You can feel white hot anger bubbling like magma just beneath the surface of Agnieszka Holland’s excoriating drama about the brutal situation for refugees on the Poland/Belrus border. No wonder then, perhaps, that when it was released in Poland the then-ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party responded with a hate campaign attacking the director. President Andrzej Duda compared it to Nazi propaganda and described it as “anti-Polish”. PiS even went as far as to try to force cinemas to show a 30-second propaganda film entitled Safe Poland before Green Border, though many refused.
The truth, as they say, hurts. Holland pulls no punches as she offers a multiple-perspective look at the brutal state of affairs that was created when Belarussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko lured refugees to his country’s border with Poland with talk of how easily they would be able to enter the European Union. The reality was the polar opposite.
The truth, as they say, hurts. Holland pulls no punches as she offers a multiple-perspective look at the brutal state of affairs that was created when Belarussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko lured refugees to his country’s border with Poland with talk of how easily they would be able to enter the European Union. The reality was the polar opposite.
- 3/19/2024
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Iga Swiatek has sparked curiosity by not wearing the ribbon that is usually pinned on the side of her cap with the Ukrainian flag color at this week's China Open .
Since the full-scale invasion by Russia into Ukraine over a year ago, Swiatek has been one the loudest supporters of the Ukrainian cause and has pledged her support by wearing a ribbon on her hat with Ukraine's flag colors. She has also been very vocal during her press conferences and on-court interviews .
Swiatek has previously organized a one-day charitable exhibition tennis tournament in her native Poland, which raised more than $500,000 to benefit Ukrainian youth impacted by the conflict. Since the war began, many athletes began wearing ribbons of blue and yellow, but Swiatek has remained one of the very few non-Ukrainians still donning those colors.
But at the China Open, many fans were quick to notice that wasn't the case,...
Since the full-scale invasion by Russia into Ukraine over a year ago, Swiatek has been one the loudest supporters of the Ukrainian cause and has pledged her support by wearing a ribbon on her hat with Ukraine's flag colors. She has also been very vocal during her press conferences and on-court interviews .
Swiatek has previously organized a one-day charitable exhibition tennis tournament in her native Poland, which raised more than $500,000 to benefit Ukrainian youth impacted by the conflict. Since the war began, many athletes began wearing ribbons of blue and yellow, but Swiatek has remained one of the very few non-Ukrainians still donning those colors.
But at the China Open, many fans were quick to notice that wasn't the case,...
- 10/8/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The Polish film Green Border had already courted plenty of international controversy by the time the drama premiered at the New York Film Festival this week. After its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August, where it won the Special Jury Prize, the film — which depicts the horrific conditions faced by migrants attempting to cross from Belarus into Poland — has broken box office records in its home country despite a government-approved warning video before the movie downplaying its critique of the Polish government’s handling of the border crisis.
“I’ve become the biggest threat to Polish national security,” said director Agnieszka Holland during a Q&a following the film’s Thursday night screening in which the filmmaker was joined by cinematographer Tomasz Naumiuk and actresses Behi Djanati-Atai and Joely Mbundu. Just before the Venice premiere, both the Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro and president Andrzej Duda compared...
“I’ve become the biggest threat to Polish national security,” said director Agnieszka Holland during a Q&a following the film’s Thursday night screening in which the filmmaker was joined by cinematographer Tomasz Naumiuk and actresses Behi Djanati-Atai and Joely Mbundu. Just before the Venice premiere, both the Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro and president Andrzej Duda compared...
- 10/6/2023
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s a strange time for Agnieszka Holland. Green Border, the new film from the acclaimed Polish director — a three-time Oscar nominee — just celebrated the best opening for a Polish movie in cinemas this year with 137,000 admissions over its first weekend, according to local distributor Kino Świat. It’s particularly impressive given that the film, a black-and-white drama depicting the real-life plight of refugees stranded on the natural border between Poland and Belarus, can be a rough watch.
In late 2021, thousands of refugees from the Middle East and Africa were lured to the Polish border by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who cynically engineered a geopolitical crisis, promising migrants easy passage over the Polish border into the European Union. But the Polish government refused to let them in, leaving families stranded and starving in the swampy, treacherous forests between the two countries. Holland’s film intertwines the perspectives of the stranded refugees,...
