Centralisation of Poland's film industry : a blow to the freedom of the arts

As the Re-Stalinization of the Polish cinema film-makers to denote the end of the most recent projects of the Minister of culture and Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Glinski. With a stroke of the PiS politician wants to unify the for over 60 years, well-functioning film industry and all state-owned companies. It is a matter of more effective Management of the financial, spatial and personnel resources and lower administrative costs, it is called officially.

To the new Institution, the main production company for feature films and documentaries, one for animation and Short films, as well as a six-state production companies, the so-called film groups. In 1955 arose, they were unique in the Soviet bloc. In addition to a few independent companies were responsible for the lion's share of the Polish film production, conducted independently in their shops, often developed a characteristic style and were not directed rarely of outstanding Directors such as Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, or Krzysztof Zanussi. In spite of the control of the party and the censorship of the Polish cinematography was in this way, a total of largely independent, until today. The filmmakers enjoyed respect even among the rulers.

warning-centralised Moloch

Now the movie groups should occur for the first time as a supplicant, but in a parent, authorising institution that decides on both the content as well as Finance and Administration. The unified company main to be the point of contact for high-budgeted foreign co-productions.

The implementation of the reform project is already announced for March, and so far, neither the Name nor the leadership of the new Institution was announced. The Minister of culture emphasized, the company can annually convert up to 100 million zlotys (EUR 23 million) – making it as a business partner for foreign producers attractive.

the Chairman of The Polish film Association, Jacek Bromski, warns that the centralist, almost uncontrollable Juggernaut. The film-maker Agnieszka Holland, Chairman of the European film Academy, accuses the Minister to act without consultation with the industry. In fact, the Initiative was kept secret for a long time and only a day after Christmas day be made public.

The state wants to know the control

no one from the film scene. Also seems strange that the Polish film industry should now be "reformed", in times of great international successes. 2018 Pawel Pawlikowskis "Cold war" received the European film award and four other awards of the European Film Academy; in Cannes, Pawlikowski won the Palme for best Director. At the Berlin film festival the Grand prize of the Jury went to "Twarz" (The mask) by Malgorzata Szumowska (German Start-up: 14. 3.), and Olga Chajdas debut film "Nina" was honored at the film festival Rotterdam with the main prize. Also on the Oscar Shortlists for the two Polish films are not to forget the huge success of "Kler". Wojciech Smarzowskis Drama about paedophile priests, and other crimes in the Catholic Church reached in Poland a fabulous 5.2 million viewers.

the Minister of culture Is with all of this, not satisfied? The claimed synergy effects will depend, in truth, against the artistic and thematic independence of the Polish film. The state wants to control, wants more entertainment films with pseudo-Patriotic motives for a mass audience, and probably also a clear soft position for the past three years of the PiS party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski desired movie, of his tragically deceased twin brother and former President Lech Kaczynski put a monument. There is talk of a participation of Hollywood and from Mel Gibson in the main role.

An already proven model of government

are Marginalized, and also launched in 2005, the Polish film Institute, which is under the supervision of the state, film funding, however, largely independently would be with the new structure. Now the Central instance to decide. It is as if the media Board Berlin-Brandenburg would have to have its funding decisions from a parent's point of allow.

the politics of history of Political struggle for Polish war Museum

the "hostile Takeover" of the film groups in PiS times already-proven model. Also in theatres, museums, art and literary institutions, numerous leadership exchanges were completed, in spite of energetic protests from the cultural world. The criticism was too loud, they called a parent body, has the last word. Actually, the industry is hoping for sanity on the part of the policy, with a view to the current national and international successes of Polish film. But it looks more like the Polish Mosfilm – a centralized state cinema, with the relationships of Dependence that existed in the 50s and 60s in the Soviet Union.