Ama Film Academy

What Ama Film Academy does

AMA Film Academy is a private vocational film school operating two physical campuses in Poland — in Warsaw (classical film production, hosted within the CD Projekt campus) and Kraków (AI-driven filmmaking) — and offering online programs in screenwriting and film production. Founded in 2010 by cinematographer Piotr Lenar and operated by Positive Look Media Sp. z o.o., the academy delivers 23 programs spanning cinematography, directing, editing, post-production, sound design, film acting, screenwriting, and production, in full-time, part-time, weekend workshop, and online formats. Teaching is delivered by 70+ instructors who are active film industry professionals, and the school serves approximately 200+ students per year, with 1,000+ graduates since founding.

The core technology stack includes modern film production equipment (cameras, optics, stabilization, lighting, Apple workstations for editing and VFX), a cinema screening room, a sound recording studio, and the dedicated AMA Rental equipment service. The Kraków campus is differentiated by an AI-integrated curriculum that treats film, post-production, and generative AI as a unified creative process across video, image, text, audio, and multimodal workflows. The school is supported by Poland's primary state film institution (PISF), is a member of the KIPA Film Schools Section, and maintains equipment partnerships with Panavision Polska, Canon, Sony, PRG CineGate, Heliograf, and Grip Seven.

The business model is primarily tuition-based, with revenue generated from vocational program fees, supplemented by equipment rental (AMA Rental) and online e-learning. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the academy website, with seasonal recruitment campaigns, open days, and workshops for high school graduates. Geographic footprint is predominantly domestic (Poland), with online programs providing a global reach channel. The school has no publicly disclosed pricing, no identified parent company or institutional investors, and no M&A or funding activity in the available data.

Name

Ama Film Academy

Legal name

AMA FILM ACADEMY (operated by Positive Look Media Sp. z o.o)

Website

https://www.amafilmacademy.pl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AMA Film Academy is a private Polish vocational film school with Warsaw and Kraków campuses, offering 23 hands-on programs in cinematography, directing, editing, sound, and AI-driven filmmaking to ~200+ students annually, supported by 70+ active industry professionals as instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Multimedia Learning Production (Video, Animation, Interactive) (EDAGAKAG)

Keywords

• Film school education
• Vocational film training
• Cinematography programs
• Directing courses
• AI filmmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Kraków

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees from vocational film programs: AMA Film Academy generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged for its vocational film programs, which include full-time (stacjonarne), part-time (niestacjonarne), and online courses covering cinematography, directing, editing, sound, acting, screenwriting, and production. Programs range from one-year courses to two-year programs and semester-long masterclasses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AMA Film Academy is a private vocational film school in Poland operating two campuses in Warsaw and Kraków, offering full-time, part-time, and online programs in cinematography, directing, postproduction, sound, acting, screenwriting, and film production. The Warsaw campus focuses on traditional professional film production, while the Kraków campus emphasizes AI-driven filmmaking integrating film, post-production, and generative AI as a unified creation process. The school also operates AMA Rental, a film equipment rental service, and uses streaming-based AMA e-learning for distance education.

