AMA Film Academy is a hands-on film school operating in two cities: Warsaw and Krakow. Founded by Piotr Lenar – a cinematographer with many years of experience – it has been training filmmakers since 2012. It has graduated more than 1,000 graduates.
AMA offers more than 23 full-time, part-time and online courses taught by active professionals in the film and advertising industry. The school has professional equipment: cinema cameras, lighting sets and Apple editing stations – the same equipment that students will find on professional film sets.
Directions in Warsaw: Film Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Grading and VFX, Sound Production, Film Acting and others.
Directions in Krakow: Directing (Directing + AI), Cinematography (Cinematography + AI), VFX & AI Production, Visual Storytelling and others.
AMA Krakow stands out from other film schools in Poland as the first institution to offer majors based on the AI-driven filmmaking model – combining traditional film production with artificial intelligence tools. The VFX & AI Production major is the only program of its kind in Poland.
Recruitment for 2026/2027 is open. Classes start in October 2026. Check the conditions of recruitment →
| School | City | Type | Study time | Mode | AI/VFX Directions. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA Film Academy | Warsaw, Krakow | Private | 2 years | Stationary, non-stationary, online | ✓ VFX & AI Production, Cinematography + AI |
| PWSFTviT Łódź | Lodz | State | 5 years | Stationary | Partially |
| WRiTV Katowice (UŚ) | Katowice | State | 3-5 years | Stationary, non-stationary | No |
| Wajda School | Warsaw | Private | 1-2 years | Stationary | No |
| WSF Warsaw | Warsaw | Private | 2 years | Stationary, non-stationary | No |
State film schools (PWSFTviT Łódź, WRiTV Katowice) are free for full-time students, but have a very limited number of places and difficult entrance exams. Private film schools charge tuition fees – the amount depends on the school, course and mode of study. Detailed information about financial conditions is provided during recruitment.
The answer depends on your goals. PWSFTviT in Lodz is the most prestigious university with the longest tradition, but it educates a limited number of students and requires passing difficult entrance exams. Private film schools, such as the AMA Film Academy, offer more flexible programs, a faster path to a profession and modern majors (AI, VFX) that state universities don’t yet offer.
Yes – the film industry judges filmmakers by their portfolio and skills. But a good film school significantly accelerates professional development: it gives access to professional equipment, industry contacts and practical experience on film sets. Many graduates of private schools hit the job market faster than graduates of 5-year state universities.
State film schools (Lodz, Katowice) offer a prestigious diploma, free tuition and a deep academic program, but educate very small groups for 5 years and have rigorous recruitment. Private film schools are more accessible, offer a part-time mode for working people, shorter programs (2 years) and respond more quickly to market changes – such as introducing AI and VFX majors.
Film directing can be studied at: PWSFTviT in Lodz (MA studies), WRiTV in Katowice (BA and MA studies), AMA Film Academy in Warsaw(FilmDirecting– full-time and part-time) and AMA Film Academy in Krakow(Directing with AI).
Cinematography (cinematography) is offered by: PWSFTviT in Lodz, WRiTV in Katowice, and AMA Film Academy in Warsaw(Cinematography- stationary) and Krakow(Cinematography with AI). AMA is the only one to combine classical cinematography with AI tools.
Recruitment for the 2026/2027 academic year is open. Classes for most majors start in October 2026. Application form available at amafilmacademy.co.uk/recruitment.