In late 2021, thousands of refugees from the Middle East and Africa were lured to the Polish border by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who cynically engineered a geopolitical crisis, promising migrants easy passage over the Polish border into the European Union. But the Polish government refused to let them in, leaving families stranded and starving in the swampy, treacherous forests between the two countries. Holland’s film intertwines the perspectives of the stranded refugees,...
- 9/26/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Poland’s Oscar committee has selected The Peasants, a sumptuous animated literary adaptation from Loving Vincent directors Dk and Hugh Welchman, as the country’s submission for the best international feature category at the 2024 Oscars, over The Green Border, a critically-acclaimed film from two-time Oscar nominee Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa, In Darkness).
The decision, announced by the committee in Warsaw Monday afternoon, comes after a concerted attack on The Green Border by Poland’s far-right government, with the justice minister and the country’s president condemning the film and comparing it to “Nazi propaganda” for its depiction of the refugee crisis on Poland’s border with Belarus.
The head of Poland’s Oscar committee, producer Ewa Puszczyńska, whose credits include the Oscar-winner Ida, the Oscar-nominated Quo vadis, Aida? and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, the U.K. entry for the 2024 best international feature race, said deliberations were “tough...
The decision, announced by the committee in Warsaw Monday afternoon, comes after a concerted attack on The Green Border by Poland’s far-right government, with the justice minister and the country’s president condemning the film and comparing it to “Nazi propaganda” for its depiction of the refugee crisis on Poland’s border with Belarus.
The head of Poland’s Oscar committee, producer Ewa Puszczyńska, whose credits include the Oscar-winner Ida, the Oscar-nominated Quo vadis, Aida? and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, the U.K. entry for the 2024 best international feature race, said deliberations were “tough...
- 9/25/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“I didn’t expect such a tsunami of hate,” says the Polish director of ’The Green Border’
Polish director Agnieszka Holland has responded to a string of attacks by Polish government ministers on her and her Venice prize-winning film The Green Border.
“I expected some heated reaction and political reaction,” said Holland. “But I didn’t expect such a tsunami of the hate. And such an organised hate campaign coming from the highest authorities.”
See full Q&a interview below
The political attacks started earlier this month with Poland’s hard-right justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro comparing The Green Border to...
Polish director Agnieszka Holland has responded to a string of attacks by Polish government ministers on her and her Venice prize-winning film The Green Border.
“I expected some heated reaction and political reaction,” said Holland. “But I didn’t expect such a tsunami of the hate. And such an organised hate campaign coming from the highest authorities.”
See full Q&a interview below
The political attacks started earlier this month with Poland’s hard-right justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro comparing The Green Border to...
- 9/22/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Director Agnieszka Holland has been forced to take 24-hour security protection as she returns to her native Poland for the theatrical release of migrant drama Green Border in the face of a fierce political backlash and online hate campaign.
“The situation is very dynamic and keeps changing. I’m trying to keep a sane mind but it’s dangerous. This campaign could provoke real violence, not only verbal violence. It only takes one deranged person to take it seriously,” Holland told Deadline as she traveled to a pre-screening event Thursday.
Green Border, which opens in Poland on Friday, tackles the migrant crisis along Poland’s thickly forested border with Belarus, which Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is widely accused of engineering by encouraging people to travel to his country on the promise they can easily cross over to Poland and the European Union.
The film has touched a raw nerve with Poland’s ruling right-wing,...
“The situation is very dynamic and keeps changing. I’m trying to keep a sane mind but it’s dangerous. This campaign could provoke real violence, not only verbal violence. It only takes one deranged person to take it seriously,” Holland told Deadline as she traveled to a pre-screening event Thursday.
Green Border, which opens in Poland on Friday, tackles the migrant crisis along Poland’s thickly forested border with Belarus, which Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is widely accused of engineering by encouraging people to travel to his country on the promise they can easily cross over to Poland and the European Union.
The film has touched a raw nerve with Poland’s ruling right-wing,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland has remained defiant despite a wave of vicious political attacks and online hate speech as she prepares to release her Venice Special Jury Prize-winning refugee drama “Green Border” in Poland on Sept. 22.
“I find the orchestrated hatred organized by the highest Polish officials abominable and dangerous,” the three-time Academy Award nominee tells Variety. “It proves only how deeply true and important is our film, and that we’re showing the things and giving faces to people they wanted to hide by the lies and propaganda.”
