Poland Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Poland? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Poland
For an introduction to shooting in Poland see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Poland Film Locations
Situated in the geographic centre of Europe, Poland offers a great diversity of natural landscapes and architecture. Landscapes include snow-capped mountains, deep forests, lakes, sandy beaches, and rural looks. Architecture in Poland ranges from early Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Soviet, Modernist and Contemporary. Poland is famous for its many castles.
Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Olsztyn are the major film production centres.
Agricultural looks of interest in Poland include wheat and rye fields, dairy farms, cherry, and apple orchards. Factories manufacture machinery and transport equipment. Poland mines coal, nickel, copper, salt, and amber. Energy locations include coal-fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, as well as biomass, wind, and solar power plants.
Poland has hosted productions such as A Real Pain (2024), The Zone of Interest (2023), The Witcher (2019-), Mr Jones (2019), Bridge Of Spies (2015), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Inland Empire (2006), The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), The Pianist (2002), and Schindler’s List (1993).
Polish cinema is world famous with directors of note including Roman Polanski, Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Agnieszka Holland, and Jerzy Skolimowski. Polish films of note include EO (2022), Corpus Christi (2019), Cold War (2018), Ida (2013), Katyń (2007), Europa Europa (1990), Blind Chance (1987), Knife in the Water (1962), and Ashes and Diamonds (1958).
Film locations can be divided into the following voivodeships:
Masovia
Located in the central-eastern part of the country, Masovia is the largest and most populous voivodeship.
Warsaw is the capital and largest city. It is known for its unique Old Town, castles, urban and suburban looks, and an abundance of parks, woodland and meadows inside the city. Its terraced houses have doubled for Berlin. Warsaw is the main film production centre where most crew and equipment is based.
Government buildings include Sejm and Senate Complex, Presidential Palace, Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland Building, Belweder Palace, and Supreme Court Building.
Castles and palaces of note include Łazienki Palace, Royal Castle, Warsaw Barbican, Wilanów Palace, Krasiński Palace, Staszic Palace, and Ujazdów Castle.
Parks of note include Łazienki Park, Mokotów Field, Moczydło Park, and Saxon Garden.
Palace of Culture and Science is a Stalinist style building.
Zlota 44 Building was designed by Daniel Libeskind.
Museums of not include the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Copernicus Science Centre, Warsaw National Museum, Fryderyk Chopin Museum, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Museum of Polish History, Polish Army Museum, and Zachęta National Gallery of Art.
Centres of higher learning include Warsaw University of Technology, University of Warsaw, and Warsaw Public Library.
Religious locations of note include the Temple of Divine Providence, St Alexander’s Church, St Anne’s Church, St Florian’s Cathedral, Powązki Cemetery, and Warsaw Jewish Cemetery.
Markets include the Old Town Market Place, and Koszyki Hall.
Transport locations include Warsaw Główny Railway Station, Warsaw Metro, and Warsaw Chopin Airport.
Entertainment venues include National Philharmonic, Grand Theatre, and National Stadium. Deepspot is a pool that goes to a depth of 45metres (148 feet). On the outskirts of Warsaw you can find the Skarpa Ski Jump ruins.
Warsaw Water Filters are a unique film location.
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland voivodeship is located in the south of the country.
Kraków is probably the most charming and picturesque city in Poland. Kraków Market Square is full of pigeons and unique locations such as St Mary’s Basilica, Town Hall Tower and the Cloth Hall, Wawel Castle, Wawel Cathedral, Krakow Barbican, Old Synagogue, Church of Saints Peter and Paul, St Florian’s Gate, Kościuszko Mound, Jagiellonian University, Kraków Opera, Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, National Museum, Princes Czartoryski Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, Kraków Congress Centre, Tauron Arena Kraków, and Kraków John Paul II International Airport.
Kraków is also the gateway to the following locations:
Nature locations include Tatra National Park, Pieniny National Park, Ojcowski National Park. Morskie Oko is a picture perfect high mountain lake located deep within the Tatra Mountains.
Zakopane is a resort town known for its ski facilities and historic wooden villas including Villa Koliba.
