The concept for Babelsberg Film School was developed by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Studio Babelsberg AG with Brandenburg’s ministries for economic affairs and for science, research and culture, plus the Konrad Wolf University of Film and Television. The school is intended to modernise and strengthen Babelsberg as a film-production centre.
Babelsberg Film School begins operations in the Media City on 1 April 2008. It also allows students affected by the insolvency of the German Film School to continue studying as digital artists. The school is initially operated by a company founded by Studio Babelsberg, structured as a public-private partnership open to further institutional and commercial participants. A supporting association will represent and promote the school’s interests and objectives publicly. New students can apply for the winter semester of 2008.
“The new college is a substantial opportunity because it expands the location’s production expertise to include digital production and postproduction,” says Medienboard managing director Petra Müller. “We are also pleased that students from the insolvent German Film School can continue their studies. Numerous other companies at the location have already pledged support for developing the school.”
“Babelsberg Film School’s specialisation makes it a sensible and forward-looking addition to the location,” says Marius Schwarz, chief financial officer of Studio Babelsberg and commercial managing director of the school. “Studio Babelsberg sees itself particularly as an intermediary between theoretical visual-effects expertise and international major productions using current animation and VFX methods. This enables a productive transfer of knowledge benefiting both students and productions.”
The school is intended to receive provisional state recognition within one year. Schwarz is the founding managing director. VFX and research studies are led by VFX consultant Manfred Büttner, with Quadriga FX managing director Matthias Haase serving as provisional head of animation studies. The Konrad Wolf university advises the project.