“Green Border” explores the injustice and terror perpetrated along the border between Poland and Belarus from the perspective of refugees, activists and border guards, painting a damning portrait of the right-wing, anti-migrant Polish government’s response to the refugee crisis. In a glowing review from Venice, where the film was widely praised, Variety‘s Jessica Kiang described Holland’s “intense, intelligent...
“I find the orchestrated hatred organized by the highest Polish officials abominable and dangerous,” the three-time Academy Award nominee tells Variety. “It proves only how deeply true and important is our film, and that we’re showing the things and giving faces to people they wanted to hide by the lies and propaganda.”
“Green Border” explores the injustice and terror perpetrated along the border between Poland and Belarus from the perspective of refugees, activists and border guards, painting a damning portrait of the right-wing, anti-migrant Polish government’s response to the refugee crisis. In a glowing review from Venice, where the film was widely praised, Variety‘s Jessica Kiang described Holland’s “intense, intelligent...
- 9/21/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Poland’s right-wing government has upped its attacks on The Green Border, the new film from acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Polish director Agnieszka Holland, requiring theaters in Poland to run a government-approved warning video ahead of the movie.
The move, unprecedented in democratic Poland, comes ahead of The Green Border‘s national release on Friday, where it will go out wide on 250 screens across the country via distributor Kino Swiat.
The Green Border premiered to critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month where it won a special jury prize. Critics lauded the movie, with The Hollywood Reporter review calling it a “devastating dramatic triumph” and naming The Green Border one of the top 15 movies of the fall festival season.
The film is a dramatization of the plight of refugees stranded on the natural border between Poland and Belarus. The migrants, most of them from North Africa and the Middle East,...
The move, unprecedented in democratic Poland, comes ahead of The Green Border‘s national release on Friday, where it will go out wide on 250 screens across the country via distributor Kino Swiat.
The Green Border premiered to critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month where it won a special jury prize. Critics lauded the movie, with The Hollywood Reporter review calling it a “devastating dramatic triumph” and naming The Green Border one of the top 15 movies of the fall festival season.
The film is a dramatization of the plight of refugees stranded on the natural border between Poland and Belarus. The migrants, most of them from North Africa and the Middle East,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If cinema is an empathy machine, to paraphrase the late Roger Ebert, then Agnieszka Holland’s new film is one precision-tooled specimen.
This profoundly moving, flawlessly executed multi-strand drama, shot in stark black and white, tracks refugees from various nations in 2021 trying to cross the border from Belarus into Poland. With inevitably tragic consequences, they become pawns in a gruesome game of “pass the parcel” between guards on both sides of the title’s green border, the dividing line between European Union member Poland and Russia ally Belarus.
Although the violence shown isn’t gratuitous, the suffering in Green Border (Zielona granica) is painfully palpable. There is a moment where a Pole, a minor character in the story, refuses to look at a video on a friend’s phone showing a border guard beating a migrant; Holland’s film implicitly confronts everyone — and that would be most of us — who...
This profoundly moving, flawlessly executed multi-strand drama, shot in stark black and white, tracks refugees from various nations in 2021 trying to cross the border from Belarus into Poland. With inevitably tragic consequences, they become pawns in a gruesome game of “pass the parcel” between guards on both sides of the title’s green border, the dividing line between European Union member Poland and Russia ally Belarus.
Although the violence shown isn’t gratuitous, the suffering in Green Border (Zielona granica) is painfully palpable. There is a moment where a Pole, a minor character in the story, refuses to look at a video on a friend’s phone showing a border guard beating a migrant; Holland’s film implicitly confronts everyone — and that would be most of us — who...
- 9/6/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) insiders in Poland have reacted with alarm after a group of European regulators said they plan to meet to discuss what the insiders believe could lead to the closure of the U.S. media giant’s operation in the nation.
The National Broadcasting Council of Poland (KRRiT) yesterday said it intends to organize a gathering of nine audiovisual market regulators from Central and Eastern Europe in Warsaw in September in a bid to “jointly counter Russian propaganda within the European Union.”
Wbd insiders interpret the move as an attempt to potentially shut down its legacy Polish operation, which includes news network TVN24. They point to frequent attacks by the Polish government – the KRRiT overseer – that conflates its anti-government reporting with being pro-Russian. Last month, a TVN24 journalist was called a “Kremlin representative” by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the ruling Law and Justice Party, a...
The National Broadcasting Council of Poland (KRRiT) yesterday said it intends to organize a gathering of nine audiovisual market regulators from Central and Eastern Europe in Warsaw in September in a bid to “jointly counter Russian propaganda within the European Union.”
