Millions for “Hollywood production” that was not created. Unclear PFN expenses

All activities related to the work on the production of a film about the American who created “King Congo”, consumed about PLN 5-6 million from the cash register of the Polish National Foundation – revealed Onet, citing unofficial information. He also informed that “everything indicates that a notification to the prosecutor's office in this case would be submitted in the near future.” There were more similar film projects financed by PFN.

On Thursday, Onet described the matter of “ambiguities that appeared around patriotic films co -financed by PFN”. As noted, some of them were to go to theaters – despite serious doubts about their settlements, while others were never made public.

The portal drew attention to the design of the film about Merian C. Cooper and the Kościuszko Squadron. “It was intended to be a great Hollywood production that would conquer cinema around the world. Cooper was an American soldier and filmmaker who in 1933 made the first film about King Kong, and earlier fought as a pilot in the Polish -Bolshevik war, and was even awarded by Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the Order of Virtuti Militari,” we read.

“The implementation of this project was commissioned in 2019 of the” Tumult “Foundation belonging to the producer and director Marek Jewish, known primarily for organizing the Camerimage Film Festival, at which the most famous fame of world cinema such as Quentin Tarantino, Adam Driver, Sean Penn or Willem Dafoe” hosted the greatest fame of world cinema, “said Onet. As added, Jewish was to plan production about Merian C. Cooper as early as 2008.

“The second attempt was to come true due to the support of the Polish National Foundation. As our interlocutors say – the project was a real eye in the head of the then president of PFN Maciej Świrski,” said Onet.

Several million for the production of the creator of “King Conga”

The portal wrote that the Jewish “Tumult” Foundation was to mediate in concluding contracts with screenwriters, producers, film studios, directors, actors and distributors.

“The first stage included the creation of the script. Due to the recommendation of the Jewish, this order was received by Matt Chaman, the British, who in his portfolio had, among others, the script for the film for Steven Spielberg 'Smary Bridge'. Net, the so -called Succes Fee for the fact that the script met the requirements specified in the contract, “reveals Onet.

As reported, PFN could not disclose the amount of remuneration received by the British screenwriter due to restrictive confidentiality records. “We hear, however, that it was probably one of the most expensive scenarios in the history of Polish cinematography. In addition, it lay in the armored closet at the PFN headquarters until the change of power, and the film itself was never produced” – we read.

In an interview with Onet, Żydowicz explained that “Pandemia broke out first, then the war in Ukraine, inflation was imposed on it and probably there was a bit of determination.” He also pointed to “concerns about the inability to finance the Polish part”. – From the beginning of this project, it was assumed that the possible production of the film would be half financed by foreign entities and half Polish. Analyzing the script guidelines, the budget of the film's implementation in the expected quality and with the participation of recognized actors and director, he would reach tens of million dollars. Therefore, it was reasonable to refrain from work until the end of the pandemic and war, and thus improvement of the economic situation – he said.

According to Onet's unofficial information, “all activities related to this production consumed about PLN 5-6 million from the PFN cash register.” “The current management has serious doubts about the settlements related to this project and everything indicates that the notification to the prosecutor's office in this case will be submitted in the near future” – it was written.

PFN and subsequent film projects

Onet also found that the next project financed by PFN is the documentary film “Three deaths of Merian Cooper, whose production was responsible for the well -known right -wing journalist Anita Gargas”. She received “a quarter of a million zlotys” for its production.

“Onet unofficially found out that Anita Gargas was called by PFN to return the entire donation because she did not present full documentation of expenses and did not explain the inaccuracies arising from the documents presented. In correspondence with our editorial office, the journalist confirms that she received funds from the Polish National Foundation for the production of the film 'Three deaths of Merian Cooper' Settlement in accordance with the contract, “said the portal.

According to Onet, “Another example is the project of a full -length documentary film called 'Zosia', whose originator was another known right -wing journalist Cezary Gmyz.”

“The production was to present the story of a 19 -year -old girl Zofia Saran, who became an officer of the Citizens' Militia to obtain information and documents, which she then passed on to the guerrilla branches of Hieronim Dekutowski pseud.

– I sent a settlement to PFN, but I do not think that the current management would want to implement this production. However, there is a preliminary interest from the Institute of National Remembrance, although the NIK control is underway there, and Karol Nawrocki It is in campaign mode, so this is probably not the best time to make such decisions – he said in an interview with Onet Gmyz.

“We check everything, but it is a very tedious job”

The portal said that “many other film projects were also under the magnifying glass of the current board, but the foundation does not want to inform about the details at the moment.” “Serious doubts about, among others, those points in the cost estimates, which are described very generally, or those that were not mentioned at all in a bilateral agreement between the beneficiary and the donor” – it was written.

As the portal mentioned, it is, for example, about such points as additional “substantive consultations”, “translations” or “creating graphics for poster”.

– Now we check it all, but it is a very tedious and time -consuming work. Especially since it requires us to collect documents from those other institutions that provided a subsidy. However, we want each of these projects to be meticulously analyzed and settled – assured Jarosław, a member of the new PFN board, in an interview with Onet.

Polish National Foundation It was established in November 2016, by the decision of the then Prime Minister Beata Szydło. It was founded by 17 state -owned companies. The foundation's task was to promote the image of Poland abroad. A notification to the prosecutor's office for the activities of previous authorities was prepared in February by a new PFN board. It covers 2017-2024 and applies to, among others The “Righteous Courts” campaign commissioned by PFN, the “I love Poland” project, in which, among others The purchase of a yacht or cyclical financing of TV Republika was financed.