Exploring Poland’s Creative Potential, Locations & Audiovisual Incentives: Co-Producing Opportunities with Poland Explained
Poland has long been known for its fantastic service production and cinematographers, but the region has so much more to offer in terms of production opportunities. With an accomplished below-the-line sector, top-tier co-producers and fantastic locations, the country has fast become a go-to destination for International Productions.
The panel will be led by producers behind festival stunner “The Silent Twins,” Agnieszka Smoczynska’s English-language debut, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival:
Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska
Ewa Puszczyńska
Ben Pugh
They will discuss the ins and outs of working in Poland and examine the differences between American and Polish financing systems. During the panel, the producers will explore working in an international environment in Poland and offer practical collaboration tips based on their aforementioned film “The Silent Twins”.
presented by The Polish Film Institute
Speakers
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Ewa PuszczyńskaProducerEwa Puszczyńska is an experienced Polish film producer.
Since 1996, for over 20 years she has been working exclusively for Opus Film, starting with producing Tv commercials and later sucessfully leading international co-productions and executing projects for international companies like Sony, producing and co-producing films with international cast including Jim Carrey, Charlotte Geinsbourg, Marton Csokas, Stellan Skarsgard, Cedric Kahn, Jeanne Balibar and others.
She was the Polish line producer for David Lynch’s „Inland Empire“.
In 2016 she established her own company Extreme Emotions to develop and produce projects with Polish and international talents and crews.
She produced “Ida” by Pawel Pawlikowski awarded with five EFA awards ( Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Cinematography, People Choice Award ) BAFTA, an Oscar for the best foreign language film. Ida was co-produced with Eric Abraham’s Portobello and Phoenix Film. She also produced Pawlikowski’s Cold War, which got “Best Director” award in Cannes 2018, five EFA awards ( Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Editing, Best Actress ) was nominated for BAFTA and in three Oscar categories ( Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography ) and was a financial co-production with UK Apocalypso ,French MK2, Film4,BFI
Recently she was producing Joanthan Glazer’s The Zone of Interests. The film which was shot in Poland, currently being post produced in London, was financed by A24, Film4 and Access with Polish cash rebate, regional funds and TV pre-sales.
Her other recent titles are
– “Kill It and Leave this Town” art house animated project for grown up audiences by Mariusz Wilk Wilczynski “– premiere Berlinale 2020
– “Fools” a new film by Tomasz Wasilewski (Berlinale Silver Bear for United States of Love) planned to premiere in autumn 2022
– Jake Paltrow’s “The Oven” – executive producer
– Jasmila Zbanic “Quo Vadi, Aida?” – Oscar nominated for best Foreign Language Film – co-producer
– “Silent Twins” by Agnieszka Smoczynska, an English language film, produced together with Klaudia Smieja’s Madants, and UK 42 – the film to premiere in UCR Cannes 2022
She is a member of Polish Film Academy, of European Film Academy and of AMPAS and has been listed in Variety 500, an index of the 500 most influential business leaders. -
Klaudia Śmieja-RostworowskaFounder of MADANTSIn 2015 Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska together with Beata Rzeźniczek founded MADANTS, Warsaw-based production company with the aim to produce independent films with potential for distribution and international festival access. Since the moment of establishment it has become one of the most active Polish production outlets involved in such films as Claire Denis’ HIGH LIFE, Agnieszka Holland’s CHARLATAN, Icelandic hit LAMB by Valdimar Jóhannsson or OTHER PEOPLE, a dark rap musical produced in association with Warner Bros Poland. Currently Madants completed Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s first English language film SILENT TWINS and is working on James Napier Robertson’s JOIKA starting Talia Ryder and Diane Kruger and newest Brady Corbet’s THE BRUTALIST.
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Diana LodderhoseInternational Features Editor, DeadlineDiana has been working in global film journalism since 2005. Before returning to Deadline in 2021 to focus on features for international film and television, she was previously International Reporter for the site. She is based in London and has frequently covered all the major film festivals and markets including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto and Sundance. Prior to joining Deadline, Diana was the UK correspondent for Variety and also covered film news and box office at Screen International.
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Ben PughFounder of management and production company 42Please find his headshot attached and bio below:
Ben Pugh is a producer and founding partner of management and production company 42. Established in 2013, 42 is run by six partners: producers Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh; and managers Kate Buckley, Simon Beresford, Cathy King, and Josh Varney. 42 has offices in London and Los Angeles. In 2017, Ben Pugh moved from London to LA to open the US office of 42.
Past feature productions include THE SILENT TWINS, starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance (Cannes 2022, Focus Features); THE COURIER, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan (Sundance 2019, Lionsgate); OUTSIDE THE WIRE, starring Anthony Mackie (Netflix); MILITARY WIVES, starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan (TIFF 2019, Lionsgate); THE WEEKEND AWAY, starring Leighton Meester (Netflix); and NIGHT TEETH, starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Debby Ryan (Netflix). On the TV side, Pugh has executive produced THE GIRL BEFORE, starring David Oyelowo and Jessica Plummer (HBO Max / BBC); THE ENGLISH GAME, created by Julian Fellowes (Netflix); the Emmy Award-winning WATERSHIP DOWN, featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, Sir Ben Kingsley, Daniel Kaluuya, Gemma Arterton and Olivia Colman (Netflix / BBC); TRAITORS, starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma Appleton, Keeley Hawes and Luke Treadaway (Netflix / Channel 4); and WILD BILL, a six-part drama series starring Rob Lowe (ITV).
Prior to starting 42, Ben Pugh and producing partner Rory Aitken ran music video and commercial production company Between The Eyes, which represented a roster of directors for commercials, music videos, and branded content. Pugh and Aitken’s first feature, SHIFTY, was nominated for a BAFTA and 5 BIFAs, won Best Screenplay at the UK Writers’ Guild Awards, and was named by Empire magazine as one of the best films of the year. Their second film, London-based crime thriller WELCOME TO THE PUNCH, written and directed by Eran Creevy, starring James McAvoy, and executive produced by Ridley Scott.