We would like to invite you to participate in the Piotr Wozniak-Starak Modern Film Production Group, aimed at young producers and film production students, organised as part of the Film Spring Open 2024!
This year the group will be mentored by award-winning producer Mariusz Wlodarski of Lava Films.
Mariusz Wlodarski, has many successes to his credit, including the recent production of “The Girl with the Needle”, directed by Magnus von Horn, with cinematography by Michal Dymek. This film premiered in the Main Competition of the Cannes International Film Festival in 2024. Moreover, the first cinematographic rehearsals for this film took place during the work of the Arri Close up Group. Visual Dramaturgy of Psychological Film, at the Film Spring Open 2022.
The patron of the Modern Film Production Group is Piotr Woźniak-Starak, a pioneer of the modern production model in Poland and Europe, in which the creative producer is involved at every stage of film production. The group’s partner is the Starak Family Foundation, which is also the honorary patron of the “Imagine” competition. Mariusz Włodarski is the winner of the first Piotr Woźniak-Starak award for Best Producer.
Piotr Woźniak Starak, film producer, poses at his company Watchout Productions in Warsaw (now operating as Watchout Studio). Photo: Piotr Malecki / Napo Images for Forbes
Piotr Wozniak Starak Watchout Productions
In the group’s work, Mariusz Włodarski wants to focus on the participants’ original projects. This will be a unique opportunity to learn about the key aspects of a producer’s work, from the idea phase to its creating.
In the work of the group, Mariusz Wlodarski offers:
“I am very keen to build a group that will support each other on its own. The workshop will be based on lectures, exercises and self-work.” – says Mariusz Wlodarski.
Group participants are also invited to lectures dedicated to producers, which will be given by:
– Academy Award winner: Ewa Puszczyńska, whom we have had the honour to host at the Film Spring Open Workshop for many years,
– Małgorzata Staroń. The meeting will include the presentation of a case study of the film “Apolonia, Apolonia” directed by Lea Glob, of which Małgorzata was a co-producer.
– Wojciech Staroń, who will share his perspective as a cinematographer and director, will also talk about documentary film production and cooperation with producers.
– also, there will be a presentation by the Creative Europe Desk Poland, which will discuss the possibilities of obtaining European funding for film production, hosted by Ilona Krupa.
You are cordially invited to take part in this unique venture!
The patron of the Piotr Woźniak-Starak Modern Film Production Group is the Starak Family Foundation.
Our Partners:
Mariusz Włodarski holds a degree in international relations and completed his education at the National Film School in Łódź, Poland. He learned his craft working on international co-productions for Opus Film.
In 2010 he founded Lava Films, where he produced “The Here After” by longtime collaborator Magnus von Horn, which was presented at Cannes 2015 as part of the Directors’ Fortnight. At the time, Mariusz was representing Poland as a Producer on the Move. Continuing his collaboration with Magnus von Horn, they developed the project “Sweat” bringing it through the ACE 27 programme. “Sweat” was in Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival 2020. His credits also include such titles as “The Harvesters”, which premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard 2018 and “The Taste of Pho” which premiered in San Sebastian 2019. In 2020 both “Never Gonna Snow Again” by Malgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert and “Apples” by Christos Nikou premiered at Venice Film Festival 2020 and were then chosen as submissions for the 2021 Oscars from Poland and Greece respectively.
His recently collaboration with Magnus von Horn “The Girl with the needle” premiered in this years Cannes Competition. Mariusz is a member of Polish Producers Guild, EAVE, the European and Polish Film Academy and the ACE Producers Network. He also teaches at The Polish National Film School in Łódź.
in English 
in French 
in German 