The 6th Heart of Europe International TV Festival & Forum organized by Polish pubcaster TVP continues in Warsaw on October 28 with a full program of project pitching sessions, a presentation on gaming as a public service and opportunities for industry networking. The second day follows an opening evening that highlighted the importance of public service media and featured a discussion with the creative team behind Polish series Variola Vera.

Opening the festival on October 27, a representative of TVP welcomed participants to the sixth edition, describing its continuation as a significant achievement after another challenging year. The remarks emphasized the festival’s role in bringing industry professionals together, encouraging new ideas and recognizing the contribution of public service media to telling stories that matter.

The opening evening’s first industry discussion focused on Variola Vera, a TVP drama that combines a spy thriller with medical drama and has received international recognition, including a nomination at the Prix Europa and selections at the Geneva International Film Festival and Serial Killer, as well as recognition at Series Mania.

The panel brought together screenwriter Piotr Derewenda, editor Magdalena Chowańska, lead actress Agnieszka Czabik and actor Sebastian Wach to discuss the development and production of the series, set against the smallpox epidemic in Wrocław in 1963.

Derewenda explained that his approach was to focus on the people behind the historical event rather than simply retell its chronology. A reportage by Krzysztof Kąkolewski provided inspiration, while the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic offered a contemporary perspective on how people react to the threat of a dangerous virus. He noted both the similarities in human behavior and the differences in medical testing between the two periods.

Chowańska described the challenges of recreating a historical setting with limited resources. Working with director Kuba Czekaj, the editing team used archival footage to help evoke the period without relying on expensive wide shots. She also recalled editing the first episode while filming was still underway, exchanging versions of scenes with the director remotely.

Czabik highlighted the complexity of her character, describing a woman shaped by her past whose decisions have consequences beyond her own life. Wach said he was drawn to the layered portrayal of a character representing the communist authorities, whose apparent harshness also conceals fear and sensitivity.

Asked what helps a local story reach international audiences, the panelists emphasized authenticity, strong writing, acting, editing and the chemistry between the creative team. The discussion was followed by a screening of the first episode.

Wednesday’s program centers on pitching and the development of new projects. Documentary pitching is scheduled in two sessions from 10.00 to 12.15, followed by fiction film pitching from 12.30 to 13.30 and 14.30 to 15.30.

At 15.45, Adam Balažovic will present Games as a Public Service? A Czech Television Perspective, examining the subject from the perspective of the Czech public broadcaster. The day will also feature the debut of the festival’s new Arts pitching category, scheduled for 16.00–17.00.

The program will conclude with an informal evening gathering in central Warsaw, scheduled for 20.00–24.00, providing participants with further opportunities to connect and exchange ideas.