It may seem unlikely but Łódź is Poland’s answer to Tinseltown. Stop sniggering at the back, having produced directors like Wajda, Polański and Kieślowski the Polish Hollywood has made an undeniable impact on world cinema.

The story starts in 1948, with the foundation of the National Film School. With Warsaw lying in ruins the major theatres, opera and theatre groups, and other miscellaneous artistes found themselves decamping to the nearest major city: Łódź. With Poland’s principal actors, performers and directors attracted to the city it was only natural to base the film school in this town. From its early beginnings the school had two distinct departments: film directing and cinematography. Initially the curriculum was limited to simple group productions, but soon films directed by individuals started to become the norm, all filmed using 35mm industry standard cameras. Among the first batch of students were Andrzej Munk and Andrzej Wajda, the latter scooping an Oscar in 2000 for his contribution to film. In an era dominated by Big Brother is Watching-style paranoia the school became a haven for the avant-garde and the small screening rooms would regularly pack out not just with students, but the rank and file proles looking to enjoy the latest European cinema. It was in this liberal climate that the school also proved to be the first place in Poland to host jazz jam sessions, officially outlawed by the authorities.

The Wajda generation would go on to shape Polish film, with a series of edgy films taking a heavy influence from the Italian neo-realists. The films produced in the late 50s were in direct opposition to official guidelines, and films like Wajda’s ‘Ashes and Diamonds’ used screen talents like Zbyszek Cybulski, a charismatic, hotwire actor often labelled the Polish James Dean. Roman Polański entered the school in 1954, and four years later propelled the school to international fame when he won an award at Brussels’ Expo ’58 for his film Two Men and a Cupboard. Alas the golden years soon proved to be numbered.

The late 60s saw several anti-zionist actions launched by the government, and as a result the school lost several of its rising stars in the Jewish exodus that followed – including rector Jerzy Toeplitz, who would later become the co-founder of Australia’s first film school. The film school soon regained its balance however, and has since produced luminaries such as Krzysztof Kieślowski, cameraman Slawomir Idziak and Krzysztof Zanussi.

Established in 1993 the Camerimage Festival - honouring the art of cinematography - further cemented the schools place in filmlore, with gold, silver and bronze frogs awarded for feature films, and tadpoles to students. In the past the festival has attracted household names such as Oliver Stone, Peter Weir and Val Kilmer, and it was during a visit to this festival that David Lynch discovered a passion for the city. However, after years of international success the city has announced that it has lost the festival to the itsy town of Bydgoszcz, not so much a bitter blow as an axe to the face. Still, even so, film buffs have two points of interest: firstly the Museum of Cinematography and secondly the Łódź Walk of Fame; a collection of star shaped plaques right outside the Grand Hotel on Piotrkowska honouring the greatest talents in Polish cinema.

The Museum of Cinematography in Łódź was opened in 1986 and is unique in Poland. The museum is set in a 19th century mansion house which belonged to one of the most prominent local German industrialists, Karol Scheibler. The palace was rebuilt in 1886-1888 in the form of the present neo-renaissance style. Situated in the historic Źródliska park, next to the extensive former factory complex and workers' estate, it exemplifies the city's multicultural past and its former power as a centre of the textile industry. The quiet harmonious facade of the building is in sharp contrast to the richness of the eclectic interiors. The Museum collects a variety of props which present the history of Polish cinema. The Museum also organizes the Festival of Film Music and The Media Festival “A Man in Danger”.

The museum is housed in the mid-nineteenth century small palace (residence) of Karol Scheibler, one of the most important Lodz industrialists of German origin, known as "The Cotton King" because of his wealth and the scale of his production. The palace was rebuilt in 1886-88 in the form of the present neo-renaissance style. Situated in the historic Zrodlisko park, next to the extensive former factory complex and workers' estate, it exemplifies the city's multicultural past and its former power as a centre of the textile industry.

The quiet harmonious facade of the building is in sharp contrast to the richness of the multiple styles of the eclectic interiors. The elements of the interior which have survived in relatively good condition are the stucco decoration, fireplaces, painted decoration, wooden panelling and furniture, fabric for furniture covering, wallpaper, mosaics, floors and stained-glass windows. These constitute an authentic exhibition of the city's industrial historic past in the years of its birth and development and also refer to the history of Polish cinema: in the post-war years the palace often changed ownership and its interiors were often used as film studios. They have appeared in many Polish films such as "The Promised Land", the masterpiece by Andrzej Wajda.

The Film Museum took over the building and its surrounds (together with the carriage house and courtyard) in 1986. This is where it houses its collection of film exhibits and documents the history of Polish cinema - arts, techniques and film production, of which Lodz has been the centre for many years.
As a part of the preservation of tradition the museum is also careful to exhibit and emphasise the history of the palace and the story of the Scheibler family and its considerable part in the development of Łódź as an industrial city In the museum collection are found valuable, often unique equipment of the period immediately preceding the development of cinema: magic lanterns, stereoscopes, optical games; a true pearl among them is the still working, original 19th century photo-plasticon by the August Fuhrmann company.

There are also amateur and professional film cameras (the earliest from the beginning of the 20th century) for various film gauges; also projectors and screens, a large collection of still cameras and equipment, machines and equipment for the processing of film material and lighting and associated apparatus.

An important part of the collection consists of film set and costume designs, designs and décor for animated films, photos, photo-documentation from the sets of selected productions, prizes and personal souvenirs concerning the greatest Polish cinema authors.

The collection of Polish and foreign film posters is among the most important in existence. Posters from this collection are often exhibited in national and international exhibitions (in USA, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark and the Czech Republic). They often illuminate themes of other temporary exhibitions, including themes and periods in Polish cinema, contemporary Polish super-productions, children's films and monographic exhibitions of notable filmmakers. The sphere of interest of the museum includes directors, cinematographers, script writers, actors, art directors, film historians and critics and also young exponents in the art of film, studying in the neighbouring, world famous, Lodz film school (PWSFTviT).

The museum itself is an organiser of Polish national events: The Festival of Film Music and The Media Festival: "Czlowiek w Zagrozeniu" (Man in Difficulties), which consists of contemporary Polish documentary films on social themes.