Yesterday Polish Cinema today Polish Games
In the Eighties, the entire world was talking about the phenomena of Polish Cinema and audiences knew the names of directors such as Krzysztof Kieslowski, Andrzej Wajda or Roman Polanski. Do the creators of “Witcher 2“ or “Dead Island”, the most successful games made in Poland, have a chance today to become equally recognizable in the world? During the Digital Dragons 2013, European Games Festival held in Krakow, April 19-20, one of the panels addressed this question. The panel “From Polish Cinema to Polish Games” heated up with vibrant discussion. The presence of Slawomir Idziak, an accomplished polish cinematographer and director (he worked on production such as “Black Hawk Down” directed by Ridley Scott, “Three Colors” by Krzysztof Kieslowski and “Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix” by David Yates) was a sign that film artists see an avenue that bridges the Polish Cinema and Polish Games. They both have a lot in common and share production studios like the modern one – Alvernia Studios.
Alvernia Studios, Poland
Alvernia Studios, Poland
Three years ago, a Polish entrepreneur, Stanislaw Tyczynski, established the largest and most modern film studio in Poland. Located near by Krakow, it produces international features for theatrical release, video games, music projects and commercials and was a private investment supported by the European Union. Alvernia Studios has Dolby Premier Studio certification, Truelight Theatre certification and is a member of the Kodak Imagecare Program.
The studios are separated by fourteen domes that are connected to each other by bridges. Because of the fiber optic the domes are connected with, files can be easily sent from one studio to another. The film studio can handle the most complex set ups for movie production. Piotr Gamracy, who is responsible for line production explained the portfolio is getting bigger each year. In just three years of operation, Alvernia has participated in over 40 film productions, including “Crulic” that won the special prize in Lucarno and the Golden Lion in Gdynia for sound and music; “Essential Killing” was a special prize winner at the Venice Film Festival, “In the Shadow”, a Czech-Poland production was Czech Republic’s official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards; “Vamps” with Alicia Silverstone and Sigourney Weaver, and “Arbitrage” with Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role. Among the film directors who worked with Alvernia Studio are: Jerzy Skolimowski, Agnieszka Holland, Prashant Chadha, Anca Damian, and Andrzej Wajda.
The music studio can accommodate any size recording project from a small record group to a 120 person Philharmonic orchestra. Notable composers and musicians, such as Jonny Greenwood, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Michal Lorenc all have recorded here.
Alvernia Studios cooperates with large games developers companies such as Techland and CD Projekt RED, and have also produced many TV commercials.
Alvernia Studios is an interesting place to visit. Inside fans of the science-fiction movie “Alien” will see a number of features like the doors activated by fingerprint.
Alvernia Studios – Screening entrance
It is the most promising and advanced film studio in Europe and hopes to attract more and more worldwide productions that can use the spectacular scenery in Poland, as well. The wonderful and diverse Polish landscape includes mountains in the south, sea in the north and many forests and lakes regions in the middle of the country. Poland can offer a huge variety of outdoor locations for any visual endeavor.
Alvernia Studios – Studio Entrance
