In the Toruń Old Town Hall, on September 29, 2019, an agreement was signed between the State Treasury, the Municipality of Toruń and the Tumult Foundation for the joint creation and co-management of a state cultural institution called the European Film Center CAMERIMAGE, which specifies the scope of its activities.

The aim of the investment is to create a European film institution to initiate and coordinate international film co-productions, especially those about Polish and European history. Its main tasks also include the co-organization of the Camerimage Film Festival in Toruń and the initiation of other events of a broadly understood nature, promoting film and audiovisual culture, such as film reviews, exhibitions, equipment and latest technologies trade shows, educational programs, etc. At the beginning of its operation, the institution's tasks also include building a multi-functional festival and congress center in the Jordanki area in Toruń. The construction of the European Film Center CAMERIMAGE’s seat is to fill the gap that exists in the Polish cultural infrastructure.

For many months we have been thinking about finally solving the Camerimage problem. It is the best, most famous Polish film festival in the world, a treasure of Polish culture, so we searched for a solution and finally found it. (...) People from all over the world who deal with film, architecture and art will work to create this center. This is a great thing for Polish culture.

Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage

The agreement was signed by Piotr Gliński, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Michał Zaleski, the President of Toruń and Marek Żydowicz, the president of the Tumult Foundation and the director of CAMERIMAGE Festival.

The investment is to cost about PLN 600 million, two-thirds of which is to be provided by the State Treasury, while the remaining funds are to be contributed by the Toruń City Municipality. The signed contract regulates not only the issues of co-financing the annual organization of the Camerimage Festival, but also the method of maintaining the year-round operation of the institution in the total amount of PLN 8 million, which will be equally composed of the State Treasury and the Toruń local government.

According to the signed agreement, the design of the building, which will be the seat of the European Film Center CAMERIMAGE, is to harmonize with the unique character of Toruń's old town and at the same time be characterized by exeptional architecture, which would be the city’s tourist attraction. For this purpose, an international architectural competition will be announced, which will select a contractor for the project.

The project regulated by the signed agreement must, in the next step, be approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland and Councilors of the City of Toruń, which is to take place no later than June 30, 2020.

In the photo from the left: director Marek Żydowicz, Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński, President Michał Zaleski [photo from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage archive]