FNE at REGIOFUND 2017: FNE Interviews Michał Kwieciński
KATOWICE: FNE spoke with producer Michał Kwieciński who received the Border Gate Award at the International Co-Production Forum Regiofund, that took place in Katowice from 4 to 7 October 2017. The award ceremony was followed by a special screening of Panic Attack, directed by Pawel Maslona. a new film produced by Kwieciński’s company Akson Studio.
FNE: What does this award mean to you?
Michał Kwieciński: I am very touched and delighted, because it was the first time I got this kind of award. It is dedicated to me personally, not me as a company, as a producer, as Akson Studio and so on, this is a small difference, but very important for me. This is not a reward for the productions, which I have about 120, that is the reward for the producer.
FNE: What trends do you see in Polish film industry?
Michał Kwieciński: This year the Gdynia Film Festival proved that the young generation of directors and creators is coming, because 8 out of 14 films in the Main Competition were the debut films. The young generation of filmmakers is attacking our cinematography very strongly. In fact I saw all these debutant films and I think that the main prize for the debutant Potr Domalewski for Silent Night or films such as Panic Attack or Tower. A Bright Day, are very interesting proposals and it seems to me that in a few years our cinematography will belong to the younger generation, which is actually born at this time.
FNE: Are international co-productions the future of European film industry?
Michał Kwieciński: I think so, provided we come to some mutual self-respect. My main problem with co-production, especially with European co-productions is that most people think only about the financial side of the project, and not about the factual content. I hope this will change soon. That is how the so-called “Europuddings” appear. These are movies, where the influence of the many, often extremely different interests of the producers, has an impact on the final shape of the film. I am totally against this style of work, but of course I think we cannot generalize. There are many international co-productions that have deep sense, but there are so many films, that are created just to make the budget come together and not in order to create an important project.
FNE: What are your next plans?
My personal plans are very broad, for 3 years ahead. Currently I am making a Christmas movie called "Love is everywhere". This sounds banal, but the film is not banal at all. After that, I want to make a Bollywood-Polish movie, or even Eurobollywood this time. It will be based on the story of Miss India, arriving to Poland in the 70’s, because she falls in love with a Polish man. This story is authentic and they are living in Szczecin today. She was a princess, a Hindu princess who lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Szczecin for many years in the period of socialism. The last thing I am working on is an adaptation of Filip by Tyrmand, I have already bought the rights from the son of Mr. Tyrmand and I want this film to be completed in 2 years. This is a very ambitious production that no one expected me to make, but I'm dreaming about it, so I hope it will work out.
These are my plans, while Akson Studio, where my son works now, has five feature films planned with young artists. I also produce many TV series and have plans for 4 new shows, which I hope will be completed in 4 or 3 years. A lot is going on and nowadays, I also have this dream that for a while I’ll be more a director, than a producer.
FILM NEW EUROPE CEI AV Innovation Days at International Co-production Forum Regiofund 5-7 October 2017
KATOWICE, POLAND: Film New Europe the number one networking platform for film professionals in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics, and the International Co-production Forum Regiofund have teamed up to present a series of panels, case studies and networking about how innovation is shaping the future of the audiovisual industry in Europe.
The FNE CEI Innovation Days will that place within the frames of the first ever International Co-production Forum Regiofund in Katowice. On 5 October European and Regional industry innovators from financiers, venture capital investors to expert virtual reality, 360 video and post production industries with present the latest and coolest developments and map out future trends and impact points for audiovisual creatives and producers in the region followed on 6 October by a chance to meet one on one with these leading innovation experts as well as attend the Project Pitchings organised by International Co-production Forum Regiofund.
The FNE CEI AV Innovation Days will present a programme of discussions and practical case studies and workshops with the goal of presenting new trends and innovations in the digital media landscape that can cross borders and be utilized as models for innovation in regional film and audiovisual industries.
The sessions will explore the changing role of film financing and striking a balance between diminishing public funds and emerging yet hard to access venture capital investments, opportunities for storytelling and monetisation through virtual reality, 360 panoramic video and digital short form content, as we all presenting case study of a Slovenian web series that became a box office phenomenon At Hostar - backed by the filmmakers clever use of social media engagement and fan community building.
The event's speakers include acclaimed producer llann Girard (France, Arsam International), venture capital and technology investment advisor Ian Collins (UK, Radium Services), director Luka Marketic and Goran Hrvačanin (Slovenia, At Hostar), Polish virtual reality and new media producers Marcin Marzyk (StoryCode, Total Immersion Foundation) and Marcin Lunkewicz (Zielonypomidor Studios), and representatives of the HR3DZ post production studio.
The programme of the FNE CEI AV Innovation Days is curated by Sten-Kristian Saluveer, the former Head of Industry at Tallinn’s Black Nights Film Festival, and the founder of Storytek Accelerator - a unique business development accelerator that helps audiovisual creatives, producers and early stage companies to develop business, fast track their content, products and services to the global markets and access finance.
FNE CEI AV Innovations Days is supported by the Central European Initiative and the Film New Europe Association as well as Creative Europe MEDIA.
Film New Europe CEI AV Innovation Days at International Co-production Forum Regiofund Programme
Thursday 5 October 2017
15.30 - 16.30 Session 1. Taking Poland immersive. Exploring new trends in virtual reality and 360 video storytelling & production
- Marcin Marczyk - producer / co-founder @ StoryCode Conference, Fundacja Pełne Zanurzenie (Total Immersion Foundation) (Poland)
- Marcin Łunkiewicz - producer & 360 video expert @ Zielonypomidor Studios (Poland)
- Maria Pułaska Białkowska& Franciszek Machalica (Poland) - producers @ HRZ3D Studios
16.30 - 17.00 How to make a million? Case study of Slovenian web series that became the national blockbuster At Hostar.
- Luka Marčetić - director, At Hostar (Slovenia) Zavod Ajkule Studios
- Goran Hrvačanin - producer, At Hostar (Slovenia) Zavod Ajkule Studios
17.15 - 18.15 Session 2. Where’s the money and what’s the interest? Mapping public and venture capital financing for film and co-productions.
- Ilann Girard - producer @ Arsam International / Founder & Managing Partner @ Online Film Financing (OLFFI) (France)
- Ian Collins - Serial entrepreneur, investment advisor and managing partner at Radium Services (UK)
*All sessions are moderated by Sten-Kristian Saluveer / Founder & CEO @ Storytek Accelerator (Estonia)
Friday 6th October 2017
- One to one business meetings between FNE CEI Innovation Day speakers and industry guests
- Opportunity for participants to attend the International Co-production Forum Regiofund Project Pitchings and Networking cocktail.
