“The Feature Film Studio (WFF) formally returned to Wrocław today. We have made ourselves a present for the 70th anniversary of the institution. This is our first success of the year”, announced Robert Banasiak, director of the former Audiovisual Technology Centre and the current WFF.
In the minds of locals and the film industry, the institution has always functioned as the Feature Film Studio. Although until 31 December it was the Audiovisual Technology Centre.
Robert Banasiak, director of the former Audiovisual Technology Centre and the current WFF, recalled that for about 60 years almost 500 productions, films and series were made here, including such legendary titles as: “Ashes and Diamonds” by Andrzej Wajda with an unforgettable performance by Zbyszek Cybulski, the cult comedy trilogy “All good friends” by Sylwester Chęciński, “The Saragossa Manuscript” and “A doll” by Wojciech Jerzy Has, “On the Silver Globe” by Andrzej Żuławski, “A lonely woman” by Agnieszka Holland, “Giuseppe in Warsaw” by Stanisław Lenartowicz or “Four Tank-men and a Dog” by Konrad Nałęcki.
The first feature film produced at the Wytwórnia was the drama ” Not far from Warsaw” (1954), directed by Maria Kaniewska, starring Urszula Modrzyńska and Ludwik Benoit.
The second half of the 1960s saw a comprehensive expansion of the facility. In 1975, the modernised largest photographic hall with an area of 1,000 sq m was put into operation. During this period, the WFF’s production capacity increased to 16 films per year. The WFF offered filmmakers full technical and production facilities – from the shooting halls, sound recording studios, editing room and set construction department to the unique locations in Wrocław. The location of Wytwórnia in the capital of Lower Silesia, far from the censors’ offices, also had a positive impact on the artistic quality of the films.
In November 2011, Wytwórnia Filmów Fabularnych was transformed into the Centre for Audiovisual Technologies. After more than 12 years, it is returning to its original name.
Adrian Andrzejewski