The documentary by Andrzej Buchowski examines how political pressure and ideological censorship affected renowned Polish artists during the rule of the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) from 2016 to 2023.
PiS, known for its conservative policies and control over public media, used state television as a tool of political exclusion, where a single controversial statement or social media post could result in an artist being blacklisted.
The TVP blacklist: A system of exclusion
During the PiS years, many artists were removed from public television programs, and their work was censored or erased. The documentary reveals how state media orchestrated smear campaigns, distorting the public image of those who did not align with the ruling party’s ideology.
"Artyści na cenzurowanym" - reportaż
W latach 2016 - 2023 na "czarnej liście" TVP znalazło się wiele osób ze świata kultury. Reportaż "Artyści na cenzurowanym" dziś o 21:05 TVP1 ?
Opublikowany przez TVP1 Wtorek, 11 marca 2025
Harassment and ostracism: The price of independence
Many respected artists became targets of attacks in state-run news programs, leading to waves of online hate. The film explores how censorship and harassment affected not only their professional careers but also their personal lives, families, and mental well-being.
Artists speak out: Voices of defiance
The documentary features powerful testimonies from artists who found themselves blacklisted by TVP.
Among them are filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, actress Krystyna Janda, actress Barbara Kurdej-Szatan, actress Maja Ostaszewska, set designer Krystyna Zachwatowicz, satirist Jacek Fedorowicz, theater director Krzysztof Głuchowski, musician Zbigniew Hołdys, comedian Robert Korólczyk, cultural critic Janusz Majcherek, actor Daniel Olbrychski, actor Jan Peszek, writer Michał Rusinek, stage personality Krzysztof Skiba, and actor and comedian Maciej Stuhr.
The full version of the documentary can be watched in the video below.
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Source: TVP/vod.tvp.pl/YouTube.com/TVP Info