VSMU - Academy of Performing Arts Bratislava - Film and Television Faculty

www.vsmu.sk

updated 08/04/2011 - Presentation & Philosophy:

The VSMU (Academy of Performing Arts) Bratislava has its home within one of the oldest universities in central Europe, the Academia Istropolitana, founded in 1464. The type of courses that the College runs makes it unique within Slovakia. There are three different levels of study, each with their own diploma: Bachelor (undergraduate degree course), Master (master's) and post-graduate Doctorate course.

In spite of the fact that the College has functioned more than fifty years, the self-standing Faculty of Film and Television was not created until 1990 and nowadays it is housed in new modern buildings. Nine different specialisations are available for students: scriptwriting, fiction-film directing, documentary filmmaking, editing, cinematography and photography, animation, sound, production and management, and film history and theories. The work of the College thus represents a welcome alternative to professional film-making currently still facing some difficulties in Slovakia. Students graduating from the College have already affirmed, and are about to, their status as a new creative generation.

One of the principles of VSMU is that one of the roles of a film school is to deal with contemporary challenges and that is why we wish to carry on combining the innovative with the traditional. VSMU accepts the evolutions in cinema and its new techniques, but it wishes to keep holding on to the inventiveness, the professionalism and the values of the 1960s when the Czechoslovakian New Wave was at its height.

The fundamental objective of this school is the training of high quality professionals in artistic production, ready to develop within a socio-economic context. It breeds experimentation and research in artistic creation and helps students to adapt to the professional needs of the visual and multimedia arts.

Number of students/ full-time/:
Bachelor 201; Master's degree: 97; Doctoral degree: 36; Total No. : 334

Number of international students: /full-time/ Bachelor: 5; Master: 1

Number of teachers: 79

Degree category / length of studies:

The Film and Television Faculty provides accredited programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels:
Undergraduate level – Bachelor’s degree (Bc.): (3 years full-time study)
Postgraduate level – Master’s degree (Mgr.art.): (2 years full-time study)
Postgraduate level – Doctoral degree (ArtD.): (3 years full-time study, 5 years part-time study)

Programme objective and content:

The study at the Film and Television Faculty is accredited in the branch of Film Art and Multimedia in the following programmes:

• Film and Television Directing (Bc., Mgr. art., ArtD.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Directing Department. The programme prepares accomplished directors of feature films and audiovisual works in a variety of forms and genres. The study focuses on the acquisition of theoretical and practical methods and styles of directing ranging from the classical film to contemporary media.
  Compulsory core subjects:
  Bachelor’s degree level: Directing; Teamwork; Directing and Acting; Film Language; Theory of Narrative; History of Fine Arts; History of World Film; History of Slovak Film; Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art, Foreign Language
  Master’s degree level: Directing; Directing and Acting; Creative Writing for Film; Structures of Narrative; Theory of Dramatic Arts, Genre Forms
• Documentary Film (Bc., Mgr. art., ArtD.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Documentary Department. The programme prepares the filmmakers for a large range of non-feature films ranging from the classical documentary film through various forms of journalism for audiovisual media, popular scientific films, educational and promotional films to advertising.
  Compulsory core subjects
  Bachelor’s degree level: Documentary Film Directing; Teamwork; Seminar on Dramaturgy; Theory of Documentary Work; History of Documentary Film; History of World Film; Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art; Theory of Narrative, Foreign Language
  Master’s degree level: Documentary Film Directing; Film Dramaturgy; Pre-Production; Television Technology; Creative Writing for Film; Structures of Narrative; Rhetoric of Film Image
• Dramaturgy and Screenwriting (Bc., Mgr.art, ArtD.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Screenwriting Department. The programme provides the students with the knowledge necessary for the independent creative work of screenwriters in all areas of audio vision with a high level of individual creativity and authorship.
• Animated Film (Bc., Mgr.art, ArtD.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Animation Department. The programme prepares them for professional careers in animated film and techniques related to animation. It develops the students’ artistic and technical skills and abilities to create synthetic film artworks and acquire theoretical knowledge necessary for artistic creation.
  Compulsory core subjects
  Bachelor’s degree level: Animated Film; Teamwork; Basics of Figural Drawing; Development of Animated Film; 3-D Animation; History of Fine Arts; Cinematography; Animation Techniques; AF Production with Digital Technology; Digital Post-Production; Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art; Theory of Narrative, Foreign Language
  Master’s degree level: Animated Film; Theory and Aesthetics of Animation; Digital Animated Film Production; PDP Technical Realisation; Creative Writing for Film; Theory of Narrative
• Cinematography and Photography (Bc., Mgr.art, ArtD.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Cinematography and Photography Department. They are guided through the programme to work in all areas of audio vision as independent creative cinematographers. They are provided with contemporary knowledge about film and television technology and techniques. The graduates are capable of using their skills and abilities to reflect reality in a distinctively creative form.
• Visual Editing (Bc.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Editing Department. They are provided with the basic theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for independent creative work in all areas of audio vision with emphasis on visual editing. The programme develops their understanding of the models of construction of film and television narrative from the perspective of various forms and genres.
• Sound Design (Bc.)
  The students pursue their studies in the Sound Department. The studio prepares sound engineers capable of using sound to express the authorial concept of the audiovisual work. Special attention is paid to the development of their perception of music.
• Visual and Sound Design (Mgr.art, ArtD.)
  The study provides theoretical and practical knowledge in all areas of audiovisual work with emphasis on visual and sound design. The programme is based on individual creativity and partner communication and the students are encouraged to create their own artwork. The students acquire knowledge of the latest technologies and trends.

Entry requirements:

Students entering the VSMU Film and TV Faculty must be high-school graduates first. A High School Education Degree (graduation or school-leaving exam) is required for this selective kind of studies, as well as passing through art skills´ exams.

Bc. study programme admission requirements are:

• presenting homework according to the individual department requirements
• successful passing of the test of comprehensive knowledge of film, literature, music, visual art and architecture, or some other knowledge
• the practical part pass-fail interview
• passing an interview to successfully support the practical part and homework.

Mgr.art. study programme admission requirements are:

• Bc. title (or equivalent) in the field of film art and multimedia, or in a familiar branch of study.
• Presentation and the Master's degree thesis art project upheld.

School Information:
VSMU Bratislava – Academy of Performing Arts
(Film and Television Faculty – FTF VSMU)
Svoradova 2/A, 813 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
E-mail: ferencuhova@vsmu.sk, dekanatftf@vsmu.sk
Website: www.vsmu.sk
Tel: 00421 2 59 303 572
Fax: 00421 2 59 303 575