Saxon Film Academy

What began as an ambitious project is now taking on a formal structure: The Saxon Film Academy is being reorganized as a limited liability company (GmbH) headquartered in Görlitz. The three shareholders—the Association of German Producers (Verband Deutscher Produzenten e.V.), Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, and Europastadt GörlitzZgorzelec GmbH—are thereby securing the institution’s future and providing a reliable outlook for film industry training in Central Germany.

With the support of the Saxon producers Saxonia Media and Looks Film GmbH, the Production Alliance is, for the first time, involved in a regional structural project aimed at increasing professional qualifications and training. This will expand the pool of skilled workers and professionals in the Görlitz film region.

The Saxon Film Academy was launched in 2021 as a project of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. It was established in response to the film industry’s urgent need to address the shortage of skilled workers—particularly in the technical aspects of filmmaking—through new training and continuing education programs. Following a successful initial phase involving the design and implementation of three courses, the Saxon Film Academy is now being established as an independent entity, thereby gaining the necessary autonomy for further development. The GmbH is headquartered in Görlitz (Konsulplatz 1), a film location renowned both nationally and internationally.

The partnership now established between the private sector, the education sector, and municipal structures serves as a model. It holds great potential and creates important synergies. In August, the new management team will introduce itself and outline the specific next steps for the further development of the Saxon Film Academy.

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences would like to express its sincere gratitude to its long-time collaborators—Bernd Hölsken, a Diplom designer and cinematographer, and filmmaker Moritz Draheim—for their active support in establishing the Saxon Film Academy and shaping its academic program.

Many thanks to all our partners in education, business, civil society, and politics who have contributed to and supported this project so actively and generously thus far.