Office for Film Production and Technology is involved in the teaching process and is responsible for the production of students’ work and practical exercises. The teaching process is conducted on the basis of educational standards for these courses approved by the Minister of Science and Higher Education and the master school model characteristic for teaching art. The unit has a scientific category A awarded by the Science Council. It conducts research in humanities and arts, as well as artistic performance.
Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia, together with the Academy of Music in Katowice and the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, are included to the leading educational institutions in the field of art located in the region. It plays an important culture-forming role, aims at promoting the art and film culture. In the creative and organizational field the School cooperates with the Higher School of Theatre in Kraków, Polish Television, Television TVN, Polsat TV, Canal + and Kino Polska, as well as Film Insitution Silesia Film – Film Art Center.
The work of students of the School is presented and awarded at national and international festivals (e.g. Gdynia Film Festival, Kraków Film Festival, T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival, Camerimage, festivals in Cottbus, San Sebastian, Clermont-Ferrand, Tampere, Santiago de Compostela , Kyoto, Munich, New York, Aspen, Vilnius, Kiev and Bratislava). The production of Faculty students’ short films is financed by grants from the state budget (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and from the operational programs of Polish Film Institute.
The mission of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School is closely linked to the vision of the strategic goals of the University of Silesia, mainly such as: modernity and openness, innovation and creativity, efficient use of resources, investing in human capital, competitiveness, internationalization, individualization of learning, emergence of talents, and development of the relationship between education, science and the economy. In particular, however, the mission of the School is to promote the creation of outstanding cultural works, to enrich the cultural and audiovisual industries, and to develop the talents of young artists.
Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School combines the tasks associated with the creation and teaching in the field of art with the use of innovative information and communication technologies (ICT). The audiovisual sector is one of the most important elements of the modern global and European economy, hence education and creation are linked with the availability of jobs, new professions and spectacular technological development.
Academic activities of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School focus on several areas. These include: education in the film and television art and in the field of media professions from the broader audiovisual sector, scientific research of the media and film, television and theater artisitc performance. These areas define the mission and strategic goals that are in line with the “Strategy of development of the University of Silesia in Katowice in the years 2012-2020” adopted by the Senate of the University of Silesia on 24 January 2012.
The strategy of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School takes into account the trends of similar institutions in Poland, Europe and in the world, and it is correlated with market trends in the film, audiovisual, media, advertising and PR secotrs in Poland and in the European Union. The scope of the artistic, scientific and educational functioning of the School is directly linked with the Strategy of innovation and implementation of new information and communication technologies of the digital age.
The strategy is in line with the national reform programs and initiatives of the European Commission (in the “Strategy of the University of Silesia”). In particular, the strategical goal is to enrich the relationship between education, the use of new digital technologies and business sectors related to media, audiovisual production and cinematography. Universal digitization of cultural industries and audiovisual industry requires new forms of education, new research projects and adaption of higher education, skills and qualifications of graduates to the requirements of the new economy.
In the years 2014-2017 a new building of the School was being built that meets all of the above criteria of the strategic goals. This project has been financed from the budget (Contract No. 1310 about the special purpose grant for financing the cost of the investment entitled “Construction of the building of Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television at the University of Silesia in Katowice”, concluded with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education), commercial funds coming from the sale of buildings belonging to the University of Silesia (the current building of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School and the building given to the University by the city of Katowice). In terms of the research objectives, raising the funds from the Regional Fund Operational Program within the framework of the project “Art – digit – science” has been planned.
Construction and equipment of the new facility enables to meet the objectives related to innovation, strengthens cooperation of the university with its environment, increases international cooperation and creates strong pro-innovation research teams and developing the artistic creativity at the highest level.
Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School will continue to be a unit with great creative potential in the field of cinematographic and audiovisual arts. The artistic potential of the School can and will continue to enable the activities developing national culture and creating film works present in the European culture. Work in the field of new media, which involves the creation of art convergent with the latest technology will be subject of further development. The artistic and creative impact of School on other forms of research and teaching in the University is considered to be a priority. It is in relation with European trends to combine science and creativity.
Art – the operational objectives:
- Creating the conditions for artistic activities and developing the potential of creative individuals in order to achieve results on an international scale.
- Achieving the technological potential, allowing for creative activities in the world of digital new media.
- Increasing the activity in order to raise funds for creative activities.
- Organizing projects promoting creative achievements.
- Participating in international film festivals of the highest category.