Wbd insiders interpret the move as an attempt to potentially shut down its legacy Polish operation, which includes news network TVN24. They point to frequent attacks by the Polish government – the KRRiT overseer – that conflates its anti-government reporting with being pro-Russian. Last month, a TVN24 journalist was called a “Kremlin representative” by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the ruling Law and Justice Party, a...
- 6/22/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Prince William is following in his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s footsteps.
The royal made a surprise two-day visit to Poland this week, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — the monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict — in Warsaw on Thursday, just like the Queen did with Prince Philip in 1996.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict, during day two of his visit on March 23, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Yui Mok – Pool/Getty Images)
The wreath, which included the Prince of Wales’ feathers for the first time, included a note that read: “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hello! reported.
The @KensingtonRoyal Twitter account shared some photos from the poignant moment, alongside the caption: “In...
The royal made a surprise two-day visit to Poland this week, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — the monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict — in Warsaw on Thursday, just like the Queen did with Prince Philip in 1996.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict, during day two of his visit on March 23, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Yui Mok – Pool/Getty Images)
The wreath, which included the Prince of Wales’ feathers for the first time, included a note that read: “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hello! reported.
The @KensingtonRoyal Twitter account shared some photos from the poignant moment, alongside the caption: “In...
- 3/23/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were among a number of world leaders invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral today, and he has made several statements about his relationship with the late monarch.
Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 at the age of 96. She was at her residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
He was clearly reflective when he shared a photo of himself signing the official Condolence Book for the Royal on Sunday, mentioning that they will “always remember her kindness and hospitality.”
Today Jill and I signed the Official Condolence Book for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We first met the Queen in 1982, and will always remember her kindness and hospitality. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world. pic.twitter.com/6aZzUAMDAU
— President Biden (@Potus) September 18, 2022
The Bidens were also present for her...
Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 at the age of 96. She was at her residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
He was clearly reflective when he shared a photo of himself signing the official Condolence Book for the Royal on Sunday, mentioning that they will “always remember her kindness and hospitality.”
Today Jill and I signed the Official Condolence Book for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We first met the Queen in 1982, and will always remember her kindness and hospitality. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world. pic.twitter.com/6aZzUAMDAU
— President Biden (@Potus) September 18, 2022
The Bidens were also present for her...
- 9/19/2022
- by Jacob Linden
- Uinterview
Ariztical has taken North American rights to “All Our Fears,” a gay drama based on the life of Polish artist Daniel Rycharski that won the top prize at last year’s Gdynia Film Festival. Variety has been given exclusive access to the film’s international trailer.
“All Our Fears” tells the story of Daniel (Dawid Ogrodnik), a young artist torn between his small village community, urban art galleries, the Catholic Church and his gay identity. When his lesbian friend (Agata Labno) commits suicide after suffering from homophobic heckling, Daniel’s life mission becomes the redemption of his community through a towering work of art. Meanwhile, he struggles not to lose Olek (Oskar Rybaczek), a local man he loves who isn’t able to embrace his sexuality.
The film is written and directed by Łukasz Ronduda and co-directed by Łukasz Gutt. It’s produced by Kuba Kosma, who collaborated with Ronduda...
“All Our Fears” tells the story of Daniel (Dawid Ogrodnik), a young artist torn between his small village community, urban art galleries, the Catholic Church and his gay identity. When his lesbian friend (Agata Labno) commits suicide after suffering from homophobic heckling, Daniel’s life mission becomes the redemption of his community through a towering work of art. Meanwhile, he struggles not to lose Olek (Oskar Rybaczek), a local man he loves who isn’t able to embrace his sexuality.
The film is written and directed by Łukasz Ronduda and co-directed by Łukasz Gutt. It’s produced by Kuba Kosma, who collaborated with Ronduda...
- 6/8/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
A Stand Up for Ukraine event taking place Saturday saw 4.6 billion in grants and 5.5 billion in loans pledged for humanitarian efforts being undertaken by Ukraine and other European countries, Un agencies and grassroots organizations to support all those impacted by the Russian invasion.
