During the 11. WAMA Film Festival a Letter of intent was signed regarding the establishment of the first film education center in Olsztyn. This initiative is directly related to the festival and builds on its long-standing legacy.
“We have been a foothold of film education in this region for 11 years, which has initiated many local projects”, says Maciej Dominiak, director of the FILMFORUM Association. “It is time to establish a permanent, year-round initiative”. WAMA Film School is such an initiative”.
The school’s main idea is to practically, not just theoretically, prepare to work in the film industry. Apart from Maciej Dominiak, initiators of the school are film director Jarosław Banaszek and cinematographer Michał Rytel-Przełomiec.”.
“This will become an extraordinary craftsmanship school, which I really longed for as a student” – says Michał Rytel-Przełomiec, WAMA Film School’s coordinator. “This idea was born out of a visible lack of professional practice in many young filmmakers at the beginning of their careers. We want the school’s program focus on practical workshops, where students will learn from industry professionals who regularly work on film sets.” The Letter of intent was signed by the Festival’s honorary ambassador Jerzy Hoffman, Director of KOSMOPOLIS Institute Marta Karnkowska, Maciej Dominiak and Michał Rytel-Przełomiec. The signing act was witnessed by the participants of the festival’s education programmes. Afterward, Jerzy Hoffman addressed young creators and cultural managers with a few words of inspiration.
“As it turns out, many schools, even renowned ones, focus on teaching artists rather than professionals.”, he said. “Talent cannot be taught. One has it or has not. But without craft, talent alone often leads to defeat. One may have the noblest of intentions, but if you speak of it in a boring way, you will neither interest nor convince anyone. And remember: being an artist is not a privilege, but comes with a sense of duty and responsibility. Having the opportunity to speak of thousands, if not millions, you have to be accountable for each word you say”.
WAMA Film School’s core principle is the emphasis placed on the practical dimension of filmmaking.
“Our dream is for competence centers to be established not only in large cities, but also smaller communities” – says Marta Karnkowska, the director of KOSMOPOLIS Institute. “It is very important that WAMA Film School is meant to be such a competence center here in Olsztyn. Dreams come true—we are here together, making this happen”.
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WAMA Film Festival is organized by KOSMOPOLIS Institute.
The festival is produced by the FILMFORUM Association.
The main patron of the event is the Marshal’s Office of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. It is co-organized by Centrum Edukacji I Inicjatyw Kulturalnych in Olsztyn.
The project is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The project received funding from the Culture Promotion Fund – special purpose fund of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland.
Educational activities accompanying the festival are supported by the European Union and National Centre for Culture, Poland.
The “INTERFILMLAB 8.0 – education program for raising competitiveness and export possibilities of Polish film industry (8th edition)” was co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage via the Creative Sector Development program of the Creative Industry Development Centre.
The festival is sponsored by Michelin Polska S.A.
The logistical partners of the festival are: Fiedorowicz Olsztyn – Autoryzowany Dealer i Serwis marek Audi, Škoda, Cupra, Volkswagen Osobowe i Dostawcze.
The industry partner of the festival is Crew United Polska
The international partners of the festival are: Offener Kanal Magdeburg (Germany), Cinemahall INGO (Ukraine), Budapest Cultural Center (Hungary) oraz Foundation for Art Development AIA (Georgia).
The festival’s partners are: MULTIKINO S.A., Warmia-Masuria Philharmonic
named after Feliks Nowowiejski in Olsztyn and Vinyl Pub.
The educational partners are: Miejski Ośrodek Kultury in Olsztyn, Centrum Polsko-Francuskie Côtes d’Armor Miejski Warmia i Mazury in Olsztyn, Państwowe Liceum Plastyczne im. Erica Mendelsohna in Olsztyn, Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna in Olsztyn, PLANETA 11 oraz Foundation for the Intangible Heritage in Poland.
The technological partner of the festival is: BEIKS Machulski Sp.j.