Where Polish cinema learned to dream

There is a reason Łódź is often called HollyŁódź. After World War II, the city became the centre of Poland's film industry, attracting future directors, actors, cinematographers, and artists from across the country.

At the heart of this story is the Łódź Film School, founded in 1948. Its famous graduates include Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Andrzej Munk, and Krzysztof Zanussi — filmmakers who went on to shape Polish and international cinema and win some of the industry's most prestigious awards.

One of the school's most recognisable symbols is its famous staircase. Once a meeting place for students between classes, it has become an unofficial monument to generations of Polish filmmakers.

Rectorate, 1950s. Photo: E. Haneman

A palace that became a movie set

Just nearby stands the Museum of Cinematography, housed in the former palace of industrialists Karol and Anna Scheibler.

Its permanent exhibition, Łódź Filmowa, traces the city's transformation into the heart of Polish cinema through historic cameras, posters, optical toys, film equipment, and other objects connected with the history of filmmaking.

But the building itself has a cinematic history. Its historic interiors have appeared in dozens of films and television productions, most famously Andrzej Wajda's The Promised Land. Walking through the palace can therefore feel strangely familiar — because some of what you see has already appeared on screen.

Cinema beyond the museum

The film trail continues through the city. On Piotrkowska Street, the Walk of Fame celebrates more than 90 actors, directors, cinematographers, and other figures of Polish cinema.

Elsewhere, ordinary streets and historic buildings become movie locations. Łódź has appeared in hundreds of films and television productions, from The Promised Land and Ida to Sexmission and more recent productions.

That is what makes film Łódź so interesting: you don't have to visit a single attraction to experience it. The city itself becomes the set — and once you start recognising its locations, HollyŁódź makes perfect sense.