figures.
  1. The Chairperson of the Honorary Committee requests high-ranking representatives of the State authorities to take patronage over the Festival.
  • § 4.
  1. The Festival is produced by the Pomeranian Film Foundation in Gdynia.
  1. The work related to the preparation and running of the Festival is managed by the Polish Film Festival Management.
  1. The Festival Management consists of:
  1. Director of the Festival,
  2. Artistic Director of the Festival.
  1. The Festival Management is appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage at the request of the Organising Committee.
  1. The Director of the Festival is appointed for a four-year term, while the Artistic Director of the Festival is appointed for a five-year term.
  1. The Organising Committee shall request the Minister of Culture and National Heritage to appoint the Director by way of a resolution passed by a simple majority of votes. The resolution should include the reasons for selecting the candidate.
  1. The Artistic Director is selected through a competition announced by the Organising Committee in accordance with the rules adopted by the Committee and made public.
  1. The competition committee for the Artistic Director consists of 9 members, and its composition is approved by the Organising Committee. The Chairperson of the Programme Council invites 6 members, selected by the Programme Council in accordance with the procedure specified in Article 5 clauses 5-6, to join the Competition Committee responsible for appointing the Artistic Director. These members are chosen from among filmmakers and producers who have previously won Golden, Silver or Sapphire Lions. The remaining 3 members of the Competition Committee are appointed by the Organising Committee.
  1. The remuneration of the Festival Management is determined by the Organising Committee.
  1. Each year, after the Festival has ended, the Director of the Festival shall submit a written report to the Organising Committee. If the report is not accepted, the Committee may request the Minister of Culture and National Heritage to dismiss the Director of the Festival, providing justification for such a decision.
  1. Each year, after the Festival has ended, the Artistic Director submits a written report on his or her activities to the Organising Committee and the Chairperson of the Programme Council. If the Organising Committee does not accept the report, after consulting its decision with the Chairperson of the Programme Council, the Committee may request the Minister of Culture and National Heritage to dismiss the Artistic Director, providing justification.
    10a. In the event that the position of Artistic Director of the Festival remains vacant and it is necessary to ensure the smooth running of the Festival, the Organising Committee may entrust the duties of the Artistic Director of the Festival without the competition referred to in paragraph 6, for a period not longer than the time remaining until the submission of the report referred to in clause 10.
    10b. In the event that the position of Festival Director remains vacant and it is necessary to ensure the smooth running of the Festival, the function of Festival Director shall be performed by a member of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Film Foundation in Gdynia or a person delegated by the Management Board, for a period not longer than the time remaining until the submission of the report referred to in clause 9.
    10c. The duties referred to in clause10a shall be entrusted to a person elected by open ballot by a simple majority of votes.
    10d. The Organising Committee shall submit the resolution entrusting the duties referred to in clause 10a, together with a justification, to the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for approval within 5 days.
  • § 5.
  1. The Festival Programme Council (hereinafter referred to as the “Council”) consists of renowned Polish filmmakers representing various film professions, diverse film aesthetics and different generations. New members are invited to join the Council by the Organising Committee after consulting the Chairperson of the Programme Council. The current composition of the Council is published on the Festival website.
  1. The Festival Programme Council, as an advisory body to the Festival Management and the Organising Committee, provides opinions on the substantive preparations for the Festival.
  1. The Chairperson of the Council shall be elected by its members in an open ballot by a simple majority of votes in accordance with the procedure set out in clauses 5-6 below. The term of office of the Chairperson of the Council shall be three years.
  1. Every year, after the Festival, the Organising Committee invites the winners of the Golden, Silver and Sapphire Lions and the Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award from the current edition of the Festival to join the Programme Council, provided that these individuals are not already members of the Programme Council, with only one person per film eligible for nomination. A person who acquires the right to become a member of the Programme Council is required to confirm their membership of the Programme Council in writing within 30 days of acquiring that right. Failure to provide such confirmation will result in the person losing their right to be a member of the Programme Council.
  1. The Programme Council makes decisions in the form of resolutions by open vote, by an absolute majority of votes at Council meetings convened by the Chair of the Council. Each member of the Council has one vote.
  1. The Programme Council holds meetings on dates agreed upon during meetings or in working mode, either in person or online via a selected communication platform. The proceedings of the Programme Council meetings may be recorded with the consent of those present at the meeting.
  1. In exceptional circumstances, the Programme Council may adopt a resolution by circulation, electronically, outside of a meeting. Such a resolution shall be valid if at least half of the Council members took part in the vote within a maximum of 5 working days.
  1. The Programme Council is responsible for:
  1. selecting 6 members of the Competition Committee responsible for appointing the Artistic Director,
  2. proposing artistic events to be included in the Festival programme,
  3. proposing candidates for the Platinum Lions award for lifetime achievement, in consultation with the Polish Filmmakers Association,
  4. proposing candidates for the Main Competition Jury and the Perspectives Competition Jury,
  5. assistance in promoting the Festival and shaping its image,
  6. submitting requests and proposals concerning the organisation of the Festival,
  7. submitting candidates to the Selection Board and the Qualification Team.