The Benedictine Abbey, located in Tyniec, is perched on a cliff overlooking the Vistula River.
Castles and palaces of note include Nowy Wiśnicz Castle, Niedzica Castle, Niepołomice Royal Castle, and Śmiłowice Palace.
Wieliczka Salt Mine is an unusual film location located in this area.
St Paraskevi Church in Kwiatoń is a wooden tserkva. Virgin Mary’s Care Tserkva in Owczary is another wooden church.
Auschwitz is located in this part of Poland.
The Schindler’s List (1993) Płaszów labor camp film set remains can be found in Liban Quarry.
Other cities of note in Lesser Poland include Tarnow, and Nowy Sącz.
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia voivodeship is located in the southwest of the country.
Wrocław is an important centre for film and TV production. Its rivers and channels have doubled for 19th century Amsterdam. Wrocław locations of note include Ostrów Tumski, Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Market Square, Wrocław Market Hall, Old Town Hall, Wrocław Opera, National Forum of Music, Wrocław Puppet Theater, National Museum, University of Wrocław, Wrocław Stadium, Olympic Stadium, Centennial Hall, Wrocław Główny Railway Station, Wrocław Airport, Szczytnicki Park, Japanese Garden, Botanical Garden, and Leśnica Castle.
The area is known for its charming palaces and castles such as Książ Castle, Oleśnica Castle, Czocha Castle, Krobielowice Palace, Radomierzyce Palace, Jedlinka Palace, Wojanów Palace, Kliczków Castle, and Kamieniec Ząbkowicki Palace.
Vang Stave Church is a 12th century church which was moved from Norway by King Frederick William IV of Prussia.
Wambierzyce is a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.
The Chapel of Skulls is another interesting film location in this part of Poland.
The Errant Rocks of Stołowe Mountains National Park were filmed for The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).
Kamienczyk Gorge in Karkonosze National Park was filmed for The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).
Pomerania
Pomerania voivodeship is located in the north of the country on the Baltic Sea.
Gdańsk is a port city on the Baltic coast of Poland. Film locations of note include Żuraw Medieval Crane, St Mary’s Church, Oliwa Cathedral, Long Market, Neptune’s Fountain, Artus Court, Green Gate, Golden Gate, High Gate, Gdańsk Town Hall, Great Armoury, European Solidarity Centre, Museum of the Second World War, National Museum, Amber Museum, Gdańsk University of Technology, Polish Baltic Frédéric Chopin Philharmonic, Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, Stadion Gdańsk, Ergo Arena, North Harbor Lighthouse, Gdańsk Shipyard, Gdańsk Główny Railway Station, Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, Adam Mickiewicz Park, Brzezno Beach, and Wisłoujście Fortress.
Westerplatte was the site of the first battle of WWII.
The seaside resort city of Sopot is known for its health spas, sandy beach, long wooden pier, and the Grand Hotel.
Słupsk film locations include the City Hall, New Gate, Pomeranian Dukes Castle, and Market Square.
Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world.
Kwidzyn Castle is another impressive film location.
Słowiński National Park is known for its sand dunes.
Borne Sulinowo are ruins of a former Nazi and secret Soviet military base.
Greater Poland
Greater Poland voivodeship is located in the central-western part of the country.
Poznań is the largest city in the Greater Poland voivodeship. Film locations of note include the Imperial Castle, Old Market Square, Poznań Cathedral, Poznań Fara, Poznań Town Hall, Grand Theatre, Raczyński Library, Adam Mickiewicz University, National Museum, Porta Posnania, Stadion Poznań, Poznań Główny Railway Station, Poznań–Ławica Airport, and Citadel Park.
Other cities of note include Gniezno, and Kalisz.
Castle and palace locations of note include Raczyński Palace, Gołuchów Castle, Kórnik Castle, Śmiełów Palace, and Stobnica Castle.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń, located near Konin, is one of the tallest and largest churches in the world.
Kuyavia-Pomerania
Kuyavia-Pomerania voivodeship is located in the central part of the country.
