The initiative to create the Polish Tourfilm Academy was spurred by international efforts to promote tourfilms and documentary films undertaken by EUROPE 2004 Foundation and Business Integration Group. Both institutions, co-founders of the Academy, are also creators and organizers of the International Tourfilm Festival in Płock, which is under the patronage of The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The Festival is a member of CIFFT (Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique). It works closely with similar festivals in Karlove Vary, New York, Splic, and a number of other festivals. The CIFFT membership provides an excellent platform for the members to cooperate on an international scale.

The main goal of the Polish Tourfilm Academy is promoting the most talented Polish filmmakers both at home and abroad as well as inviting the most renowned foreign tourfilm makers to Poland. The Academy also provides all kinds of assistance in terms of facilitating broad international cooperation, consulting services, and sharing experiences. Since the home of the Academy is Masovian Province, the Governor of Masovia is President of the Honorary Festival Committee. All the honorary posts are held by invited celebrities, winners of the Tourist Statuettes for lifetime of achievement, such as Krzysztof Zanussi, Andrzej Wajda, and many others. The founders appointed Jacek Wan first President of the Academy. Mr. Wan is a journalist, movie director, movie producer, president of the Association of Foreign Correspondents in Poland, and president of the Jury at the II International Tormfilm Festival in Płock. Ewa Kotus, Director of the Polish Tourfilm Academy, is also president of Europe 2004 Foundation, general director of the Tourfilm Festival, and editor-in-chief of international “FILM, ART & TOURISM” magazine. The scope of the activities carried out by the Academy is described in a separate document.