Film Takes Center Stage in Kujawy and Pomorze in 2026
The coming year in our region will be marked by cinema.
“Kujawy and Pomorze is not only the birthplace of great figures of Polish cinema, but also a space where film has been alive, created, and developed for years,” stated the Councillors of the Regional Parliament, declaring 2026 the Year of Kujawsko-Pomorskie People of Cinema.
The upcoming year will see many anniversaries connected with outstanding figures of cinema and film from our region. In the following months, jubilees would be celebrated by, among others, actresses Zofia Wierzejska from Toruń and Halina Dunajska from Grudziądz, as well as artists from Bydgoszcz: director Zbigniew Kuźmiński and actor Leonard Pietraszak. And as a grand finale, we will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the birth of Pola Negri – an icon of world silent cinema, born in Lipno.
However, the Year of Kujawsko-Pomorskie People of Cinema is not only about celebrating milestone anniversaries. It is also an excellent opportunity to show how strongly Kujawy and Pomorze are connected with Polish cinema – from numerous filming locations, through outstanding creators, to the growing support for valuable film productions.
Many well-known artists come from our region or have worked here, including Jerzy Hoffman, Grażyna Szapołowska, Bogusław Linda, Małgorzata Kożuchowska, Jan Nowicki, Katarzyna Żak, Jakub Gierszał, Adrianna Biedrzyńska, Piotr Głowacki, and Tomasz Wasilewski. It is also here that documentary and independent filmmakers actively work, as well as those who teach and support young filmmakers.
For years, the region has also been an important venue for major film events. Renowned festivals take place here, including Camerimage, Tofifest, Old Film Festival, Fonomo, Przeźrocza, and the “Pola and Others” Review of Creative Work. During these events, since 2022, the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Film Award named after Pola Negri has been presented to artists and creators – both established figures and debutants alike. The most recent (23rd to date) recipient is actor Eryk Kulm.
Operating for several years now, the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund is not only a tool for promoting the voivodeship and the regional economy. Through it, we provide financial support to valuable film productions. The list of supported projects continues to grow; suffice it to mention two high-profile titles from recent months: “Chopin, Chopin!” by Michał Kwieciński and “A Good House” by Wojciech Smarzowski, which has so far been seen by over 2.2 million viewers.
It is also worth recalling that thanks to the regional self-government, the house in Toruń where Helena Grossówna – an outstanding actress and dancer, a star of pre-war cinema – was born has been reconstructed. In 2026, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of her graduation from the Toruń ballet school. Today, the Grossówna House serves as a place of remembrance of the artist and a symbol of the film and artistic traditions of our region.
As emphasized by the regional assembly, establishing the Year of Kujawsko-Pomorskie People of Cinema is not only a tribute to the past, but also an investment in the future. The Councillors hope that this initiative will strengthen the region’s visibility, attract new film projects, and draw tourists. “Cinema in Kujawy and Pomorze is not only entertainment, but an element of regional identity,” we read in the justification of the Parliament’s resolution.
Department of Promotion
18 December 2025