The European Commission pledged 1.1B, with countries participating including Canada (80M), Belgium (904M), Croatia (111M), Czech Republic (222M), Estonia (111K), Finland (778M), Ireland (58M), Italy (400M), Malta (55K), Slovakia (595M), Sweden (333M) and Qatar (5M). Companies pledging their support included Blue Bottle Coffee, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, The Coca-Cola Company, Continental Development Corporation, Crush Music, Csl Behring, DocuSign, Farmamundi Foundation, Google, Nestlé, Nespresso, Twitter, Verizon, The Foundation at Sanofi, Seadream Family Foundation and Sun Life.
The Council of Europe Development Bank pledged 1.1B in loans, with European Investment Bank pledging 4.4B, which still requires approval by its board of directors. Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development...
The European Commission pledged 1.1B, with countries participating including Canada (80M), Belgium (904M), Croatia (111M), Czech Republic (222M), Estonia (111K), Finland (778M), Ireland (58M), Italy (400M), Malta (55K), Slovakia (595M), Sweden (333M) and Qatar (5M). Companies pledging their support included Blue Bottle Coffee, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, The Coca-Cola Company, Continental Development Corporation, Crush Music, Csl Behring, DocuSign, Farmamundi Foundation, Google, Nestlé, Nespresso, Twitter, Verizon, The Foundation at Sanofi, Seadream Family Foundation and Sun Life.
The Council of Europe Development Bank pledged 1.1B in loans, with European Investment Bank pledging 4.4B, which still requires approval by its board of directors. Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development...
- 4/9/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Second Update: 3 Pm Pacific: World Cup producers FIFA will allow the Russian national soccer team to participate in World Cup qualifying games, the organization said today.
The moves comes as Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have declared they will not participate in any matches with Russia in the qualifying rounds.
FIFA will allow Russia to take the pitch, but will not allow the Russian flag or national anthem..The team will also be designated as the Football Union of Russia. The organization added that it will not allow any games in Russia itself, but will schedule for neutral territories.
Qualifying rounds are set to start next month. Whether these sanctions change any minds remains to be seen.
Update: Pressure is mounting on FIFA to boot Russia from the qualifying rounds of the World Cup. Today, the Czech Republic has joined in the boycott of Ukraine’s invaders, saying they...
The moves comes as Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have declared they will not participate in any matches with Russia in the qualifying rounds.
FIFA will allow Russia to take the pitch, but will not allow the Russian flag or national anthem..The team will also be designated as the Football Union of Russia. The organization added that it will not allow any games in Russia itself, but will schedule for neutral territories.
Qualifying rounds are set to start next month. Whether these sanctions change any minds remains to be seen.
Update: Pressure is mounting on FIFA to boot Russia from the qualifying rounds of the World Cup. Today, the Czech Republic has joined in the boycott of Ukraine’s invaders, saying they...
- 2/27/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on Monday vetoed a media bill that would have silenced a Discovery-owned news channel there, noting concerns about straining U.S. relations and damaging Poland’s international image as a place to do business.
The bill would have prevented any non-European entity from owning more than a 49% stake in Polish radio or TV broadcasters. Discovery owns Poland’s largest private television network, Tvn, and is the only significant non-European media owner in the country. The bill was seen by critics as specifically targeting Tvn, which is critical of the government. If passed, it would have forced Discovery to divest part or all of its holding.
This legislation has been batting around the Polish parliament since last summer year and appeared to have died earlier this fall when the Senate voted against passage. But it made a surprise reappearance on Friday, Polish lawmakers’ last session of the year,...
The bill would have prevented any non-European entity from owning more than a 49% stake in Polish radio or TV broadcasters. Discovery owns Poland’s largest private television network, Tvn, and is the only significant non-European media owner in the country. The bill was seen by critics as specifically targeting Tvn, which is critical of the government. If passed, it would have forced Discovery to divest part or all of its holding.
This legislation has been batting around the Polish parliament since last summer year and appeared to have died earlier this fall when the Senate voted against passage. But it made a surprise reappearance on Friday, Polish lawmakers’ last session of the year,...
- 12/27/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery Inc will not have to sell its Polish business after all. On Monday, President Andrzej Duda vetoed a controversial media bill that was passed in the Polish parliament earlier this month that would have forced the U.S. giant to sell its business in the country.
Known as Lex Tvn, the bill was designed to prevent non-European ownership of Polish media companies. It was first proposed in July by Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which said that TV and radio license holders shouldn’t be directly or indirectly controlled by entities that aren’t in the European Economic Area. The bill, had it been approved by Duda, would have prevented any non-European company from owning more than a 49% stake in TV or radio companies in the country.
