SPI International Affiliate Kino Polska TV S.A. Announces the Launch of Its Production Arm Which Foregrounds Big Budget Polish Movies and International Co-Productions

SPI affiliate Kino Polska TV S.A. launches a production arm in Poland that will focus on producing blockbuster movies as well as paying tribute to Polish heritage and culture

SPI International affiliate Kino Polska TV S.A.’s newest venture is a production arm that is designed to deliver big-budget, Polish and international blockbusters, along with TV productions that celebrate the traditions and history of Poland.  

"Poland is a country with a rich history and culture, and we have all these incredibly talented people around us. SPI and Kino Polska TV saw an opportunity to utilize this pool of creative talent to start a brand new venture in Poland.  Our production arm is ready to create, develop, and distribute movies that will have local success in mind. We are also planning to bring in international talent where we see fit and bring certain projects to life that will appeal not only to the Polish audience but also to a wider international audience,” said Loni Farhi, President of SPI International.

“We choose projects very carefully. We focus on stories that have both local value and the potential to reach a wider audience through universal themes and relatable characters,” said Dorota Zwierzchowska, Head of Content at Kino Polska TV S.A. “We are delighted to be able to provide a platform that prioritizes freedom of expression for talented creators, which we believe is the key to producing successful content,” continued Zwierzchowska.   

SPI International has also partnered with world renowned director, writer, and producer, Philippe Martinez, as co-producer of special projects in Poland. “We have big plans for 2020 and beyond. My favorite part of working with Loni and Bogusław, and the team at SPI and Kino Polska TV is that they think big! We are going to create local jobs, hire local talent, and bring in all the right people to develop and produce blockbuster movies of the highest quality. These will be movies we can all be proud of,” said Philippe Martinez.

Kino Polska TV S.A. will be involved in several local TV productions and feature movie projects in the coming years. “All major TV stations in the Polish market have their own creations as a fundamental element of their competitiveness. I am confident that international cooperation with such experienced people as Philippe and Loni will maximize our potential for further growth and increase our viewership,” said Bogusław Kisielewski, President of the Management Board of Kino Polska TV. “The incentive mechanisms that have been created for producers in Poland this year, along with access to great actors, operators, production managers, and the entire back office, will definitely increase the chances of success in this area,” continued Kisielewski.   

Kino Polska TV S.A. has already scheduled five feature film projects for 2020. One of the initial productions to come out of this new venture is a comedy entitled “Over My Dead Body” (“Po moim trupie”) directed by Tomasz Konecki and co-produced with Krzysztof Szpetmański. Set in a small and unusual town, “Over My Dead Body” will star Rafał Zawierucha (Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) as the good-hearted Kostek, who wants his beautiful but viciously cruel mother-in-law Teresa to disappear from his life forever. When his dream unexpectedly comes true, life in this small town immediately turns upside down. Only a miracle can cause things to go back to normal: Teresa’s return. Fortunately, miracles sometimes do happen and they come in pairs…

Production for “Over My Dead Body” will begin in mid-2020 and the movie is expected to premiere in Polish cinemas in January or February of 2021. The movie will be distributed by Galapagos Films.   

About SPI International

SPI International is a global media company operating 40 television channels on six continents. FilmBox being its flagship channel, SPI is one of the biggest aggregators of native Ultra HD content in the world. Working with over 1,400 operators worldwide, SPI uses state of the art technology providing its 60 million subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on demand content including live streaming of UHD programming and FilmBox channels on any Internet-connected device via major global streaming media players as well as local OTT providers. SPI recently added to its portfolio Film1 premium movie services in the Netherlands, including four movie channels and digital services.

For over 25 years, SPI International has been a leading distributor of theatrical films and television programming in the international market. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand. www.spiintl.com