A group of filmmakers visited NCBJ on November 4. Our guests saw the MARIA research reactor and Świerk Computer Centre (CIŚ) with its powerful supercomputer. The Centre runs a programme to sponsor Polish film art, within framework of which the filmmakers may use the CIŚ supercomputer power to render their films at reduced prices. The services are available via NCBJ Rendering Centre (https://renderownia.pl).

More than 30 persons from Polish film industry came to Świerk to participate in an event specially organized by NCBJ for them. „We have been cooperating with Polish filmmakers for about four years offering them services of our Rendering Centre at very favourable terms” pointed out Dr.  Krzysztof Kurek, NCBJ Director General. „In a sense, we are familiar with film production. In numerous cases we have just to make a video to study and explain some phenomenon. For example, several years ago our scientists together with some colleagues from abroad filmed for the first time birth of a black hole in some distant part of the Universe. In our labs we can film such short-lasting events as travel of a bullet through barrel of a gun, or plasma creation in an electric discharge. We participate in development of XFEL, a large research facility currently under construction in Hamburg; the facility will allow us to film courses of chemical reactions at the level of individual molecules. ”

In Spring 2016, NCBJ jointly with Polish Film Institute (PISF) set up a sponsoring programme aimed at makers of films supported by PISF. The beneficiaries may use services offered by CIŚ’s Rendering Centre at very affordable prices. To present potential of that programme was one of the objectives the organizers of the visit of Polish filmmakers in Świerk had in mind. „Our supercomputer is first of all employed in scientific calculations and/or to perform safety analyses of industrial and nuclear facilities” explained Eng. Adam Padée, PhD, NCBJ Complex Systems Department Deputy Director. „Every day our processors compute huge amount of data needed in physics, astrophysics, medical imaging or to design radiopharmaceuticals. We are busy with modelling power grids and computing services to CERN scientists. However, we are ready to set aside a small fraction of our supercomputer computing power for the needs of filmmakers. That power – even if a small fraction of the total power of the supercomputer –  is still huge in comparison with computing power of even the mightiest PC in the world. ”

NCBJ scientists have helped Polish filmmakers to produce the “Warszawa 1935” documentary. To-day NCBJ is offering film creators both a very friendly self-service system and a team of experienced consultants. System capabilities were presented in detail during the visit. – „This is a very interesting offer” –said Ms. Alicja Grawon-Jaksik, Director of National Chamber of Audiovisual Producers (KIPA), co-organizer of the event in Świerk. – „These days it is difficult to imagine any film produced without computer aided special effects VFX, be it a historical film, an action film, or a contemporary fictional-feature film. Computers capable to assists creators/to enrich images in archive films are among basic tools of film makers, not mentioning commercials/all other audiovisual productions. Majority of large film studios run their own computer centres to aid production. Offer of the Świerk Rendering Centre may be for them an interesting alternative since the large power of the supercomputer translates into short production runs. It is also a great opportunity for creators who do not have their own computers and the budget at their disposal is limited.”

During their stay in Świerk, filmmakers visited the MARIA research reactor. To enter the reactor hall, one has to pass the gate which is well known to Poles from the cult “Sexmission" movie (1984). „In the movie, a pool was located behind that gate” – recalled Professor Ludwik Dobrzyński, Director of the NCBJ Education and Training Division, who showed the guest around. – „That fiction was not so far from reality. In reality, the MARIA reactor pool is located behind the gate. Visitors who stand on the reactor housing and look down the pool are usually very impressed seeing a bluish glow. By no means it is a movie special effect. It is the co-called Cherenkov radiation emitted by electrons produced in nuclear reactions running inside reactor core, escaping the core, and moving through the pool water with a velocity greater than velocity of light in water.”

The current visit is a follow up event after the Gdynia Industry meeting organized jointly by PISF, NCBJ and KIPA during this year Gdynia Film Festival. Both filmmakers and Świerk scientists are hoping that the cooperation will develop smoothly. “Both our communities are driven by creative and cognitive emotions/aspirations, aren’t they?” concluded Dr. Michał Findeisen from NCBJ, principal organizer of the visit.