FEATURE FILMS STUDIO

The history of this iconic venue dates back to 1945, when, by decree of the National Council, Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe “Film Polski” was established whose first director was a director – Aleksander Ford. Four years later, the production department was divided into three specialized units: Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych [the Documentary Film Studio], which was located in Warsaw, Wytwórnia Filmów Oświatowych [the Educational Film Studio] in Lodz and the legendary Wytwórnia Filmów Fabularnych [Feature Film Studio] in Lodz.

For nearly half a century, the Feature Film Studio in Lodz was the largest film centre in the country. All the most important films and series of the past era were made here. Immeasurable amounts of scenery, costumes, props were created. Hundreds of kilometres of film tape were recorded. The most renown names of Polish cinema at the time met here.

Initially, the sports hall that had existed on Łąkowa Street since 1938 was adapted for the needs of the Studio. Two more shooting halls were soon added, while the necessary workshops, including carpentry, stucco, painting and a tailor’s shop, were located in the back facilities. The first production made at the Studio and at the same time the first post-war Polish feature film was “Forbidden Songs” (Polish title: “Zakazane piosenki”) (1946), directed by Leon Buczkowski. During its heyday, nearly 20 titles a year were shot. Oscar-winning filmmakers associated with the Studio include its long-time director – Aleksander Ford, author of “Knights of the Teutonic Order” (1960), as well as Jerzy Kawalerowicz, director of “Pharaoh” (1966) or Jerzy Hoffman, author of the film version of “The Deluge”. All three productions earned nominations in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Lifetime Achievement Oscar winner – Andrzej Wajda – also worked with the Lodz studio.

The regime changes of the late 1980s brought the first signs of crisis, while the 1990s marked the end of the Studio’s power. Attempts to save the Studio were unsuccessful.

Today, the Łąkowa Street halls are still home to movie and TV stories. Toya, which provides access to digital television, has its headquarters there, with Toya Studios sound studio operating within its structures. Łąkowa Street is also home to the Lodz branch of Filmoteka Narodowa [National Film Archive]. However, from the point of view of our walk, the most relevant resident of the former studio is the independent production company Opus Film, whose head is Piotr Dzięcioł. It is Opus Film that is responsible for the biggest successes of Polish cinema abroad in recent years: the Oscar-winning “Ida” (2013) and the Oscar-nominated “Cold War” (2018), directed by Paweł Pawlikowski.