Iluminace 2024, 36(3):63-79 | DOI: 10.58193/ilu.1790

From Semi-Amateur to Professional Production Conditions.
The Irzykowski Film Studio and Animation in the Late People’s Republic of Poland

Emil Sowiński ORCID...
University of Lodz, Poland

The present paper contextualises and closely analyses the production strategy of the Irzykowski Film Studio (a communist-era film institution founded in 1981 that produced debut films of all types and lengths) for animated films in the 1980s. In reconstructing the realities of animated film production, the author points out not only the reasons for their making, but also draws attention to production conditions. It proves that the Studio operated under semi-amateur (1980–1985) where films were produced on extremely limited budgets as well as professional (1986–1989) production conditions. The research draws on archival materials, including a variety of production documents, as well as qualitative interviews with filmmakers and production staff.

Keywords: Polish animated films, Irzykowski Film Studio, People’s Republic of Poland, Solidarity, martial law, 1980s

Received: April 30, 2024; Revised: April 30, 2024; Accepted: December 19, 2024; Published: January 28, 2025  Show citation

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Sowiński, E. (2024). From Semi-Amateur to Professional Production Conditions.
The Irzykowski Film Studio and Animation in the Late People’s Republic of Poland. Iluminace, 36(3), 63-79. doi: 10.58193/ilu.1790
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