Platige Image begins filming OPI – a psychological horror rooted in Kashubian folklore

Principal photography for OPI, an original feature-length psychological horror directed by Marta Giec, began on 26 August in Warsaw. The film features an accomplished cast, cinematography by Adam Pietkiewicz, and a script written by Giec together with Dominika Kłoczewiak. Drawing on Kashubian lore, OPI intertwines elements of folk horror with an intimate story of toxic family ties and the struggle for identity.

Known for international projects such as The Witcher (Netflix), Love, Death & Robots (Netflix), and the European Film Award–winning Another Day of Life, Platige Image now turns to a more intimate, contemporary story that blends psychological drama with folk horror.

OPI follows Trina, a young woman confronting her Kashubian heritage when her mysterious aunt and grandmother arrive. Three generations of women – portrayed by five leading actresses – are bound together by a dark, intergenerational secret. The cast includes: Wiktoria Kruszczyńska, Gabriela Muskała, Magdalena Boczarska, Natalia Pitry, and Iwona Bielska. Behind the camera is Adam Pietkiewicz, a cinematographer with international experience, nominated for the Golden Frog at Camerimage 2024, and camera operator of the award-winning Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

OPI Behind The Scenes. Photography by F.Klimaszewski

Director and script co-writer Marta Giec emphasizes that OPI is a very special project to her:

“Horror is an extraordinary genre for expressing the deepest emotions and traumas in a universal form, understandable to audiences everywhere. In my approach, I’m inspired by magical realism, where everyday reality gradually reveals supernatural elements. I draw on filmmakers like Ari Aster and Roman Polański.”

Even though the film is inspired by Kashubian mythology, it will not be a faithful adaptation of the region’s folklore, but its original interpretation.

“Polish horror mythology has an immense and as yet untapped potential. Kashubian myths and rituals are a unique mixture of spirituality and dread. Full of mystery, mysticism, and anxiety, they are simply begging to be used in a film and put in their rightful place within our visual culture. We want OPI to help horror stories within Polish folklore to become an inspiration for modern narratives and a unique way of promoting our cultural heritage on the global stage,” comments Adam Korpak, Platige Image producer.

The film is currently in production, with filming scheduled to wrap in mid-September. The project is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute through Platige Films, a company within the Platige Image group.