  1. Each member of the Programme Council is required to declare, within 110 days in 2025 and within 30 days in each subsequent year, from the beginning of the new calendar year, via e-mail: biuro@festiwalgdynia.pl or in writing to the following address: Pomorska Fundacja Filmowa w Gdyni, 81-372 Gdynia, Pl. Grunwaldzki 2, their continued willingness to participate in the work of the Council. It is also permissible to obtain declarations from Council members regarding their continued membership in the Council using ICT tools (web surveys, etc.). Failure to confirm willingness to participate in the Council’s work is tantamount to resignation from participation in its work and results in the removal of such a person from the list of Programme Council members.
  1. The decision to withdraw from further participation in the Council’s work may also be communicated at any other time, including by e-mail: biuro@festiwalgdynia.pl or in writing to the following address: Pomorska Fundacja Filmowa w Gdyni,
    81-372 Gdynia, Pl. Grunwaldzki 2.
  1. The Festival Office is responsible for verifying the current list of Programme Council members.
  1. Each member of the Programme Council is obliged to inform the Festival Office of any change of e-mail address or telephone number within 30 days of such change. In the absence of information about a change in contact details, sending correspondence to the previously known e-mail address or telephone number and not receiving a reply shall be deemed effective. Failure to respond in such a case shall be tantamount to resignation from participation in the work of the Programme Council and shall result in the removal of such person from the list of members of the Programme Council.
  1. The Programme Council may elect a Presidium of the Programme Council from among its members, consisting of a maximum of 4 members. The Presidium of the Programme Council is elected for a term of one year, i.e. 12 months after the elections, which cannot take place later than 110 days in 2025, and in each subsequent year within 30 days of the start of the new calendar year.
  1. The Presidium shall be obliged to cooperate with the Chairperson of the Programme Council, in particular with regard to the performance of the duties specified in Article 5 clause 7.
  1. Elections to the Presidium of the Council may be conducted using ICT tools or at a Council meeting. The members of the Presidium of the Council shall be elected by the members of the Council by a simple majority in an open ballot, in accordance with the rules set out in clauses 5-6.
  1. The Chairperson of the Council shall be obliged to inform the Organising Committee of the composition of the Presidium for a given year during its term of office and of any changes in the membership of the Presidium.
  • § 6.
  1. The Festival programme comprises:
  1. the Main Competition presenting feature-length films,
  2. the Perspectives Competition presenting feature-length films,
  3. the Short Film Competition presenting narrative shorts and graduation films by film school students, as well as other short feature films,
  4. other out-of-competition film sections and accompanying events proposed by the Festival Management and approved by the Organising Committee.
  1. The Artistic Director of the Festival proposes the composition of the jury panels for the Main Competition (maximum 7 persons), the Perspectives Competition (3 persons), the Directing Debut or Second Film Award (3 persons) and the Short Film Competition (3 persons), which is approved by the Organising Committee. Members of the jury panels may be filmmakers and representatives of film circles from Poland and abroad.
  1. The Artistic Director of the Festival is obliged to organise within the framework of the Festival a discussion aimed at assessing the current state of Polish cinema and the attitudes, themes and aesthetics that define its shape.
  1. The Artistic Director of the Festival is obliged to create within the framework of the Festival a platform for filmmakers to meet, providing conditions for discussion on key topics related to Polish cinematography.
  1. The Festival Management invites interested parties to organise meetings and seminars, screenings, exhibitions and other events promoting the development of Polish film culture as part of the Festival.
  1. The Festival Management, in consultation with the Organising Committee, shall decide on the dates and format of the award ceremonies for the Main Competition, the Perspectives Competition and the Short Film Competition.
  • § 7.
  1. A maximum of 16 films qualify for the Main Competition.
  1. A maximum of 12 films for the Main Competition are selected by the Artistic Director, who may appoint a Selection Team as an advisory body.
  1. The Selection Team may consist of up to 5 persons.
  1. The list of films selected by the Artistic Director is final. Its composition shall be made public immediately after it has been received by the Organising Committee, together with the films entered in the Main Competition in accordance with clause 5.
  1. The Organising Committee may add a maximum of 4 films to the Main Competition.
  1. A maximum of 8 films qualify for the Perspectives Competition.
  1. The selection of films for the Perspectives Competition is made by the Artistic Director from among the titles submitted to the festival and not qualified for the Main Competition. The decision may be supported by a recommendation from the Organising Committee.
  1. The selection of films for the Short Film Competition is made by the Artistic Director. The decision may be supported by a recommendation from the Qualification Team appointed by the Artistic Director, consisting of a maximum of 3 persons.
  • § 8.
  1. The Schedule of Works on the 51st PFF is attached to these Rules and Regulations. Its key point is the selection of competition films by the Artistic Director (item 4 of the Schedule).
  1. In the event of failure by the Artistic Director to perform the task described in Article 8(1) and in the event of failure by the Programme Council to perform Article 5(8)(a) within the time limit specified in the Schedule, these tasks shall be performed by the Organising Committee responsible for organising the Festival.
  • § 9.
  1. Eligible for submission to the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition are Polish feature-length films produced between 1st September 2025 and 30 August 2026, constituting a separate artistic whole, with a minimum screening time of 70 minutes, meeting the technical and artistic conditions required for distribution in cinemas. Films should be prepared for projection on DCP media. In exceptional circumstances, films produced in the previous selection year may be admitted to the selection process, provided that they have not undergone the selection process or have been withdrawn from it at an early stage due to the impossibility of submitting the film for selection because it was not completed on time or due to other justified circumstances.
  1. Eligible for submission to the Short Film Competition are Polish short films produced between 1st September 2025 and 30th August 2026. Films may be prepared for screening on the following media: DCP (preferred), ProRes files, DNxHD files.
