CHRONICLE

The Regulation on the Formation of the German Film Academy (Verordnung über die Bildung der Deutschen Hochschule für Filmkunst) was signed by Otto Grotewohl, the Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and Johannes R. Becher, the Minister of Culture of the German Democratic Republic, in October 1954.
At that time, the foundation of the Academy was based on the Soviet All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow and the Film School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU).

To begin with, the HFF offered courses in the subjects of Directing, Cinematography, Dramaturgy / Film Studies and Production. These were joined by a course in Acting in 1955. In 1962, the Academy of Film Technology Engineering and the Neustrelitzer School for Projectionists were assigned to the University,  leading to the formation of a vocational school department.

The University additionally became a training institution for young film talents in 1967, before being renamed the Film and Television Academy of the German Democratic Republic in 1969.

The current Animation course was founded at the HFF and affiliated with the then vocational school department in 1984 in order to provide training for animators. 

In 1985, the University was given the honorary name Konrad Wolf. 

The German State of Brandenburg took over the HFF as the Konrad Wolf Film and Television University with effect from 17^th December 1990. In his government declaration, Manfred Stolpe, the Minister President of Brandenburg, announced plans to integrate the HFF into the concept of creating a European media centre in Potsdam-Babelsberg.

Due to the changes that occurred following the reunification of Germany, it soon became clear that the HFF would have to give up a significant share of the villas that it occupied in the villa quarter of Babelsberg. This led to the first considerations concerning the creation of a specific HFF building in a new location.

Film and Television Scenography was established as a major course in 1991. 

In 1992, the German Council of Science and Humanities recommended that the Konrad Wolf HFF be continued as an arts school.

The major course in Audiovisual Media Studies was added to the range of HFF courses in 1993 as a scientific branch of study. 

After being based there for 46 years, the University left the villa district of Babelsberg in June/July 2000 and moved into the new building that had been constructed specifically for the HFF in Babelsberg Media City. 

In a letter dated 18^th December 2001, the Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the German State of Brandenburg, Prof. Dr Johanna Wanka, officially recognised the former FH (University of Applied Sciences) course in Animation as an arts academy course.

A further milestone was reached in August 2003, when, following approval from the University Council of the German State of Brandenburg, Prof. Dr Johanna Wanka, the Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the German State of Brandenburg, authorised the conversion of the former FH courses in Sound and Montage to arts academy courses with effect from 1st September 2003.

With this conversion, the HFF became a ‘pure’ arts academy. 

In the winter semester 2004/2005, students were able to sign up to the new course in Film Music for the first time. 

During the Bologna Process, the HFF also began to consider the issue of introducing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.  

The first Master’s course began in the winter semester 2006/2007, namely the strongly research-oriented course: Media Studies – Analysis, Aesthetic and Audience. 

The first intensive Bachelor’s course at the HFF then began in the winter semester 2007/2008: the course in Acting. This semester also saw the discontinuation of the Diploma course in Media-Specific Acting.

In the winter semester 2009/2010, the course in Film Music was also converted into a Master’s degree course. 

Further conversions to BA/MA degree courses are currently being prepared and will be gradually implemented.