On 3rd October the academic year 2014/2015 officially started.

Amongst the guests were: MPs, Iwona Śledzińska-Katarasińska and Elżbieta Królikowska-Kińska, Wiktor Jędrzejec, the director of the Artistic & Culture Education Dept at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Witold Stępień, Lodz Province Marshal, Agnieszka Nowak, Vice-President of the City of Lodz, Monika Głowacka, Head of Lodz Film Commission, Grzegorz Matuszak, Lodz City Council Chairman and Katarzyna Madaj-Kozłowska, Educational Film Studio Chairwoman.

Other Lodz universities and academies were represented by: Prof. Jolanta Rudzka-Habisiak, Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. Włodzimierz Nykiel, Rector of Lodz University, Dr Marek Marczak, Rector of the Higher Monastic Seminary, Prof. Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz, Vice-Rector in charge of education at the Music Academy, Prof. Piotr Kula, Vice-Rector in charge of innovations at Lodz Polytechnic and Prof. Dariusz Nowak, Vice-Rector in charge of development of the Medical University.

During the ceremony, the Silver Medal, "Zasłużony kulturze Gloria Artis" was received by: Prof. Janusz Tylman, Mariusz Wilczynski and the late Prof. Henryk Ryszka.

The Bronze Medal, "Zasłużony kulturze Gloria Artis" was received by: Jacek Koprowicz, Prof. Jolanta Lemann-Zajicek, Prof. Stanisław Szymański and Dorota Anna Wardęszkiewicz.

The Rector, Prof. Mariusz Grzegorzek gave a speech, which started with a serious introduction and then struck a more personal note full of wit, sarcasm and humour, which was enthusiastically received  (here are some fragments):

‘Unprecedented technological and economic revolution generates impressive achievements. We have stronger control of the world, man and matter. This illusionary power combined with fascinating developments in interpersonal communication technologies paradoxically has caused a diminishment in authentic , essential understanding, and also the ability to analize and synthesize human nature, whose basic tool is art. Today, our young democracy, still anemic and fragile, is unable to successfully face such complicated threats. The more mature societies of Western Europe have difficulties, even such liberal and powerful nations as Germany and France.… I sound the Sigismund Bell, although I know that young people whom I especially address do not like preaching even from the Rector’s pulpit. That is why, let me be precise and practical: We want to fight against this state of affairs, even if it is a futile effort. The Lodz Film School is an exceptional place. We are not going to mention the objective evidence or boast about it now for the sake of sceptics. For decades, it has carried out its original authors teaching programme for film art; it has produced and is still producing outstanding graduates. Each year, we are happy to observe, large numbers of young people take the entrance exam to our school, and only a few chosen ones actually get in, and it is them I address these words to: YOU ARE IN A SCHOOL: That’s right, SCHOOL, an artistic one, but still a school . And this is what it means:
- you are obliged to yield to a tedious learning process and participate in classes,
- you are expected to keep to deadlines and take exams,
- film is not only about making films; the most important thing is to have an active attitude to the world, courage and a sense of observation,
- we confront you with high expectations, but they bind both sides
- if there is something that worries you or gives you an impression of lower standards we are ready to discuss it and possibly change it
- if you are stubborn ‘lonesome rangers’ and you want to do everything alone, your own way, you’ve come to the wrong place; the school, as well as the film crew is a group of people with whom you exchange knowledge and energy,
- if you are already interested in working on a series or for an advertising agency (not that there’s anything wrong with that), go there straight away cause the school does not have anything to do with it; staying here you will not have time for all this,
- if Łódź irritates you, cause it’s not up to your standards (and there’s nothing wrong with that), there are great schools in other beautiful cities in Poland and in the world - move there at once, you’ll save yourselves and others disappointment. Our school is just here and the classes are held in Targowa street.
The fulfilment of these few modest requirements will ensure great external harmony (and internal disharmony, which is a source of creative search anyway), in which you will be able to study, I repeat: STUDY at the Film School in Lodz in Targowa street and thrive on film understood as a field of real ART, no matter how pretentious or old-fashioned it may sound. Besides, life is beautiful, after the night the day comes, and storm is followed by tranquility. One can only take as much as one is able to, a celebrity revealed her bra and knickers again yesterday, and Kim Kardashian published her new selfie. Let’s not get crazy. Welcome to the Lodz Film School!'