Poland

Poland has grown in popularity as a filming location, boosted by streamlining its 30% cash rebate for productions including features, TV series and documentaries, which was introduced in 2019. All big-ticket funding is administered via the Polish Film Institute.

Executive producer Richard Wright filmed the Castille Landon-directed fight drama Perfect Addiction in Poland in April and May 2022 for Germany’s Constantin Films. No stranger to mounting shoots in Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania, Wright says the good value of the dollar makes Poland an affordable production cost centre, with the high level of skill among local crews a bonus. 

“We were able to hire almost completely within Poland,” he says. “We were happy with the quality of the Polish crew, especially the production design team, director of photography and costume designer. The camera and lighting departments were especially great.”

Perfect Addiction secured the rebate (which must be applied for in Polish) from the Polish Film Institute. Despite speaking several languages, Wright warns Polish can prove tricky. “I found myself pulling up Google Translate on my phone 10 times a day. Simple things like getting a ticket from a parking machine, getting gas for your car or navigating a grocery store can take on a whole new dimension,” he notes.

Poland offers a variety of landscapes, from sandy beaches in the north to rocky mountains in the south, and from bustling cities to wild, primeval nature. Well known for its greenery, around 30% of the country is covered by forest.

Warsaw was rebuilt after the Second World War, making for an interesting downtown area. It includes the ‘new-old’ Warsaw Castle and colourful old town, which contrasts Soviet-era buildings such as the Palace of Culture and Science with more contemporary architecture, including the Zlote Tarasy shopping centre.

The Polish Film Institute has an extensive locations database, covering everything from university buildings to mine shafts in the southern city of Zabrze. 

Canada-Poland co-production Irena’s Vow, directed by Louise Archambault, shot from April to May 2022 in Lublin, Warsaw, Modlin and Konstancin-Jeziorna. The film stars Sophie Nélisse and Dougray Scott alongside Polish actors Andrzej Seweryn, Eliza Rycembel, Tomasz Tyndyk and Aleksandar Milicevic.

Jerzy Skolimowski’s Oscar-nominated EO shot largely in Poland. Some key Polish crew had worked with the director before, among them composer Pawel Mykietyn, editor Agnieszka Glinska and sound designer Radoslaw Ochnio. “The rest of the crew was new and mostly very young, and a source of positive energy on set,” says co-writer/producer Ewa Piaskowska. 

A Poland-Italy co-production, EO received support from the Polish Film Institute, including its cash rebate incentive, and backing from two regional funds — Podkarpacki Regionalny Fundusz Filmowy and Warminsko-Mazurski Fundusz Filmowy — as well as from Wroclaw city cultural zone Strefa Kultury.

First person to contact: Agnieszka Szczerbiak, Polish Film Institute: agnieszka.szczerbiak@pisf.pl

Poland offers a wide variety of landscapes, from sandy beaches in the north to rocky mountains in the south, from bustling cities to wild and primeval nature. Forests cover about 30% of Polish territory, which left the producers of The Woods spoilt for choice when picking a backdrop for their drama.

Warsaw was rebuilt after the Second World War, making for an unusual mix of architecture in the downtown area. It includes the ‘new-old’ Royal Castle in Warsaw and a colourful old town, which contrasts with Soviet-era buildings such as the Palace of Culture and Science and the modern architecture of Zlote Tarasy shopping centre.

The Polish Film Institute has an extensive locations database that covers everything from university buildings to mine shafts in the southern city of Zabrze.

Crews are flexible, hardworking and generally speak English. International producers are required to have a Polish co-producer and Polish creative elements to access the cashback system distributed by the Polish Film Institute. 

The main studios are found in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Krakow. They include ATM, which is spread across two sites with 10 state-of-the-art soundstages, the largest being 1,500 square metres. Alvernia Studios offers two soundstages that include a 3D blue screen and artificial skydome. All are close to the German border, within easy reach by air or road.

Poland is situated at the very centre of Europe and can be reached by air from every major European city in two to three hours. It also has the fourth-largest road network in Europe.

Poland is a member of the European Union and participates in the Schengen Agreement. Its currency is the zloty. 

Poland is located at the very heart of Europe and has borders with seven countries: Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. It can be reached by air from every major city in Europe in two to three hours and boasts excellent road and rail networks.