INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

The Scholarship of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region in the fields of artistic creation, cultural dissemination, and monument care is a financial support program dedicated to individuals connected with the region’s culture and heritage. The initiative aims to support artists, cultural animators, and conservationists in realizing original projects and expanding their creative activities. In 2026, scholarships were awarded to 15 individuals, with total funding amounting to 130,000 PLN. Three of these projects focus on filmmaking.

Daniel Le Hai – born in 1998 and based in Bydgoszcz, Daniel is a graduate of Cinematography at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School (University of Silesia in Katowice). He is a member of the AKRF FOSA Academic Film Club, the Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle (BKF), and a graduate of the Film Kindergarten at the Wajda School. As a director and cinematographer of short films and music videos, he has garnered numerous accolades, including: Best Short Documentary at the “Młodzi i Film” Festival in Koszalin, Best Cinematography for a Short Film at the Polish Film Festival, Jan Machulski Award (under the patronage of the PSC) and Silver Tadpole at the 32nd EnergaCAMERIMAGE International Film Festival in Toruń.

Project: “Journeys of No Return” (Podróże bez powrotu) Awarded a 12,000 PLN scholarship, this short fiction film is inspired by the “skin hunters” scandal that once shocked the public. Rather than focusing on sensationalism, Le Hai explores the psychological and social dimensions of the story. The narrative follows Mieszko, a 20-year-old expectant father who becomes an ambulance driver seeking stability, only to discover a corrupt scheme involving funeral homes and paramedics. The film explores his ultimate moral dilemma: integrity versus family protection. It is slated for domestic and international festival circuits before an online release.

Grzegorz Kaźmierski – born in 1993 and based in Toruń, Grzegorz is a documentary director, film educator, and cultural animator. For over seven years, he has led audiovisual workshops across Poland. Since 2025, he has co-owned Offtop Studio, producing documentaries, music videos, and corporate films. He was previously associated with the Provincial Center for Cultural Animation (WOAK) in Toruń and co-organized the “Szklarnia” National Film Festival. His directorial work includes four documentaries screened at festivals across Poland, the EU, and the USA.

Project: “Butterfly” (Motyl) Awarded a 9,000 PLN scholarship, this project is a year-long observational documentary process. The protagonist, Michalina Jankowska, is restoring a ruined manor in the settlement of Motyl to create an open space for artists and creative initiatives based on permaculture principles. The film will observe her daily life, physical labor, and the building of a new community, culminating in an artistic event held at the restored site.

Laura Sonik – born in 1988 and residing in Śliwice (Tuchola County), Laura is a director and graduate of the AST National Academy of Theatre Arts. She received the award for “Best AST Diploma of 2017” and won at the 5th Forum of Young Directing in Krakow. Beyond theatre, she works in documentary film, experimental forms, and VR technology, focusing on socially engaged and activist projects. She is also a co-creator of the Virtual Space Chronicles (VR), a project dedicated to the digital archiving of reality.

Project: “Miss 80+” Awarded an 8,000 PLN scholarship, this project involves the documentation and initial filming of a documentary centered on the “Miss 80+” pageant. The camera will follow senior citizens through rehearsals, meetings, and the final gala, highlighting their relationships, self-worth, and visibility in public spaces. Filming will take place in Bydgoszcz and surrounding rural areas. The scholarship will also fund a documentary course for the director at the Wajda School in Warsaw.

Department of Promotion
Paweł Jankowski

April 28, 2026