Toruń film locations include the Gothic Old Town Hall, Nicolaus Copernicus House, Toruń Castle, Toruń Cathedral, Toruń Regional Museum, Muzeum Piernika, Leaning Tower in Toruń, Arena Toruń, and Motoarena Toruń.
Bydgoszcz is known for Old Market Square, Main Post Office, St Vincent de Paul Basilica, Pomeranian Philharmonic, Opera Nova, Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak’s City Stadium, and Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport.
The Grudziądz Granaries are a unique fortification complex located in Grudziądz.
Łódź
Łódź voivodeship is located in the central part of the country.
Łódź film locations include Manufaktura, Central Museum of Textiles, Museum of Art, Cinema Museum, Herbst Palace Museum, Izrael Poznański Palace, Grand Theatre, Łódź Philharmonic, Łódź Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Łódź Jewish Cemetery, Atlas Arena, Stadion Miejski Widzewa, Łódź Fabryczna Railway Station, and Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport.
Lublin
Lublin voivodeship is located in the east of the country.
Lublin city film locations include Lublin Old Town, Lublin Castle, Centre for the Meeting of Cultures, Lublin Village Open Air Museum, Majdanek State Museum which was a Nazi death camp, Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, Aqua Lublin, Arena Lublin, Lublin Główny Railway Station, and Lublin Airport. Before WWII, Lublin was one of the world’s leading centres of Judaism.
Zamość is a Renaissance town known for Great Market Square and its impressive 17th-century Town Hall.
Kazimierz Dolny is a beautiful small town.
Kozłówka Palace, and Czartoryski Palace are also located in this area.
Polesie National Park is known for its peat-bog preserves.
Lubusz
Lubusz voivodeship is located in the west of the country.
The Festungsfront Oder-Warthe-Bogen was a network of Nazi fortifications consisting of concrete defence structures and tunnels. The location is now home to thousands of bats.
The Palace at Osowa Sień is a pretty film location.
Zielona Góra is known for its many vineyards.
Opole
Opole voivodeship is located in the south of the country.
Cities of note include Opole, Nysa, and Brzeg.
Moszna Castle is a beautiful fairytale film location.
Podlaskie
Podlaskie voivodeship is located in the northeast of the country.
Białystok is home to Branicki Palace, Memorial Museum Siberia, Kosciuszko Market Square, Podlaskie Museum of Folk Culture, Białystok Cathedral, Church of the Holy Spirit which is an onion-domed Orthodox church, Stadion Miejski, Białystok Railway Station, and Białystok-Krywlany Airfield.
Bialowieza Forest is Europe’s last primeval forest. It is home to the world’s largest population of European bison. Other parks in this area include Biebrzański Park Narodowy, Wigry National Park, and Narew National Park.
Tykocin is one of the best preserved shtetls in the world.
Silesia
Silesia voivodeship is located in the south of the country.
Katowice film locations include the Cathedral of Christ the King, Katowice International Conference Centre, NOSPR Concert Hall, Scientific Information Center and Academic Library, Silesian Museum, Silesian Library, Silesian Planetarium, Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park, Central Museum of Firefighting, Pokój Steelworks Blast Furnace, Arena Spodek, and Katowice Railway Station.
Gliwice is known for Pławniowice Palace, Palmenhaus, Gliwice Radio Tower, and Gliwice Arena.
Jasna Góra in Częstochowa is the holiest Catholic shrine in Poland.
The Church of the Holy Spirit in Tychy is an interesting Modernist structure.
Bobolice Castle is an interesting film location.
Ogrodzieniec Castle is a ruined medieval castle that featured in The Witcher (2019-).
Krowiarki Palace is another eerie abandoned structure.
Subcarpathia
Subcarpathia voivodeship is located in the far southeast of the country. The area is mostly forests and mountains.
Sanok is known for its Main Market Square, Museum of Folk Architecture, and Historical Museum in Sanok.
Mother of God Church in Chotyniec is a wooden tserkva.
Film locations of note include Rzeszów Town Hall, Łańcut Castle, Krasiczyn Castle, and Przemyśl Cathedral.
Świętokrzyskie
Świętokrzyskie voivodeship is located in the southeast of the country.
