We invite you to apply for workshops organized by the Polish Film Institute as part of MDAG Industry 2026: Barrier-Free Production – accessibility in film production practice
[Graphic in shades of blue: a photo of a gesticulating man, text: MDAG Industry 7–11.05; Barrier-Free Production – accessibility in film production practice; at the bottom logos of four organizations]
We invite producers and female producers, directors and female directors to take part in a workshop that will show how to implement accessibility in film production in practice. The workshop will address the most common challenges: new requirements of the Polish Film Institute, planning accessibility costs, and selecting accessibility service providers. Participants will learn about formal obligations, go through stages of production important for accessibility, and see examples of good practices and typical mistakes. A meeting with viewers with different needs will complement the formal perspective with a social dimension. After the workshop, each participant will leave with a clear understanding of their own obligations, ready tools, and a sense of confidence that they will be able to implement accessibility in their own production.
Workshop date: Monday, May 11, 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00.
Location: State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, ul. Kredytowa 1, 00-056 Warsaw
The call for applications is open from April 13 to April 30, 2026
FILL IN THE APPLICATION
We invite a maximum of 20 producers and female producers / directors and female directors; completing the form does not guarantee acceptance – selected individuals will be contacted by email after the call is closed.
The Polish Film Institute conducted a survey that made it possible to learn about experiences, questions, and needs related to accessibility in film production among Polish producers and female producers as well as directors and female directors. The results of the study show that the biggest challenge is not the idea of accessibility itself, but the lack of clear guidelines, tools, and certainty on how to implement it in practice. Here are the key conclusions:
20 people took part in the study:
- Half of the respondents declared a lack of basic knowledge in the field of accessibility in cinematography. 7 people assessed their knowledge as basic, and 3 as very good.
- Among the biggest concerns, issues related to the costs of implementing accessibility were indicated above all. Concerns also include cooperation with expert individuals (their selection and credibility), as well as the risk of making formal mistakes.
- The most frequently reported needs include: clear definition of formal obligations, access to good practices, information about costs, and tools to facilitate work (e.g. checklists).
- As for the preferred form of meetings, most people indicated a combination of a lecture with case study analysis, workshop elements, and a Q&A session.
The results of the survey allowed us, in cooperation with experts, to prepare a training program that responds to the identified needs, helps dispel the most important doubts, and supports the practical implementation of accessibility.
Organizers: Polish Film Institute, Against Gravity, Katarynka Foundation, Culture Without Barriers Foundation, Forum without barriers. About accessible cinema
