International Co-productions

The Application Process Guide

• The producer can apply for no more than two projects during one application period (in the case of documentaries or animated films, no more than three)
• An eligible application must contain every single piece of accompanying information that is requested (script, director’s explication, synopsis, budget, estimated production costs, script agreement, etc.)
• Important: The applicant must show (through letter of intent, deal memorandum or co-production agreement) the sources of the rest of the funding (apart from the grant requested from the Institute)
• The process of reviewing the project takes 90 days
• A final decision is made by the General Director, taking into account the opinions of appointed experts
• The decision is valid for six months. The decision can be extended up to a maximum of six more months
• During this period, the producer must conclude an agreement with PFI (having completed the budget and signed the remaining production agreements)
• In case the film makes a profit, reimbursement is required (but only in the first three years after the premiere)

Focus on international co-productions - two means of support

 

"Regular" co-production

• The project in general must follow the criteria of the European Convention on Co-production
• Like domestic projects, co-production projects are evaluated on their artistic potential and must compete against them (the same funding source)
• The maximum subsidy for a full-length feature film is set at 4 million PLN (1.03 million euro) or no more than 50% of the total amount of funding is to be provided by the Polish co-producer
• A minimum of 80% of the subsidy must be spent in Poland

Support for the film industry in Poland ("minority" co-production)

• The goal is to attract foreign producers to make films in Poland and participate in international co-productions
• Only Polish co-producers may apply
• Requirements
  -- Must be a full-length film
  -- The Polish producer is not the lead producer, and does not only provide services
  -- The PFI subsidy is used for that part of the project produced in Poland.

"Minority" co-productions are understood as follows:

• In the case of dual co-productions, the Polish contribution is below 20% of the total budget
• In the case of multiple co-productions, the Polish contribution is below 10% of the total budget
• In cases in which the Polish and foreign producers conclude a contract concerning the co-production
• In cases in which there are no Polish representatives in the group comprising the director, screenwriter, and actor in a leading role, but there are Polish representatives in supporting positions such as editing, photography, music, etc.
• In cases in which the executive producer is not Polish

Artistic criteria and production values are taken into consideration (shooting in Poland, hiring Polish talent, or using Polish postproduction facilities).

 

For a Polish co-producer with a European feature film, the maximum subsidy is 1.5 million PLN (390,000 euros), which can be more than 30% of the total budget, and no more than 50% of the Polish financing.

 

For a Polish co-producer with a non-European feature film, the maximum.subsidy is 1.2 million PLN (311,000 euros), which can be no more than 30% of the total budget, and no more than 50% of the Polish financing.

 

The decision-making process:

 

 

More information:

 

Kinga Gałuszka

Tel. +48 22 42 10 386

Mail: kinga.galuszka@pisf.pl

 

Robert Baliński

Tel. +48 22 42 10 386

Mail: robert.balinski@pisf.pl

 

Edited by Patricia Koza