Polish Producers Alliance launches emergency fund with Netflix

The Polish Producers Alliance (KIPA) has announced a new Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, with Netflix donating 2.5m zł (approx. €550,000) to launch the scheme.

The fund is aimed at helping the hardest-hit workers in the screen sector due to the shutdown in production in Poland caused by the Covid-19 crisis. 

The aid will be directed to all roles across the board in production: set designers, make-up artists, sound operators, DoPs, camera assistants, grippers, focus pullers, storyboard makers, gaffers and many more representing below-the-line professions.

The Polish Producers Alliance was established in 2000 and has more than 140 members comprising producers, production companies and regional film funds.

President of KIPA, Alicja Grawon-Jaksik, said: “The funds will help us maintain emergency support we have put in place for the most fragile workers from the cultural industries. One of KIPA’ core values is solidarity, and we understand that since Netflix implements projects in Poland it feels as part of our market.

“Therefore for us this is a natural move that Netflix is contributing to support freelancers from TV and cinema industries in these difficult times for the media and culture at large. It’s a noble gesture.”

The new fund is part of a broader resource from Netflix: the streaming giant announced in late March that it was setting up a $100m fund for creatives, and has since increased that to $150m.

For more information about the fund, application process and eligibility criteria, please visit: http://kipa.pl/aktualnosci/