  1. Films meeting at least one of the following conditions may be admitted to the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition selection:
  1. the leading producer is a Polish producer who contributes at least 51 per cent to the film budget and holds at least 51 per cent of the economic copyright to the film,
  2. the film director is a Polish citizen, and the film co-producer is an entity based in the Republic of Poland, which contributes at least 20 per cent to the film budget and holds at least 20 per cent of the economic copyright to the film,
  3. the original language version of the film is in Polish.
  1. Only films submitted within the deadline and in accordance with the rules set out in these Rules and Regulations, the Rules for Submitting Films to the Festival and the special Technical Appendix – two documents approved annually by the Organising Committee at the request of the Festival Director – will be eligible for competition. Polish-language films submitted to the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition must have English subtitles on the screening copy. If the dialogue track includes languages other than Polish, the submitter is obliged to cover the costs of translation and display of dialogue subtitles in Polish and English.
  1. The producers of films selected for the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition assume full legal and financial responsibility for them. This also means that they cannot withdraw them from the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition after 31st July 2026. Withdrawal after this date shall be deemed ineffective and shall have no legal effect on the Festival.
  • § 10.
  1. The statutory awards in the Main Competition are granted by the Main Competition Jury.
  1. The Festival Management may participate in the deliberations of the Main Competition Jury without the right to vote.
  1. The Main Competition Jury grants awards – the “Golden Lions” Grand Prize of the Polish Film Festival and the “Silver Lions” Award of the Polish Film Festival – taking into account the professional level of production and artistic value of the film.
  1. The Main Competition Jury grants individual awards to filmmakers, taking into account the following criteria:
  1. the creator’s outstanding achievements in the film,
  2. the highest level of professionalism,
  3. the complexity and difficulty level of the artistic task,
  4. the precision and power of the means of expression used.
  1. The awards in the Perspectives Competition are granted by the Perspectives Competition Jury.
  1. The award for directing debut or second film is granted by the Directing Debut or Second Film Award Jury to one of the first and second films presented in the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition.
  1. The Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award, recognising courage in form and content, is presented by the Artistic Director to one of the films presented in the Main Competition and the Perspectives Competition.
  1. ds in the Short Film Competition are granted by the Short Film Competition Jury.
  • § 11.
  1. The following statutory awards* are established for the Main Competition:
  1. The “Golden Lions” Grand Prize of the Polish Film Festival and PLN 300,000 awarded to the film’s producer and director (PLN 200,000 for the director and PLN 100,000 for the producer). In addition, the leading producer of the film that received the “Golden Lions” Grand Prize of the Polish Film Festival is entitled to a subsidy from the Polish Film Institute for the development of the next film in the amount of PLN 200,000 or PLN 250,000 for a historical film.
  2. The “Silver Lions” Award of the Polish Film Festival and PLN 150,000 presented to the film’s producer and director (PLN 100,000 for the director, PLN 50,000 for the producer). In addition, the leading producer of the film which received the “Silver Lions” Award of the Polish Film Festival, is entitled to a subsidy from the Polish Film Institute for the development of the next film in the amount of PLN 200,000.
  1. The following individual awards* are established in the Main Competition for filmmakers for:
  1. directing: PLN 30,000,
  2. screenplay: PLN 25,000,
  3. actress in a leading role: PLN 15,000,
  4. actor in a leading role: PLN 15,000,
  5. professional acting debut: PLN 15,000,
  6. cinematography: PLN 15,000,
  7. music: PLN 15,000,
  8. art direction: PLN 15,000,
  9. actress in a supporting role: PLN 15,000,
  10. actor in a supporting role: PLN 15,000,
  11. sound: PLN 15,000,
  12. film editing: PLN 15,000,
  13. costume design: PLN 15,000,
  14. make-up: PLN 15,000.
  1. Individual awards in the Main Competition should primarily take into account the professionalism and significance of the contribution of individual creators to the final form of the film.
  1. The following awards* are established in the Perspectives Competition:
  1. The “Sapphire Lions” Award of the Polish Film Festival and PLN 50,000 presented to the producer and director (PLN 30,000 for the director, PLN 20,000 for the producer).
  2. The Award for outstanding artistic contribution and PLN 15,000 will be presented to a filmmaker (a representative of a film profession other than director or producer) whose contribution to the final form of the film is deemed exceptional by the jury.
  1. The following cross-section awards* are established for films from both competitions presenting feature-length films, in accordance with Article 10, clauses 6 and 7, respectively:
  1. the Award for directing debut or second film: PLN 15,000,
  2. the Andrzej Żuławski Golden Claw Award and PLN 30,000 presented to the film’s producer and director (PLN 20,000 for the director, PLN 10,000 for the producer).
  1. The following awards* are established for the Short Film Competition:
  1. best film award: PLN 15,000,
  2. special award: PLN 10,000
  3. special mention: PLN 5,000.
  1. The Festival Organising Committee may present the PFF Platinum Lions Award to a filmmaker for their lifetime achievement. The winner of the award is proposed by the Programme Council in consultation with the Polish Filmmakers Association. The winner receives a statuette and PLN 30,000.
  1. Taking into account the genre and thematic diversity of the films in competition, the Jury may expand the scope of the award categories, but this should not result in an increase in the total amount allocated for the statutory awards. In exceptional cases, the Jury may decide not to give the award in any of the categories listed, with the exception of the awards specified in Article 11 clause 1. a) and b) and in Article 11. clause 4. a).
  1. The Organising Committee may decide to increase the amounts of the statutory awards.
  2. The Audience Award in the Main Competition for the film director is set at PLN 15,000, awarded by Festival viewers through voting in Festival cinemas.

