Kino Mania recommends the following links to resources on Polish films and cinema of Poland in general (mostly in English)
Polish Cinema Online
An EU-funded streaming platform entirely devoted to Polish films. This impressive film library with a section for children is available in English. 35mm.online boasts over 160 feature films, 70 documentaries, 450 animated films and more than 3000 episodes of the Polish Film Chronicle from 1945-1994.
Film Festivals in Poland
Festival of Film Debuts in Koszalin
A gala focused Polish cinema taking place nearby the Polish seaside. The likes of Agnieszka Holland and Krzysztof Kieślowski have come through here to showcase their earlier works. Knowledge of Polish is a must to fully enjoy one of the most local festivals in Poland (website in Polish only).
The most prestigious film competition in Poland held once in Gdansk until 1991, and since then, in the neighbouring city of Gdynia. Every year, usually in September, the best domestic features compete for the Golden Lion for Best Film on the Baltic Sea coast.
International Festival of Independent Cinema – Mastercard OFF CAMERA
Polish films often get the lion share in this event focused on indie cinema from all over the word. Held annually in Krakow, this festival sports a Polish Feature Films Competition which is one of the strong suits in the program.
Another springtime favorite in Krakow since 1961. This event usually kicks off about one month after the International Festival of Independent Cinema and is the right cinematic feast to look at for the viewers interested in Polish documentary and short films.
Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival
A two-sided festival hosted in Krakow that focuses on the output of film and art schools, as well as on animated film, tout court. Whilst film students compete for a Golden Dinosaur since 1994, Etudia&Anima remains a noteworthy talking shop for animation artists and lovers from all around the globe.
Film Schools in Poland
One of the most prestigious film academies in the world, established in 1948 and situated in the city of Łódź, central Poland. Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polański, Jerzy Skolimowski and Krzysztof Kieślowski who are just some of the cinematic maestros who passed through here.
Established in 2002, this private academy offers a combination of education educational activities and production, the latter thanks to a studio that produced over over 100 documentaries, short features directed by its graduates. The school can rely on an impressive roster of tutors in filmmaking from Poland and abroad.
More About Polish films
A list of ten cinematic masterstrokes produced in Poland carefully compiled online by the British Film Institute (BFI). There’s no accounting for taste but some of the edgiest cineastes from Poland, including Polish émigrés Andrzej Żuławski, Walerian Borowczyk and Jerzy Skolimowski, did not earn a spot in the lineup.
Co-funded by the European Union, Cineuropa is the most comprehensive online resource dedicated to the cinema from the Old Continent. The news, reviews and interviews are published in 4 languages, including English. This website offers quality media coverage around the cinematography of Poland as well.
A cultural portal sponsored by the Ministry of Culture in Poland through the intermediary of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. This multilingual website has been popularizing the work of Polish artists since 2001 and issued, among others, a Foreigner’s Guide to Polish Cinema.
Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej
The PISF (Polish Film Institute) is a state-run legal entity established in 2005 to support and promote the development of cinematography in Poland. The PISF also supports the major film events that take place in Poland including the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
Polish Film Posters
The most comprehensive web resource on Polish film posters. It contains a database featuring over 7.000 titles with precious information about rare and valuable posters, as well as a ‘want list’ from website author. Some of the posters featured on the website are available for sale or exchange by individual enquiry.
The exhibition space is located on the grounds of a former royal palace near Warsaw. The original core of the collection, including more than 60.000 designs from Poland and abroad, is made of around 500 lucky finds that survived the destruction of Poland’s capital city during WWII. Due to modernisation works, the museum cannot be visited at the moment.
Mr. Krzysztof Dydo has been collecting Polish and foreign posters, including placards from the 60’s. His gallery and the venue run by his daughter Natalia, both situated in Krakow, are good addresses to get acquainted with the best creations of the Polish Poster School.