Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Vice Rector of Research and Innovation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Kyriakos Yakinthos signed a Programmatic Agreement, according to which the Ministry of Culture entrusts the University of Thessaloniki with the development of curricula and the definition of the necessary infrastructure for the establishment of the State School of Film and Audiovisual Media Professionals.

The establishment and operation of the new School aims to train highly qualified film and audiovisual media technicians, so that they can meet the increased demand for both domestic audiovisual production and international film productions. The object of the programme contract is to formulate eight specialised study programmes, with emphasis on new skills, which will form the core of the training provided by the School and to describe the necessary building infrastructure, in two different locations, for the establishment of the School.

The implementation of the project is entrusted to a research team of professors, who treat relevant subjects at universities in Greece, but also at corresponding schools of renowned prestige abroad, as well as with the participation of professionals of the respective specialty who are widely recognized by the world of the domestic market.

The preparation of each curriculum is entrusted to a four-member committee, under the supervision of a seven-member research team consisting of seven faculty members from Greek universities, while a total of 32 scientists, artists and technicians will be involved in the research project. The scientific responsible for the implementation of the programme contract is the Professor of the Department of Cinema of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Apostolos Karakasis.

The establishment of a School of Film and Audiovisual Media Professionals is a central priority of the Ministry of Culture. The project is part of the general policy of the Ministry of Culture for the strengthening of the film and audiovisual sector. It aims to train high quality professionals by providing accredited and recognised studies to meet the increasing demand for new and traditional specialisations in the audiovisual sector.

The Ministry of Culture trusts, in this important work at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, that the curricula are fully aligned with international trends, the quality requirements of contemporary film productions, the needs of the market, but also the imperative of extroversion and competitiveness of Greek filmmaking.