Polish cities offer film funds

Regional network aims to increase production

By NICK HOLDSWORTH

A new network of Polish regional film funds that launched in January is already beginning to have an impact on production in the country.

The funds in key regional towns and cities across the country -- including Krakow, Lodz, Wroclaw and the capital, Warsaw -- have annual budgets of $367,000 each (Poznan's is double that amount) and are open to producers worldwide.

More flexible than most European regional fund models, these have no strict requirement for local spending, but there should be some Polish connection through cultural content, crew employment or other means.