The Polish Feature Film Festival and the Young Horizons International Film Festival – there’s a good chance you’ve heard about at least one of these events organized at the Gdynia Film Center. And it’s no wonder, as Gdynia has been considered the Polish capital of cinema for years.
The Gdynia Film Center is a key point on Gdynia’s cultural map, synonymous with the development and promotion of cinematography both locally and nationally. Opened on September 13, 2015, the center combines many functions: it is a studio cinema, an educational center in the form of the Gdynia Film School, an art gallery, and a place where music lovers can find a vinyl record shop. The Gdynia Film Center is the headquarters of the Pomeranian Film Foundation and the office of the Polish Feature Film Festival.
Its unique architecture was awarded the main prize at the Eurobuild Awards 2015. The building’s location is also significant, being just a few hundred meters from the beach and near Grunwaldzki Square, 600 meters from Hola Gdynia.
What events are organized at the Gdynia Film Center?
Polish Feature Film Festival
The Polish Feature Film Festival is a key event in Polish cinematography, started in 1974. Gdynia becomes the center of Polish cinema in early autumn, gathering thousands of viewers to promote native productions, often in premiere screenings. During the event, films in various competitions of feature, short, and micro-budget productions compete for the Golden and Silver Lions.
However, the Polish Feature Film Festival is not just film screenings. It’s also a space for industry meetings, debates, and workshops conducted by various film organizations. The Musical Theatre in Gdynia and the Gdynia Film Center are the heart of the Festival, the venue for screenings, meetings, and conferences. The Helios cinema serves as the main Festival Cinema for the public. Accompanying events, such as outdoor screenings, exhibitions, and concerts, open the Festival to Gdynia and its residents. The Polish Feature Film Festival is not just a film review but a cultural festival that combines a passion for film with the city and its guests.
Young Horizons International Film Festival
Young Horizons is an event organized in several Polish cities (including Gdynia) and online, aimed at young audiences and their guardians. It takes place from September 30 to October 8, 2024, in person, and online from October 12 to 29.
Since 2014, the MFF Young Horizons has focused on promoting films with high educational, artistic, and production values, dedicated to younger viewers. The anniversary edition does not fall short of its predecessors, promising a rich selection of exceptional live-action and animated films, inspiring documentaries, and interesting meetings with creators and special events aimed not only at entertainment but also at developing the cultural awareness of the younger generation.
K5 FOOD STORY, the Culinary Art and Film Festival
K5 FOOD STORY is an innovative festival that combines culinary art with cinema, organized by the K5 Culinary Academy and the Culture Consulate in Gdynia. This feast for all enthusiasts of good cuisine and film is planned for April 5-7, 2024.
The event will start with a preview screening of the film “Bouillon and Other Passions” at the Gdynia Film Center. The following days will bring film screenings related to culinary themes at the Culture Consulate in Gdynia, where attendees will also enjoy treats from local restaurants and discussions with invited guests.
The festival is addressed to a wide audience – both cinema connoisseurs and culinary enthusiasts. K5 FOOD STORY also includes accompanying events: culinary workshops for children, meetings with cookbook authors, as well as a film dinner and festival breakfast.
Gdynia Film Center and Unusual Screenings
At the Gdynia Film Center, screenings and meetings are also held as part of the Gdynia Film School Club. The club is a place for discussion and exchange of experiences between students, lecturers, film creators, and a wide audience interested in cinema. Its activities are closely related to the Gdynia Film School.
However, the Gdynia Film Center also hosts somewhat unusual screenings, such as the review of class B films (from old American sci-fi to 80s action cinema and horrors) – “The Best of the Worst”. So, if you like to laugh watching low-budget cinema, with absurd dialogues, poor acting, and rubber monsters, this event is tailor-made for you.
Gdynia Film Center – Accommodation or Hotel Nearby
If you’re coming to Gdynia for a festival and looking for accommodation close to the Gdynia Film Center, the perfect spot would be Hola Gdynia – a facility just 600 meters from the GCF.
Hola Gdynia offers high comfort, friendly service, and self-service check-in at any time. As the only facility in Gdynia, Hola has as many as 42 rooms, which means it can accommodate over 100 people, an important factor if you’re attending the festival as part of a group. Every morning, a tasty breakfast awaits you. You also have 24/7 access to the kitchen, where aromatic coffee awaits.
We invite you to the Polish capital of cinema and to book your stay at Hola Gdynia.
