23-02-2011

New Polish Distributor Picks up Internet Indie Film

By Katarzyna Grynienko

    Spectator, a new distribution company which bowed on the Polish market in December 2010, will use Everything (Wszystko), an independent short film by Artur Wyrzykowski, to introduce a new distribution strategy in Poland. Everything is the first Polish film project financed by support via the internet, through its website www.wszystko.net.

    Wyrzykowski describes his film as a "romantic comedy without romance," following the troubles of a 17-year-old boy who falls in love with his neighbor.

    The project was launched in 2006, when the young filmmaker began two years of collecting funds, and then spent the next two years looking for distribution.

    "It finally happened! In the beginning nobody believed that we could collect the money needed to make this film through a website. We got a lot of support from the media and the Polish Film Institute, which awarded me with 20,000 PLN and finally the internet users: 688 people believed in my film and supported it with over 28,000 PLN." the director said.

    Spectator is a Polish representative of EuCiGo- European Cinema Group of Distributors. The company aims to screen challenging European cinema and revive cinemas in smaller Polish cities. Everything will be screened before the Swedish feature film Miss Kicki directed by Hakon Liu.

    "Cinema distribution of short fims does not exist on the Polish market. They can be seen only during festivals or on niche television stations. I had the luck to meet a company that agreed to help me and make my available across the country," the director said.

    The film will premiere in Polish cinemas on 1 April 2011. Wyrzykowski and Spectator are also introducing the concept of a "film waiting list" in Poland. All the viewers interested in seeing Wszystko can go to www.chcezobaczywszystko.net and sign the list of people willing to see the production. "Having that list will help us convince cinemas that our package is worth screening. Again everything is in the hands of internet users," Wyrzykowski said.