The Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen e.V. (BAF) was founded in 1993 on the initiative of private broadcasting stations and the Bayerische Landeszentrale für Neue Medien (BLM).
“What the founders of the academy could only hope for ten years ago, has now become a reality: the concept works. And it is more in tune with the current demands than those of the past,” says Heinz Burghart, founder and honorary president, at the Academy’s tenth anniversary celebration that was held on the 26th April 2004. While establishing the school Mr Burghart was greatly supported by the former vice president Professor Wolf-Dieter Ring and Professor Klaus Schreyer who was succeeded by Dr. Karl Mauthe in 2001.
The Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen e.V. opened in 1994 as one of the first educational institutions in Germany specializing in television. Over the next 10 years the curriculum was expanded and the duration of the course was extended to ten months. Dr. Ulrich Berls, head of the Academy from 1994 until 2005, had a substantial impact on the character of the Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen. In July 2005 Dr. Berls was appointed as the new director of the Landesstudio Bayern at the ZDF and Thomas Repp took over his position.
In 1999 the Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen e.V. moved from Martin-Koller Street at Moosfeld to Betastreet in Unterföhring. The new premises are now in close proximity to television centres and media companies and offer even more space for the latest technical equipments. Since then about 75 students have enjoyed the light and friendly atmosphere of House Tangentis. This is where they are being taugh the ropes for their future work in the media. The curriculum has been adapted to the needs of the television market in all its varies forms.
This year the BAF is currently offering two new courses: 3D Animation + VFX. In 2001 the BAF was already developing advanced training in the field of animation in cooperation with the AnimationCampus and offered seminars with top-class lecturers like Michael Coldewey (Trixter), Stefanie Stalf (Scanline), Prof. Jürgen Schopper, Angela Reedwisch (Arri), Dr. Rolf Giesen (Foundation of the german Kinemathek), Thomas Tannenberger (das Werk), Tim McGovern, Tyron Montgomery (Supervisor), Claudia Meglin, Gert Zimmermann (filmtools) - to name but a few.
The Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen e.V. is a not-for-profit-organisation. This legal structure guarantees that all the sponsorship money is for the sole benefit of the students.
The BAF is supported by the Bayerische Staatskanzlei, the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM) and the borough of Unterföhring. Many private television stations and media companies, the Bayerische Rundfunk and the ZDF sponsor the BAF with significant financial input. This sponsorship also provides a networking opportunity for our students that reaches far into the industry.