Polish Film Institute

The Polish Film Institute is a national film agency created in 2005 to promote and subsidize film culture in Poland and in particular script and film development and production, promotion of Polish cinema at home and abroad, film literacy and film studies, film festivals and events, film societies, digital rollout of independent art cinemas and in smaller towns, preservation of film heritage.

Under the Cinematography Act of June 30, 2005, the revenues of the Polish Film Institute (PISF) include: 

• A subject-specific subsidy for the operation and activities from the budget of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage; 
• Targeted subsidies from the state budget for investment tasks; 
• Revenue from the exploitation of films for which the Institute holds the proprietary copyrights; 
• Donations, inheritances, and bequests;
• Revenue from the Institute's assets; 
• Funds granted by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund;
• Levies collected under Article 19 of the Cinematography Act.

A public levy collected under Article 19 of the Cinematography Act is the main element of the co-financing mechanism for film production in Poland. Article 19 of the Act specifies the entities participating in the Polish film market that are required to annually contribute 1.5% of their revenue to the Institute. These include: cinema operators, distributors, television broadcasters (including public television), digital platform operators, and cable TV operators.

PISF supports film projects at all stages: script development, project development, and film production. Both screenwriters and film producers receive funding. The Institute also promotes the development of Polish cinematography and provides financial support to institutions promoting film culture and Polish films domestically and abroad. It assists film festival organizers, film schools, and universities. Additionally, it allocates funds for the modernization and digitization of cinemas, digital restoration of Polish cinematographic works, and professional training. Detailed information on who can receive funding, the conditions that must be met, and the process can be found in the annually adopted PISF Operational Programs.