Following its many-years film tradition, Łódź perceives the film production in the area of the City and its region as one of major ways of promoting its potential. Therefore in 2007 the City of Łódź introduced Łódź Film Fund as a tool for supporting film production which is both to encourage audiovisual undertakings in Łódź and to provide financing, which might be in many cases quite significant for finalizing a project.
The Łódź Film Fund is the oldest and one of the biggest regional film fund in Poland. The Fund supports the production of films that are connected—in their theme or during their production process—with the City of Łódź and the Łódź region. So far, it has provided financial support to 69 productions for the total amount of almost PLN 8,000,000. The films co-financed by the Fund include the Academy Award winning Ida directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, the Oscar-nominated In Darkness directed by Agnieszka Holland and Afterimage - the last film directed by Andrzej Wajda.
The most essential aim of the competition is to ensure co-funding for projects of a high artistic value. However, the City is also ready to give support for productions which are more focused on commercial success.
Call for applications is announced once a year and the general rules of the Fund are:
- Łódź Film Fund supports feature films (full length, at least 70 min.), documentaries and animations
- The Fund can finance up to 50% of the film’s budget (in case of international coproductions – up to 50% of the Polish budget)
- Production must spend at least 150% of the funding in the Łódź region (only production or post-production expenses are eligible)
- Main selection criteria: project's artistic value and its significance to Łódź and the surrounding region (by topic of the project or engagement of local talents, professionals, companies or locations), commercial/festival potential is also being assessed.
- Both Polish and international coproductions can apply for ŁFF funds. All the documents have to be submitted in Polish or have Polish translations.
Since 2015/2016 edition the Fund has been operating within EC1 Łódź - The City of Culture on co-production terms. The total gross amount of PLN 1,500,000 (app. 360 000 euros) for co-production contribution has been earmarked in current edition.
Łódź Film Fund is operated by Łódź Film Commission which provides comprehensive and professional assistance in searching for partners, locations, talents, companies or equipment to producers of feature films, documentaries and animations, as well as television programmes, commercials, video clips, corporate films, computer games or any other form of audiovisual production.
Łódź Film Commission is a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), Cine-regio, section of regional film funds in the Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber Of Commerce and cooperates closely with Film Commission Poland.
Read more
CineRegio representative - Mrs. Monika Glowacka
Monika Głowacka - Łódź Film Commissioner/ Head of Łódź Film Commission Department in EC1 Łódź – the City of Culture institution.
Associated with Łódź Film Commission since the day it was formed in 2009.
She was responsible for the creation of Film Unit (in the structures of Department Of Culture in the Łódź City Council), an entity which operates in accordance with film industry standards. She represents Łódź Film Commission in Associaton of Film Commissioners International (since 2009) and in regional film funds section in Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to her efforts, Łódź and Łódzkie region reported an increase in the number of shooting days and audiovisual projects by 300%. She has long-term experience in organizing large cultural events both in Poland and abroad and successfully gains external funds for Łódź Film Commission activities.
Cine-Regio representative - Mr. Blazej Moder
Błażej Moder is a Managing Director at EC-1 Lodz City of Culture responsible for company's image, management and operations. Oversees budgeting, hiring, organizing cultural activity and day-to-day management.
EC-1 Lodz is a cultural institution established by the City of Lodz and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Located in revitalized XIX century power plant the institution is responsible for organizing and opening three cultural centres: the National Centre for Film Arts, the Centre for Science and the Technique and the Centre for Comics Art and Interactive Narration. This endeavor is worth 100 million EURO and is one of the biggest cultural projects currently realized in Poland. Revitalization of EC-1 is a part of the New Center of Lodz Program. Before that for more than three years Błażej Moder was the Director of the New Center of Lodz Authority where he was responsible for coordination, implementation and development of the largest urban development program in Central Europe – the New Center of Lodz.
Błażej Moder is a PhD candidate in Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics and holds MA in International Relations and Political Studies from the University of Lodz. He was featured as a European Young Leader in 2014. Błażej Moder is a member of the Board of Directors at Civil Development Forum – the largest libertarian think-tank based in. He is also a member of the Mont Pelerin Society and Society of Polish Economists.
Contact
Łódź Film Fund
Łódź Film Commission
EC1 Łódź – The City of Culture
Ul. Targowa 1/3
90-022 Łódź, POLAND
Tel: +48 42 600 61 33
lfc@ec1lodz.pl
www.lodzfilmcommission.pl