PICTURE POLAND INCREASES ITS RANGE

Picture Poland, a project aimed at promoting Polish cinema among airline passengers, is increasing its range. Polish films are now available on all routes operated by Turkish Airlines.

Polish Films Now Available in Europe’s Best Airline

“Picture Poland is a project without precedent. We want Polish films to be available in the in-flight entertainment systems of the world’s top airlines. Turkish Airlines is a very prestigious partner, having been voted Europe’s best airline five years in a row,” said General Director of the Polish Film Institute Magdalena Sroka at a press briefing on the cooperation with Turkish Airlines, held in Warsaw on February 9.

Eight Polish Films Available in 113 Countries

Turkish Airlines has flights to 113 countries. “I am sure that Picture Poland will contribute to increasing interest in Polish cinema and Polish culture. As of today, Turkish Airlines operate flights to 113 countries around the world. Our passengers will now have an opportunity to enjoy eight beautiful Polish films on flights to 284 cities in five continents. The films will be available with English and Turkish subtitles,” said Mete Akandere, managing director of Turkish Airlines in Poland.

Starting in February, the Turkish Airlines in-flight entertainment system features 80 milionów (80 Million) and Mała Moskwa (Little Moscow), both by Waldemar Krzystek, Imagine by Andrzej Jakimowski, and the Oscar-winning animated film Peter & the Wolf by Suzie Templeton. Bogowie (Gods) by Łukasz Palkowski, W ciemności (In Darkness) by Agnieszka Holland, Papusza by Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze, and Katedra (The Cathedral) by Tomasz Bagiński, will be added to the collection in April.

“The eight films we will screen on Turkish Airlines flights are representative of Polish cinema of recent years. These films have enjoyed international success and gained a following. These are films that had an opportunity to be distributed internationally, and films that show an interesting take on Polish history. There is also an example of Polish arthouse cinema — Papusza. This makes the collection versatile and appealing,” said Magdalena Sroka.

A Dose of Culture

Yusuf Ziya Özcan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Poland, said at the press briefing that in 2014 our two countries celebrated the 600th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Turkey. “I believe this project will contribute to our 600 years of cooperation. I would like to congratulate the Polish Film Institute for selecting the best possible place for introducing a dose of culture,” said Ambassador Yusuf Ziya Özcan. “Making Polish films available in the Turkish Airlines in-flight entertainment system not only promotes Polish film, but also promotes Poland as a tourist destination,” said Magdalena Sroka.

Picture Poland

Picture Poland is the world’s first project aimed at promoting the cinema of a particular country on international flights. Participating airlines receive a collection of Polish films from the past ten years. Film rights have been entirely financed by the Polish Film Institute, the organization responsible for the idea behind the project. Films in the Picture Poland collection are available for passengers free of charge, and are presented in a separate catalogue of the in-flight entertainment system. The agency responsible for implementing the project is Movie Mates, run by Wojciech Karubin.

Turkish Airlines is the second airline to join the project. Polish films have been available on board of LOT-operated Dreamliner flights since July 1, 2015.