There are three ways to study film in Poland: at a public arts university, at a private school focused on hands-on practice, or on a master programme for people who already have films to show. Below we compare the most important film schools in Poland, how they teach and who they are for. Always confirm fees and admission dates on the website of the school you choose.
Start with your goal, not with the name of the school. The path to a feature debut is different from the path to working as a camera operator on commercials or as an editor in post-production.
If you do not speak Polish, check the language of instruction first. Many programmes in Poland are taught in Polish. At AMA Film Academy the Directing-Cinematography programme in Warsaw is taught in English.
| School | City | Type | Mode of study | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA Film Academy | Warsaw, Kraków, online | private, practice-oriented school | full-time and weekend courses, online courses, short film courses | tuition fee |
| Łódź Film School (PWSFTviT) | Łódź | public arts university | bachelor’s, master’s and long-cycle master’s degrees | Polish-language full-time study generally tuition-free |
| Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia | Katowice | public, part of the University of Silesia | bachelor’s, master’s and long-cycle master’s degrees | Polish-language full-time study generally tuition-free |
| Warsaw Film School | Warsaw | private university | bachelor’s and postgraduate studies, film high school | tuition fee |
| Gdynia Film School | Gdynia | private post-secondary school | directing department, 2.5 years | tuition fee |
| Wajda School | Warsaw | master programme | fiction, documentary, screenwriting and producing courses | depends on the course |
| Film and Television Academy (AFiT) | Warsaw | private film school | filmmaking and sound | tuition fee |
| Mastershot Wrocław Film School | Wrocław | private post-secondary school | directing, cinematography, production | tuition fee |
AMA Film Academy is a practice-oriented film school founded by Piotr Lenar, a cinematographer and film school lecturer. Classes are taught by people who work professionally in film and advertising, and students use professional equipment from the start: cinema cameras, lighting kits and editing suites.
Warsaw focuses on classic film professions and work on set. Full-time: Film Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Grading, VFX, Directing and Cinematography and the English-taught Directing-Cinematography. At weekends: Film Directing, Cinematography, Cinematography Camera / Light, Image Post-production, Sound Production and Film Acting.
Kraków develops courses that combine film with artificial intelligence tools: Film Directing + AI, Cinematography + AI, Image Post-production + AI, Visual Storytelling and the one-year AMA Future Filmmaking Lab.
Online: Screenwriting and Film Production. A good place to start is the Introductory Film Course.
If you already know which profession you want, read our guides: how to become a cinematographer and VFX and AI in film production.
The Leon Schiller National Film, Television and Theatre School has been running since 1948 and is the best-known Polish film school. Its alumni include Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polański and Krzysztof Kieślowski. It teaches directing, cinematography, acting and film production. Places are limited and entrance exams have several stages.
The second public film school in Poland, part of the University of Silesia (formerly the Faculty of Radio and Television). It teaches directing, film and television cinematography and production management, among other subjects. Teaching follows a master and apprentice model, and student films regularly appear at festivals.
A private university founded in 2004 by Maciej Ślesicki and Bogusław Linda. It runs bachelor’s programmes in directing, acting and other film professions, postgraduate studies and a film high school. Much of the teaching takes place in film set conditions.
A private post-secondary film school founded in January 2010, with the city of Gdynia and the Polish Film Festival among its initiators. The directing department lasts 2.5 years, and students learn by making their own fiction and documentary films.
Founded in 2001 by Andrzej Wajda and Wojciech Marczewski. It does not run degree programmes, only courses for filmmakers with some previous work: the fiction course Studio Prób, the documentary course Dok Pro, the Script course and a development course for producers.
A private film school in Warsaw, running since 1991. It teaches filmmaking and sound, and is known for its popular YouTube channel with recordings and films made by students.
A private film school in Wrocław, based in the buildings of the former Feature Film Studio. It teaches directing, cinematography and production.
A public university gives you a full degree and Polish-language full-time study is generally tuition-free, but it takes several years of full-time study and a very selective admission process. A private school charges fees, but is usually shorter, also available at weekends and quicker to introduce new subjects such as AI-assisted post-production. In the film industry, jobs depend mostly on your portfolio and experience on set, so both paths can lead to the profession.
Polish-language full-time study at public universities (Łódź, Katowice) is generally tuition-free. Private schools charge tuition fees that depend on the course and the mode of study. Current fees at AMA Film Academy are on the admissions page.
There is no single answer. Łódź Film School has the longest tradition and ranks highly in international rankings. If you want to enter the profession faster, study while working or combine film with new technology, a practice-oriented school may be the better choice.
Yes, but check each programme. At AMA Film Academy the Directing-Cinematography programme in Warsaw is taught in English. Public universities also run some paid programmes in English, so check their websites for details.
Yes. In the film industry, your portfolio and skills matter most. A film school shortens the path: it gives you access to equipment, work with a crew, guidance from experienced filmmakers and your first professional contacts.
Directing is taught at Łódź Film School, the Kieślowski Film School in Katowice, Warsaw Film School, Gdynia Film School and AMA Film Academy: Film Directing in Warsaw and Film Directing + AI in Kraków.
Cinematography is taught at the universities in Łódź and Katowice. For a practice-oriented path, AMA Film Academy offers Cinematography in Warsaw, Cinematography Camera / Light and Cinematography + AI in Kraków.
Yes. Most AMA Film Academy courses have a weekend version, and screenwriting and film production can be studied online.
Most courses start in October. Admission dates, requirements and the application form are on the admissions page.
Study film in Warsaw, Kraków or online. See all courses and admission rules.
