Film, video and photography
The contemporary legal framework for the audiovisual sector in Poland is based primarily on the Act on Cinematography of 30 June 2005 and its later amendments. The Act regulates public support mechanisms for film production, distribution, promotion and film education.
In its current status, the Act provides for state support to the film industry and its main premise is to ensure the endowment of film production and promotion, as well as popularisation of film culture. In order to achieve these goals, the Act established the Polish Film Institute which is responsible for the fulfilment of Polish cultural policy in the film sector.
The financing model of the Polish Film Institute is based on public subsidies and contributions from audiovisual market participants, including cinemas, broadcasters, distributors, cable operators and streaming platforms. In recent years, increasing attention has been devoted to international co-productions, digital distribution, streaming services and the impact of platform economies and artificial intelligence on the audiovisual sector.
Mass media
The media sector in Poland is mainly based on two legal Acts: the Press Law of 26th January 1984 and Broadcasting Act of 29th December 1992, which came into force on March 1, 1993.
The Press Law regulates the functioning of the press sector, including freedom of expression, access to information and media responsibilities. Public debate increasingly concerns the adaptation of media law to digital communication environments, platform economies and online disinformation.
The Broadcasting Act was repeatedly amended in connection with European Union audiovisual regulations and the development of digital and streaming services.
Programme quotas, which were finally regulated in a detailed manner in line with EU standards, are outlined in the Broadcasting Act of 29 December 1992. According to the final consolidated version of the Act, with amendments, broadcasters of television programmes are obliged to reserve at least 30% of their quarterly transmission time to programmes originally produced in the Polish language.
Questions concerning public media governance became one of the central issues of cultural and political debate after the parliamentary elections of 2023. In December 2023, the new government replaced the management of public television, public radio and the Polish Press Agency and later placed public media companies into liquidation. The government presented these actions as a step toward restoring impartiality and public trust after years of politicisation, while the opposition and the National Broadcasting Council questioned their legality. The situation remains part of an ongoing institutional and legal dispute concerning the governance and independence of public media in Poland.
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