#PANEL What stories move Spain today? Ukrainian filmmakers in Poland: guests or permanents?
Strong characters fighting against adversity – these are the ones that filmmakers from Spain, Ukraine and Belarus most often reach for.
According to Roman Brovko, these characters offer an opportunity to uplift the spirit of the Ukrainian nation. The director also proposed exploring shared historical connections that could strengthen the ties between Poles and
Ukrainians. Our distinguished guest, Miquel Romans, the author of “Ashes in the Sky,” emphasized that feminist themes take center stage not only in his film but also in the broader landscape of Spanish cinema. This only confirmed our initial thesis that audiences of these countries feel best when watching heroes who inspire. A similar phenomenon is observed in Half of Me or Free skate. The first mentioned film moved our festival goers very much, but at the same time, as they admit, it became a source of inspiration for them.
In addition to analyzing the leading film themes, we also took a look at how the Spanish and Catalan film market works. Miquel Romans told us that filmmakers can often secure financial backing from Catalonia provided their films incorporate a substantial amount of dialogue in Catalan.
Finally, the participants listed the challenges they face in filmmaking. The creators of Half of Me mentioned that as a married couple they had a problem with separating their private lives and work. While they acknowledged that this issue was not overly significant, they emphasized the need to establish constructive methods for managing such situations over time. Additionally, one of the Ukrainian participants at the NNW Market shared a poignant reflection concerning the domestic film industry, expressing,, “It is good that our people have the opportunity to develop abroad, but we are sad that such talented people have to leave Ukraine.
#PANEL What will I get royalties for, and what won’t I get?
Authors of films available on streaming platforms are not compensated for their work. During a panel discussion, the special guest, Cezary Piekarczyk, addressed the legislation governing the distribution of royalties among filmmakers, shedding light on forthcoming modifications in this sphere.
Cezary Piekarczyk, the Head of Royalty Distribution and Author Services at the Association of Audiovisual Authors and Producers (SFP), underscored the formidable challenge ahead in compelling American corporations such as Netflix to provide Polish authors with the royalties they have long sought. In contrast to traditional cinema or television, VOD services currently operate without any legal obligation to share a portion of their revenue with filmmakers. This disparity is particularly unjust given that films distributed through streaming platforms reach millions of viewers worldwide, and significant sums are at stake.
A draft legislation is currently in progress, aiming to secure royalties for filmmakers in recognition of their works being available on VOD platforms. Nonetheless, establishing the appropriate compensation for authors will not be easy. On the majority of streaming platforms, film access is granted through the purchase of a time-based package, rather than through individual viewing payments. With such a business model, it is almost impossible to determine the number of viewers of a given film, considering that viewers may either watch it in its entirety or for as little as 3 minutes, as highlighted by Piekarczyk.
In addition to producers and distributors, the panel also featured representatives from the animation sector. It was noted that animators often receive royalties that do not adequately reflect the extent of their contributions to a project. Their remarks ignited a broader conversation on the significance of lobbying within the film industry, highlighting that more substantial compensation is typically obtained by well-organized and unionized groups.
#PANEL About the cooperation of the Director and producer with a team of stuntmen in Hollywood conditions
Our Film Market recently welcomed Jacek Jagodka, a Hollywood stuntman and actor with an impressive portfolio of films. His credits include prominent productions like Game of Thrones, Wonder Woman, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, among others
Jagodka provided us with insights into his experiences working in Hollywood. Stuntmen often find that their contributions are not always fully recognized by viewers, but filmmakers understand the pivotal role they play on the sets of major productions. Stuntmen are the linchpin that ensures the production proceeds without interruptions due
to potential injuries to lead actors. They also enable the portrayal of breathtaking scenes that would be beyond the capabilities of the principal cast.
It could be said that our guest’s career was initiated by chance – one day, while he was a basketball player, his club received a call from producers in search of tall, Caucasian men for the film The Eagle. However, he put in a lot of work to build up his physical form, which enabled him to get roles alongside Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie and Benedict Cumberbatch. Jacek Jagódka also emphasized the responsibility that accompanies the role of a stuntman on a film set. In scenes where he must simulate inflicting physical harm on the protagonist, he must exercise utmost care to ensure the safety of the actor, as any injury inflicted would likely spell the end of his stunt career.