About the Fund
The Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund was established on the initiative of the Regional Self-Government. Its aim is to support creators, promote the region’s unique assets, and stimulate the local creative industry. The Fund is operated by the Marshal’s Office.
The Fund’s task is to provide financial support for film productions – feature, documentary, and animated. The key criterion is the project’s connection to the region, either through its subject matter or filming location. Thanks to this, the landscapes of Kujawsko-Pomorskie and its historic sites can appear on the big screen. Supporting cinematography is part of a promotional strategy that builds the image of the region as open to art and favorable to film investment.
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region is not only about beautiful landscapes, charming towns, and rich cultural heritage, but also a region with exceptional film potential. We are aware of the significant role cinematography plays today – not only as a form of artistic expression, but also as a force that shapes the image of a place and engages local communities. That is why we established the Film Fund – a tool designed to support valuable productions while inspiring creators to make films in our region. We invite all filmmakers to discover Kujawy and Pomorze as a space open to art, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling. We believe that together we can create cinema that moves audiences, builds identity, and remains in viewers’ memories for a long time.
Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region
Graf. Maja Rusek UMWKP
Among the most recent high-profile productions supported by the Fund are “Chopin, Chopin!”, the latest film by Michał Kwieciński, and the drama “Dom dobry” by Wojtek Smarzowski. In November 2025, the romantic comedy “Piernikowe serce”, directed by Piotr Wereśniak and featuring a star-studded cast, premiered. It was filmed in the Old Town of Toruń.
Earlier support went to the first English-language production by Jan Komasa, “Good Boy”, which premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, as well as the directorial debut “Skrzyżowanie” by Dominika Montean-Pańków, starring Jan Englert. Thanks to the Fund, “Sezony” by Michał Grzybowski was also shot in Toruń.
The Fund has also supported short narrative films, including “Taksiarz” by Ryszard Kruk, featuring the final leading role of Jan Nowicki, “uRodziny” by Marianna Korman, and “Matka” by Sebastian Kwidziński, a young director from the region.
The Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund shows particular interest in productions by filmmakers from the region. Two films by creators from Bydgoszcz received funding: “Miasto” by Marcin Sauter and “Negatyw” by Robert Wichrowski, as well as “Ta, którą kocham” by Paweł Hejsbudzki from Toruń.
Documentary filmmakers can also count on support from the Fund. Funding was granted to Janusz Majewski for “Jazz outsider”, to Krzysztof Paluszyński for “Megality”, and to Ryszard Kruk for “Czarne błoto”, “Flisak”, and “Piernikarki”.
Graf. Maja Rusek UMWKP
The year 2026 is set to bring a wave of film premieres associated with Kujawy and Pomorze. In April, the crime story “Morderstwo w filharmonii”, shot in Bydgoszcz and directed by Maciej Hydr, had its premiere. “Droga rzadziej przemierzana” by Zuzanna Grabowska was filmed mainly in Górzno and Szubin. The completed sequel to the romantic comedy “Narzeczony na niby 2” is also awaiting its premiere. Renowned director Krzysztof Zanussi will create his latest work, “Całopalenie”, with the support of the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund. This is, of course, not the end of film production activity in the Kujawy-Pomorze region. Regular film production competitions also bring benefits to local businesses, cultural institutions, and tourism.
It is worth noting that although the Fund is the youngest in Poland, the Regional Self-Government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region has supported cinematography for over a decade. In 2015, funding was awarded to the Polish Oscar submission – “11 minut” by Jerzy Skolimowski, as well as the Silver Lions – winning film “Excentrycy, czyli po słonecznej stronie ulicy” by Janusz Majewski.
Since 2022, the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Film Award named after Pola Negri has been presented. The regional self-government honors outstanding creators whose work has had a significant impact on Polish cinematography. The statuette, designed by Zbigniew Mikielewicz, is awarded during film festivals held in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, such as Camerimage, Fonomo, Old Film Festival, Przeźrocza Festival, and Tofifest. The award commemorates Pola Negri, one of the first great stars of world cinema, who was born in Lipno.
Graf. Maja Rusek UMWKP
Laureates of the Marshal’s Film Award: Jerzy Skolimowski, Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Julia Szczepańska, Marek Piestrak, Bartosz Brzeziński, Jan Holoubek, Aleksandra Terpińska, Piotr Pacek, Jan Jakub Kolski, Luiza Budejko, Stanisław Janicki, Krzysztof Zanussi, Leonard Pietraszak, Magdalena Różczka, Katarzyna Figura, Jan Englert, Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza, Daniel Olbrychski, Jerzy Rogiewicz, Anna Dymna, Wojciech Smarzowski, Grażyna Szapołowska, and Eryk Kulm.
An important part of the Fund’s activities is education. Two comic books have been published recalling two stars of pre-war cinema connected with the region. The first, “A Journey to the Stars”, is dedicated to Pola Negri, who was born in Lipno. The second, Hope Eternal”, focuses on Helena Grossówna from Toruń. A biography by Marek Teler, “Helena Grossówna. Optymistką być”, has also been published.