 

* The amounts given are gross amounts.

 

  • § 12.
  1. Films for participation in the Festival’s Main Competition, the Perspectives Competition and the Short Film Competition are submitted by their producers. Films for the Short Film Competition may also be submitted by film schools.
  1. Films are submitted in accordance with the Rules for Submitting Films to the Festival, announced each year by the Festival Management.
  1. Submission of an entry to the Festival constitutes acceptance of these Rules and Regulations and the Rules for Submitting Films to the Festival.

 

SCHEDULE OF WORKS
ON THE 51ST POLISH FILM FESTIVAL

 

  1. Setting the date for the 51st PFF by the Organising Committee: until 30th December 2025.
  1. Approving the Rules and Regulations of the 51st PFF by the Organising Committee: until 15th March 2026.
  1. Submission of films for the Main Competition, Perspectives Competition and Short Film Competition: until 31st May 2026.
  1. Completion of film selection for the Main Competition and Short Film Competition: until 15th July 2026.
  1. Completion of film selection for the Perspectives Competition and approval of the programme for the 51st PFF by the Organising Committee: until 31st July 2026.
  1. Selection of jury panels for the Main Competition, the Perspectives Competition, the Award for directing debut or second film, and the Short Film Competition: until 20th August 2026.
  1. Opening of the 51st PFF: 21st September 2026.
  1. Closing of the 51st PFF: 26th September 2026.
  1. Summary of the 51st PFF by the Organising Committee: until 30th November 2026.

 

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