Netflix has opened an office in the Polish capital, Warsaw, which will act as a hub for the entire CEE region.
It has also announced that it allocated PLN490 million (€104 million) in 2020-2021 for the development of a local library and the production of films and series in Poland, creating 2,600 jobs in the process.
According to Larry Tanz, VP, head of original series, EMEA at Netflix, “Poland has become a key market for us in Central and Eastern Europe. Given the growing number of Polish productions, the time has come to get even closer to the local creative and film industry. The Netflix office in Warsaw is a natural step in our development that will greatly facilitate building long-term cooperation in the region and strengthen existing relationships, creating wide opportunities for creators and producers. The creativity and potential of the industry make Warsaw a great place to do business in the entire Central and Eastern Europe”.
Alicja Grawon-Jaksik, president of the Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce (KIPA), added: “The opening of a permanent office in Warsaw of one of the world OTT leaders means that Poland is one of the most developing audiovisual production markets in Europe. She is treated as a serious, long-term partner. It will be the location for a greater number of ongoing projects. And new projects mean jobs, greater transfer of funds, new creative opportunities. We are glad that the Polish market, Polish producers, have more and more partners financing production from foreign markets – this stimulates the economy and the development of the sector as such. It is an important signal for all of us, strengthening the position of the domestic audiovisual sector in our region of Europe”.
Netflix’s investments on the Polish market extend beyond purely production cooperation. In 2020 it began a multi-stage cooperation with KIPA and this year it officially began a long-term cooperation with the Film School in Lodz.
