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The Film School of Lodz, where do the talents of Polish cinema come from?
The Film School of Lodz, located in central Poland, is one of the leading film schools in Europe is. Similar to the FEMIS in France or the FAMU in Czech Republic, this school has acquired in the country's history a role in both art and politics that few film schools in Europe can boast. It has enabled the development of internationally renowned filmmakers, and now radiates far beyond its borders. The School was founded in 1948 in Lodz, where the first film production centre in the country was created. Today it’s the base of the Fiction Film Production Studios. The creation of the School and the existence of many theatres, opera houses, newspapers and media contributed to the creation of the cultural centre of Lodz in Poland after the war. The first generation of directors was soon to be noticed as extremely creative and talented. In 1956, the existing political freedom within the school allowed the development of modern educational programs like the cinema of the West.
The school then had its own screening room and broadcasted American and Western European movies which weren’t available in cinemas of the State. Among the directors who gave lessons at Lodz, a few can be named: Andrzej Munk, Andrzej Wajda (Oscar and BAFTA Film Award), Kazimierz Kutz and Krzysztof Kieslowski (Oscar-nominated film), and of course Roman Polanski (Oscar, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe and Golden Palm), who entered in 1955, and became known with his movie Two Men and a Wardrobe. The directors who graduated at Lodz quickly gained international reputation. Some, such as Roman Polanski, Jerzy Skolimowski and Adam Holender emigrated, and the presentation of their films in Western Europe helped to reveal the true quality of education in this school. |