Kielce is known for Kielce Cathedral, Kraków Bishops Palace, and Kielce Bus Station which is a modernist structure.
Sandomierz is known for its Town Hall and Market Square.
Krzyżtopór Castle in Ujazd is a famous castle ruin.
The Mausoleum of the Martyrdom of Polish Villages is located in Michniów.
Warmia-Masuria
Warmia-Masuria voivodeship is located in the northeast of the country.
Olsztyn and the former royal city of Elbląg are the largest cities.
The Masurian Lake District has over 2,000 lakes.
Castles of note include Frombork, and Lidzbark Warmiński.
The eerie ruins of Hitler’s war time headquarters, the Wolf’s Lair, is located in this part of Poland.
West Pomerania
West Pomerania voivodeship is located in the northwest of the country.
Szczecin is known for the Ducal Castle, Szczecin Cathedral, Chrobry Embankment, Szczecin City Hall, Szczecin Registry Office, Szczecin Philharmonic, Szczecin National Museum, and Museum of Technology and Transportation.
Impressive lighthouses of note include Świnoujście Lighthouse, Kołobrzeg Lighthouse, Darłowo Lighthouse, and Niechorze Lighthouse.
Wolin National Park has a European bison sanctuary.
Darłowo Castle is a Gothic castle.
The Crooked Forest is an unusual film location located near Gryfino.
Poland Film Location Permits
Low impact filming in Warsaw or other Polish cities does not require a permit. Filming that requires exclusive use of public space, larger setups, pyrotechnics, or stunts requires film permits. Timing and costs vary depending on the specific details of the shoot. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Poland has a four-season climate with hot summers, colourful leaves in fall, white winters, and spring in full bloom. May to October are the best months to film warm weather looks. November to April has snow in the mountains. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Poland is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Poland.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Poland Costs & Tax Incentives For Filming
Costs. Poland on average is much more cost effective than Western Europe, on par with Czech or Hungary, and more expensive than Latvia, Ukraine or Romania. Poland does not yet trade in the Euro. Our locally based fixers and service producers negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget. See here for the current VAT rate.
Tax Incentives. A 30% cash rebate is available to co-productions, domestic and service productions. Only feature films, documentaries and high-end television series can receive the rebate. Incentives are also available from regional film offices. The Polish Film Institute runs its own fund which covers up to a maximum of 50% of the total budget.
Poland Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Poland has a small but impressive pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Its close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access to those pools of creative talent should you ever need to look further. There are no unions in Poland. Crew costs are very competitive compared to Western Europe. Polish crews are experienced and creative. They have a great attitude and English is widely spoken.
Contact us if you are looking for a Warsaw, Kraków or Wroclaw based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in Poland.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Polish is the official language.
Poland is mainly ethnically Polish. Its close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access to those pools of talent should you ever need to look further. Model agencies of note include Carol Models and SPP Models. Actors agencies of note include Gudejko, Passa, and Prozano.
Poland Film Equipment
Equipment. Poland is Panavision based. All of the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally. Some specialised gear needs to be brought in. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Poland is an ATA carnet country.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Poland Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction is quite strong in Poland.
Studios. Several good options exist. ATM Studios in Warsaw and Alvernia Studios in Kraków have sound studios and post facilities.
Post Production. Poland offers a variety of post production facilities.
Poland Visas & Work Permits For Filming
Poland is a member of the Schengen Area. Visiting US film crews can enter visa-free for a period of up to 90 days. Only certain countries need visas and there is no need for work permits.
Poland Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is all up to known and expected world standards. Poland is serviced well domestically and globally by several international and regional budget airlines.
Accommodation. Contact us for film friendly hotels in Warsaw and other parts of Poland. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Accommodation of note in Warsaw includes:
Final Notes
Safety. Poland is a safe and reliable filming centre. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Explore Kraków, the Tatras, or the lake district. Try some local cuisine such as bigos, pierogis, gołąbki, tripe soup, sour rye soup, kielbasa, bagels, bialys, and Polish vodka.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Poland, please see below:
Hire Poland Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Poland, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Poland, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