Product overview

AMA Film Academy is a film school with campuses in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs in film and audiovisual production. The school's Warsaw campus focuses on traditional professional filmmaking using classical production models, while the Krakow campus emphasizes AI-driven filmmaking integrating film, post-production, and generative AI as one unified creation process. The product portfolio includes core programs in cinematography (with AI integration), directing (with AI integration), post-production (with AI integration), visual storytelling, editing, sound design, film acting, and specialized masterclasses. Additionally, the school offers online programs in screenwriting and film production, equipment rental services (AMA Rental), and professional workshops. The school operates 23 modern programs with over 70 instructors, serving approximately 200+ students annually and maintaining a network of 1000+ alumni.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cinematography (operatorski + AI) Two-year vocational program covering film imagery, camera work, lighting, and contemporary AI-enhanced cinematography workflow, available at the Kraków campus in full-time and part-time formats for aspiring cinematographers.
• Directing (reżyseria + AI) Vocational program covering film directing, crew management, and modern AI-augmented production processes, available at the Kraków campus in full-time and part-time formats for aspiring film directors.
• Postproduction + AI Vocational program covering compositing, visual effects (VFX), AI-assisted image processing, and final film output, integrating traditional post-production with AI tools at the Kraków campus.
• Visual Storytelling Program focused on visual narrative design, image composition, and conscious audiovisual storytelling form, available at both Kraków and Warsaw campuses.
• Directing-Cinematography (English) English-language vocational course covering directing, cinematography, camera work, and basic film production workflow, offered at the Kraków campus for international students.
• Operatorski (Cinematography) - Warsaw Two-year program covering camera work, lighting, composition, and on-set cinematographer practice, available at the Warsaw campus in full-time and part-time formats.
• Reżyseria Filmowa (Film Directing) - Warsaw Vocational program developing directing skills, actor work, and film language, available at the Warsaw campus in full-time and part-time formats.
• Montaż, Grading, VFX - Warsaw Vocational program covering editing, color grading, visual effects, and comprehensive image post-production, offered at the Warsaw campus.
• Realizacja Dźwięku (Sound Design) - Warsaw Vocational program focused on sound recording, editing, and design for film, games, and multimedia, available at the Warsaw campus in part-time format.
• Aktorstwo Filmowe (Film Acting) - Warsaw Vocational program developing film acting skills and on-camera performance, available at the Warsaw campus.
• Scenariopisarstwo Online (Online Screenwriting) One-year online program teaching screenplay writing, story structure, and script development using Hollywood-aligned practices, accessible globally.
• Produkcja Filmowa Online (Online Film Production) One-year online program covering film production organization, planning, and production manager work, accessible globally.
• DOP Masterclass One-semester practical advanced cinematography masterclass at post-graduate level, offered at the Warsaw campus for experienced practitioners.
• Editing (Montaż narracyjny) Program focused on narrative editing, film rhythm, post-production, and AI-assisted editing, available at the Warsaw campus.
• Operatorski Camera / Light Innovative program supported by PRG CineGate focusing on camera and lighting operation, offered at the Warsaw campus.
• Podstawowy Kurs Filmowy (Basic Film Course) Entry-level film course covering filming fundamentals and modern digital camera operation, available at both Warsaw and Kraków campuses.
• Zaawansowany Kurs Filmowy (Advanced Film Course) Advanced professional filmmaking course using modern cameras and industry-standard equipment, available at both Warsaw and Kraków campuses.
• Film Workshops (Warsztaty filmowe) Professional weekend-format workshops covering technical and creative aspects of film production including cinematography, post-production, VFX, documentary filmmaking, and gaming, led by accomplished filmmakers.
• AMA Rental Equipment rental service providing professional film gear including cameras, lighting, grip equipment, and Apple workstations for post-production and VFX to students and external clients.
• AMA e-learning Online learning platform using streaming technology to deliver distance education in film disciplines that do not require physical studio access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ graduates have completed AMA Film Academy programs since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej (PISF)coreOthersAMA Film Academy is supported by the Polish Film Institute (PISF), Poland's primary state institution for film promotion and development. This institutional backing validates the academy's standing within the Polish film industry and provides access to broader film industry networks and resources.
• Krajowa Izba Producentów Audiowizualnych (KIPA)coreOthersAMA Film Academy is a member of the Film Schools Section (Sekcja Szkół Filmowych) of KIPA, the National Chamber of Audiovisual Producers. Membership connects the academy with leading Polish production companies and industry professionals, enriching the teaching environment.
• Alter Ego Production (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA Film (Germany) — a co-production partner alongside Alter Ego Production (France) and Rita Productions (Switzerland) — produced the documentary 'Gabin' which premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight, demonstrating international co-production capability.
• SWR/ARTEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman broadcaster SWR and Franco-German channel ARTE co-produced the documentary 'Gabin' (involving Ama Film as a co-producer), reflecting the academy's connections with major European broadcasters.
• RTS Radio Télévision SuisseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss public broadcaster RTS co-produced the documentary 'Gabin' alongside Ama Film Academy's co-production activities, further extending the academy's international network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Met Film School: UK-based independent film school offering practical BA/MA and short courses in directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. Shares AMA's emphasis on professional equipment access and industry-active faculty.
• London Film Academy: Independent London film school focused on practical filmmaking MA programs and short courses with industry mentors. Highly comparable business model to AMA: small, practice-led, professional-instructor-driven film education.
• Warsaw Film School (Szkoła Filmowa): Private film school in Warsaw offering practical programs in directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and acting. Operates in the same city as AMA's Warsaw campus and competes for the same Polish student pool with similar practice-oriented pedagogy.
• Łódź Film School (PWSFTviT): Poland's national film school (Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Filmowa, Telewizyjna i Teatralna) — the most prestigious film education institution in Poland, offering degree programs in directing, cinematography, editing, and production. Directly competes with AMA for Polish film students but operates at a much larger scale with state funding.
• Wajda School: Warsaw-based film school offering master classes and short programs for emerging filmmakers, founded in honor of director Andrzej Wajda. Competes with AMA for Polish film students seeking short-format, industry-connected training.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Film School: Canada-based private film and creative arts school offering one-year intensive programs in film production, cinematography, sound design, and acting. Comparable to AMA's practice-first, intensive-program approach and serves a similar career-changer demographic.
• National Film and Television School (NFTS): UK's national film school offering postgraduate programs in directing, cinematography, editing, sound design, and production. A larger and more established institutional peer to AMA, useful as a benchmark for vocational film education excellence.
• New York Film Academy: Large global film school with undergraduate, conservatory, and short-term programs across multiple countries and online. AMA's online screenwriting and film production programs are explicitly modeled on NYFA curriculum, making it a direct methodological reference and aspirational peer.
• SAE Institute: Global private vocational college offering programs in film, audio, animation, and creative media across dozens of campuses. Adjacent to AMA as a competing private vocational creative-media institution with online and physical delivery.

Regional players

• FAMU (Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts): Prague-based film school — one of Central Europe's oldest and most prestigious film programs, offering directing, cinematography, editing, and sound. Comparable to AMA in scope and pedagogy but operates in the Czech Republic rather than Poland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ama Film Academy