What does this mean for Gdynia?
Being a part of the international UNESCO Creative Cities Network means that our city can:
- Enhance creativity of the local community and stimulate the film sector in Gdynia.
- Encourage non-governmental organizations and film production companies to cooperate and participate in international and cross-sectoral projects.
- Establish a network of contacts and communication with Cites of Film and other Creative Cities.
- Exchange ideas and partner up with other Creative Cities in the network.
What makes Gdynia a City of Film?
Polish Film Festival
The Polish Film Festival has been organized in Gdynia since 1987. It promotes Polish cinema on a large scale. Every year in September, the Festival audience has a chance to watch the latest and most important Polish film productions, mostly premieres, competing in three sections, and to meet the film-makers and film enthusiasts. The best full-length films selected from among year-round film productions compete for the statuettes of Golden and Silver Lions.
Gdynia Film School
Founded in 2010, the primary objective of Gdynia Film School is a reliable, thorough and professional education of new directors of feature film and documentaries. Teaching major subjects is based on practical classes. Necessary theoretical lectures provide a starting point for a series of classes, workshop rehearsals and realisation of scenes and film shorts. Classes in small groups enable individual work and direct, content-related contact with a lecturer.
Gdynia Film Center
The Gdynia Film Center is an important meeting place in the heart of the city. It provides locals and tourists with top-tier film education, culture and entertainment, organizing exhibitions, discussions with artists, and film workshops. There is an Arthouse Cinema with three screening rooms, open seven days a week, throughout the year. The Cinema is connected to international partners through the Arthouse Cinemas Network and with Europa Cinemas.
Creative Community
Gdynia is committed to increasing citizens' participation in creative activities and broadening inclusive access to the cultural offer in local communities, especially those based on film education, cinema therapy and creative workshops. In addition, a digital film repository, provides accessibility to film for all audiences, including the older generation, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Strong Institutions
Film is one of the pillars of the Gdynia's cultural policy. It is included in city's Development Strategy 2030 and continuously supported by the city through permanent financing of institutions and non-governmental organizations that create film projects. Gdynia is committed to the principles of the Agenda 21 for culture and the New Urban Agenda endorsed by the UN General Assembly, believing that sustainable development and easy access to culture should be priorities for the management of every city.
Animation and Education
The Gdynia Animation Centre, a new place on the map of Gdynia, offers a large selection of activities for children and youth: learning stop motion animation, creating puppets for animated films, dubbing and musical workshops. Many other organizations carry out educational projects in Gdynia, e.g. Pomeranian Film Foundation: regular film workshops, cycle European Film Masters, lessons of history of cinema and form of film, and an educational project for the youngest – Bajka w Centrum (Focus on Fairy Tale).
Latest News
Film Production For years, Gdynia has been synonymous with cinema, hosting some of the largest film festivals and serving as the birthplace… Read more
Recent Filming
Want to find out more about Gdynia?
Discover more about Gdynia's work with fellow Cities of Film and Creative Cities on the International Collaboration pages.
Visit the Gdynia City of Film website for the latest on activity in Gdynia.