Duda said that that the bill was unpopular in Poland and would adversely affect the country’s reputation...
Known as Lex Tvn, the bill was designed to prevent non-European ownership of Polish media companies. It was first proposed in July by Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which said that TV and radio license holders shouldn’t be directly or indirectly controlled by entities that aren’t in the European Economic Area. The bill, had it been approved by Duda, would have prevented any non-European company from owning more than a 49% stake in TV or radio companies in the country.
Duda said that that the bill was unpopular in Poland and would adversely affect the country’s reputation...
- 12/27/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Poland’s Senate today voted against passing a controversial new bill that could see non-European companies forced to relinquish majority stakes in Polish media companies.
Discovery, which owns the nation’s largest independent broadcasting group and news network, was one U.S. company to celebrate today’s decision.
“The Senate has clearly signaled that the bill is an attack on core democratic principles of freedom of speech and the independence of the media,” said Kasia Kieli, President and Managing Director for Discovery in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea).
However, the exec warned that the battle was far from over. The Polish Senate is opposition-controlled, and the bill will be further debated before a final decision is made.
“We are, however, still concerned about the future of Tvn and independent media in Poland as the bill can still be passed by the Sejm and the license for our news...
Discovery, which owns the nation’s largest independent broadcasting group and news network, was one U.S. company to celebrate today’s decision.
“The Senate has clearly signaled that the bill is an attack on core democratic principles of freedom of speech and the independence of the media,” said Kasia Kieli, President and Managing Director for Discovery in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea).
However, the exec warned that the battle was far from over. The Polish Senate is opposition-controlled, and the bill will be further debated before a final decision is made.
“We are, however, still concerned about the future of Tvn and independent media in Poland as the bill can still be passed by the Sejm and the license for our news...
- 9/9/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery said it has formally notified the Polish government that it will take legal action under the bilateral investment treaty between the U.S. and the Republic of Poland after that nation’s parliament passed a bill yesterday that would prohibit foreign ownership of media — including Discovery’s broadcaster Tvn.
The David Zaslav-led company Thursday cited Poland’s discriminatory campaign against Tvn — including its refusal to renew new network TVN24’s broadcasting license — that culminated in yesterday’s vote in the lower house.
“The legislation is the latest assault on independent media and freedom of the press, and takes direct aim at Discovery’s Tvn, the country’s leading independent broadcasting group and news provider, as well as one of the largest U.S. investments in Poland,” Discovery said. The bill still needs approval by the Senate and Polish Andrzej Duda.
“Over a number of years, the current Polish...
The David Zaslav-led company Thursday cited Poland’s discriminatory campaign against Tvn — including its refusal to renew new network TVN24’s broadcasting license — that culminated in yesterday’s vote in the lower house.
“The legislation is the latest assault on independent media and freedom of the press, and takes direct aim at Discovery’s Tvn, the country’s leading independent broadcasting group and news provider, as well as one of the largest U.S. investments in Poland,” Discovery said. The bill still needs approval by the Senate and Polish Andrzej Duda.
“Over a number of years, the current Polish...
- 8/12/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Poland’s Parliament, its powerful lower house, passed a bill Wednesday that could force Discovery — which owns the nation’s largest independent broadcasting group and news network — to divest its media holdings there.
The legislation, which still requires approval by the Senate and Polish President Andrzej Duda, would ban non-European owners from having controlling stakes in Polish media companies. The brunt of the legislation would fall on Discovery’s Tvn, which includes TVN24, an all-news station that has been critical of Poland’s nationalist right-wing government and is considered one of the country’s few independent voices.
After seeming to struggle earlier in the day to muster enough support, lawmakers voted 228 to 216 to pass the bill, with 10 abstentions. On Tuesday, a deputy prime minister who opposed the legislation was fired, according to the AP.
Ahead of the vote, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the matter was being...
The legislation, which still requires approval by the Senate and Polish President Andrzej Duda, would ban non-European owners from having controlling stakes in Polish media companies. The brunt of the legislation would fall on Discovery’s Tvn, which includes TVN24, an all-news station that has been critical of Poland’s nationalist right-wing government and is considered one of the country’s few independent voices.
After seeming to struggle earlier in the day to muster enough support, lawmakers voted 228 to 216 to pass the bill, with 10 abstentions. On Tuesday, a deputy prime minister who opposed the legislation was fired, according to the AP.
Ahead of the vote, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the matter was being...
- 8/11/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
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