Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego

What Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego does

Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego is a Polish non-profit film foundation established in 2015 and headquartered in Warsaw (ul. Szpitalna 5/6), named after the Polish documentary filmmaker Władysław Ślesicki (1930–2008). The foundation's core activity is operating a portfolio of documentary film development and industry-networking programs, anchored by DOC LAB POLAND — described as the largest consulting and development program for professional documentary filmmakers in Poland — which combines intensive Warsaw workshops, public pitching components (DOCS TO START, DOCS TO GO!), and reciprocal co-marketing with the Krakow Film Festival's KFF Industry and the Warsaw Film Festival. Supporting programs include CEDOC MARKET (Poland's only international documentary co-production market, generating ~700 industry meetings per year), DOC DEVELOPMENT (early-stage director program), PIERWSZY FILM (free education program for filmmakers aged 18–26), DOC HOT SELECTION (public screenings), Film Frame, and Impakt, plus a film advisory service (Poradnia filmowa) and an in-house production arm.

The foundation serves three primary customer segments: professional documentary filmmakers seeking co-production partners and festival access; emerging documentary directors needing early-stage feedback and producer connections; and young filmmakers (high school and university students, 18–26) entering the field. It does not sell proprietary technology — its technology footprint is essentially non-existent — and instead monetizes through a hybrid of small program participation fees (DOC LAB POLAND: 2,500 PLN + VAT per project; DOC DEVELOPMENT: 2,500 PLN + VAT for 5 sessions + pitching; PIERWSZY FILM: free) and a substantially larger stream of grants and sponsorships from Polish public institutions (Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Mazowiecki Instytut Kultury, Warsaw City, Centrum Mieroszewskiego) and private partners (Canal+ Foundation, Dutch Embassy, HBO Europe). The organization operates with a small team of six employees led by Adam Ślesicki, son of the namesake, who serves as President and Director of DOC LAB POLAND and DOC DEVELOPMENT, and has built a partnership network spanning IDFA, DOK Leipzig, HBO Europe, the European Documentary Network, FIPADOC, and the Institute of Documentary Film (Prague).

Name

Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego

Legal name

Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego

Website

https://fundfilm.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Polish non-profit film foundation (Warsaw, est. 2015) operating DOC LAB POLAND — Poland's largest professional documentary development program — plus CEDOC MARKET, DOC DEVELOPMENT, and PIERWSZY FILM, serving documentary filmmakers, emerging directors, and young filmmakers through workshops, pitching, and co-production networking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Film Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYMPAGAGAD

Academic & Scientific Conferences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYEDAEALAO

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Outsourced Operations & Managed Services for Education (BPO/Contracted Support)

Keywords

• Documentary film development
• Documentary co-production
• Filmmaker mentorship programs
• Documentary pitching events
• Film festival industry

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Participation Fees: DOC LAB POLAND charges 2500 PLN + VAT per project for participation, with a 120 PLN application fee. DOC DEVELOPMENT charges 2500 PLN + VAT for 5 sessions and producer pitching. PIERWSZY FILM is free for participants.
2. Sponsorship and Grants: The foundation receives funding from public institutions including Polish Institute of Film Art (PISF), Ministry of Culture, Warsaw City, and private sponsors like Canal+ Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The foundation operates a portfolio of documentary film development programs centered on DOC LAB POLAND, the largest professional documentary consulting and development program in Poland, combining expert consultations with pitching sessions for co-producers, distributors, sales agents, and festival selectors. Supporting programs include CEDOC MARKET for international co-production, DOC DEVELOPMENT for early-stage directors, PIERWSZY FILM for young filmmakers, and a documentary production arm.

