"The most significant development project in the history of the University of Theater and Film Arts (SZFE) has begun. The first step was to rename the institutes and move them into locations that enable teachers to provide modern education to their students" – stated Gábor Szarka, Chancellor of the University at the press tour of the new campus at 48–54 Mészáros Street, writes the MTI.

The Chancellor highlighted that the freshly renovated building, which was the former headquarters of Duna TV, will serve as the home of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts.

The building at 48–54 Mészáros Street in the 1st District was presented by the Head of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts, Balázs Sára. The building used to be the headquarters of Duna TV (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)

Answering a question from the MTI question, Gábor Szarka said that education would resume when the pandemic situation would allow. Hungarian universities will continue with remote learning in February, but art students are generally trained heavily through practice. Therefore, the management of SZFE hopes that practical education can continue in some subject with a special permit from the government.

He stressed that university venues were available and that all buildings, old and new, had undergone some form of renovation in recent months. 

Acting and drama theory will still be taught on Szentkirályi Street and in the Uránia National Film Theater. Education in motion pictures will move to the new campus on Mészáros Street. "We are very proud to have completed a two- to three-year development effort in only the last two months after the blockade ended," the Chancellor said.

Gábor Szarka expressed his surprise that students defended the campus in Vas Street so vehemently, claiming the building showed "decades of neglect" and no one should have to return to be educated in such surroundings. The Chancellor stated that the government provided 500 million HUF for the renovation of the Duna TV headquarters, but other restorations were carried out for a few tens of millions.

Highlighting the terrible conditions of the University's previous halls of residence, he accounted that students would be housed in a new location with 70 beds instead of the previously available 50. The "finishing touches" are currently being applied to the new site, which will be announced soon.

The building of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts of the University of Theater and Film Arts, the former headquarters of Duna TV (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)

Asked if they were afraid of continued protests from students, the Chancellor said: when they see the new venues and understand that the class teachers will remain the same, he hopes there will be no need to continue protests. "We have proven that decades of neglect can be righted within months, proving the success of the new model" – the Chancellor was quoted as saying.

Gábor Szarka also stressed that the building under 2/c Vas Street, which also houses the Ódry Theatre, belonged to the Reformed Church before being nationalised in the 1950s. Not disputing recent traditions and the fact that many great artists of Hungarian film and theatre began their careers in the building, people should bear in mind that the building was owned by the Church. The model change allows "justice to be restored" and it would be best to return the building to its rightful owner. The Chancellor claimed that negotiations were ongoing.

Gábor Szarka emphasised that the current situation is temporary despite renovations, and a new campus will be built for the University. Until then, the traditions of the Ódry Theatre must be preserved and then continued in a new location. The Chancellor also revealed, that the Universities new management recently found a study commissioned by the previous leadership regarding the possible development of the Vas Street campus. The plans would have seen the stage destroyed and a sports hall built in its place.

Balázs Sára, head of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts, told the MTI that the University's training in film had outgrown the Szentkirályi Street building. For example, there was no cinematography studio, and camera operators were trained in Róna Street. Meanwhile, the former headquarters of Duna TV stood empty and seemed a perfect venue with a few minor changes. The renovation of the building in recent months will allow all education in motion picture arts to move to one location, he noted.

The building contains twelve classrooms, film studios, soundproofed sound training rooms and cutting rooms, dubbing studios, projectors of various sizes and a music hall equipped with proper sound technology. Balázs Sára claimed that the equipment in the building would be continually expanded.

The building on Vas Street may be returned to the Reformed Church in Hungary (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)

Source: MTI | Abridged in translation

Cover photo: The building of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts of the University of Theater and Film Arts, the former headquarters of Duna TV (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)

Read our previous article about the Vas Street campus here: Building of the University of Theatre and Film Arts was once owned by the YMCA