For the first time in history during this year’s Film Festival in Cannes, Poland had its own stand. The Polish National Cinema Stand was located on the prestigious rue Croisette, 50 meters from the red carpet.  The participants managed to sign many exiting co-production agreements and find world distributors for some of the best recent Polish films.

Polskie stoisko na festiwalu w Cannes

The Polish Film Institute was present in Cannes together with The Association of Polish Filmmakers, Polish Television (TVP), independent producers and Salans Law Firm.  It was the first time in the history of the Festival that the Polish film industry was so broadly represented.  In a luxurious office with a direct view of the Festival Palace from the terrace, meetings with the most important representatives of the Polish film industry took place.  Many visitors dropped by and it was here that many important meetings were held and business talks conducted.  Andrzej Wajda, guest of honour of the Festival whose film “Canal” was screened, gave an interview.  On the terrace he met the Ukrainian President’s wife, Katarina Juszczenko, to discuss film projects between the two countries.

Andrzej Wajda i Katarina Juszczenko na polskim stoisku

Not only guests were impressed but so were the Stand co-organisers as well.  Justyna Pawlak from Gremi Film Production felt that this year’s Festival was more beneficial for the company than had been expected.  “We found an international selling agent for Marek Gajczak’s “Under the Surface” and we realised that Janusz Kamiński’s “Hania” was being awaited with excitement by international distributors,” she said.  “Gremi Film Production received four serious proposals concerning American and British co-productions that should go ahead in 2008.”  The first film is produced by the Zanuck Brothers, the second one is a New York story told by a young director called Guy Moshe, the third is a British romantic comedy partly shot in Poland, and the forth is a fascinating film under the working title “Save the Planet”.  Other producers utilized the Polish National Cinema Stand as well.  Piotr Dzięcioł from Opus Films had several meetings with producers and found some interested in Sławomir Fabicki’s new project.  He also met a Dutch producer interested in Marcin Wrona’s film “Tamagotchi”.

Agnieszka Odorowicz - dyrektor PISF, Andrzej Urbański - prezes TVP i Andrzej Wajda

Marek Nowowiejski from Bow & Axe Entertainment felt that the Polish presence at the Cannes Film Festival was the most successful in years. “We could at last invite some people and have quiet meetings.  You could see this year that producers were more interested in cooperation in general.” Nowowiejski was asked to participate in a German-Australian-British co-production and found a co-producer for his new documentary and Polish feature film.  “The agreements have not been singed yet, so I don’t want to disclose the details.”

Polskie stoisko na festiwalu w Cannes

A beach reception which boasted 700 people from all over the world was the best ending to the Polish Day at the Cannes Film Festival 2007.  “Now, when the Festival is over, it’s time to review everything: read the screenplays, analyze the offers and choose one or maybe two films that will be co-produced,” said Justyna Pawlak.  “I think that a joint stand of the Polish Film Institute and other producers was a perfect idea.  I also heard rumours that the Polish reception in Cannes was the best event on that particular day.”

Polskie przyjęcie na canneńskiej plaży

Polskie stoisko na festiwalu w Cannes

Daniel Baur, Justyna Pawlak, Oliver Simon, Grzegorz Hajdarowicz