Product overview

Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego operates a portfolio of documentary film development programs, centered around DOC LAB POLAND as its flagship initiative—the largest Polish consulting program for professional documentary filmmakers combining project consultations, international pitching sessions (DOCS TO START and DOCS TO GO!), and industry networking. The foundation's ecosystem includes CEDOC MARKET (Poland's only international documentary co-production market), DOC DEVELOPMENT for early-stage directors, PIERWSZY FILM for young filmmakers, and DOC HOT SELECTION for public screenings of award-winning Polish documentaries. The foundation also maintains a film production arm producing documentaries and provides film advisory services through its Poradnia filmowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DOC LAB POLAND Poland's largest consulting and development program for professional documentary filmmakers, combining consultations with pitching sessions for co-producers, distributors, and sales agents. Includes DOC LAB START for development-phase projects and DOC LAB GO for editing-phase projects, with DOCS TO START and DOCS TO GO! as public pitching components. Participants pay 2,500 PLN + VAT per project.
• CEDOC MARKET (Central European Documentary Co-production Market) Poland's only international documentary co-production market connecting producers seeking European and global partners. Part of KFF Industry during the Krakow Film Festival, generating approximately 400 co-production meetings annually.
• DOC DEVELOPMENT Half-year intensive development program for documentary directors with projects at early development stage, including consultations with leading Polish documentarians and a final pitching session for producers. Charges 2,500 PLN + VAT for 5 sessions and producer pitching.
• PIERWSZY FILM (First Film) Free multi-month educational program for adult high school and university students aged 18-26 who create documentary short films (etudes) under guidance of experienced filmmakers including Edyta Wróblewska, Maciej Cuske, and Marcin Sauter.
• DOC HOT SELECTION Screening series presenting the latest and most awarded Polish documentary films of recent years with director meetings and Q&As, organized by the foundation.
• Poradnia filmowa (Film Advisory Service) Film advisory service offered by the foundation for filmmakers seeking professional guidance on their projects.
• Foundation Documentary Production (Dom Mrowek, Furia, Gdy powieje harmattan, Vika!, Za głosem) The foundation's documentary production arm producing original documentary films, including titles such as Dom Mrowek, Furia, Gdy powieje harmattan, Vika!, and Za głosem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 films produced from program projects that won awards at international festivals
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Krakowski Festiwal FilmowycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Strategic partner for DOC LAB POLAND since 2015. The foundation collaborates with KFF on industry programming (KFF Industry), hosting pitching sessions and CEDOC MARKET during the festival.
• DOK LeipzigmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey German documentary festival partner supporting DOC LAB POLAND and offering market participation opportunities for program winners.
• IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international documentary festival partner providing IDFA Forum participation opportunities for DOC LAB POLAND project winners.
• HBO EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides HBO Award prize (10,000 PLN) to DOC LAB POLAND projects and consultation support through production executives.
• European Documentary Network (EDN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization of documentary professionals providing workshops and market participation opportunities for DOC LAB POLAND winners.
• FIPADOC International Documentary FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench documentary festival offering FIPADOC Industry participation for DOC LAB POLAND project winners.
• Institute of Documentary Film (Prague)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech institute providing East Doc Platform market participation opportunities for DOC LAB POLAND winners.
• Documentary Association of EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean documentary association offering membership and expert consultations for program participants.
• Mazowiecki Instytut KulturymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal culture institute providing venue and support for Warsaw workshop sessions.
• MX35minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEquipment rental partner providing cameras and gear for PIERWSZY FILM workshops and equipment consultations for DOC DEVELOPMENT.
• Warszawski Festiwal FilmowymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarsaw Film Festival hosts the third session of DOC LAB POLAND, providing industry programming and consultation opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DOK Leipzig: Germany's premier documentary festival with industry programming, co-production market, and mentoring — partner to DOC LAB POLAND since 2015 and competing entity for European documentary projects and festival slots.
• European Documentary Network (EDN): Pan-European membership organization that provides workshops, masterclasses, and market participation for documentary professionals — directly overlapping with DOC LAB POLAND's mission and recognized the foundation with its 2019 award.
• IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam): Operates IDFA Forum, the world's largest documentary co-production market — provides pitching opportunities to DOC LAB POLAND winners and is a direct competitor for emerging European documentary projects.
• FIPADOC International Documentary Festival: French documentary festival offering FIPADOC Industry for emerging projects — directly comparable industry-programming offering and a partner that provides DOC LAB POLAND winners market access.

Direct peers

• Institute of Documentary Film (Prague): Runs East Doc Platform, a Central European documentary co-production market and project training program with overlapping mandate of developing doc projects and connecting producers — a direct functional peer to CEDOC MARKET and DOC LAB POLAND.

Peers

• Sheffield DocFest:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fundfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundacja-filmowa-im-w%C5%82adys%C5%82awa-%C5%9Blesickiego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundacja Filmowa im. Władysława Ślesickiego