The university was founded as an art school attached to the National Theatre on November 1, Juche 42 (1953), on the initiative of President Kim Il Sung. He took measures to improve the educational conditions and showed warm loving care for students to bring their artistic talents into full bloom without any inconvenience.

On July 8, 1971 when a new revolutionary turn was taking place in the building of Juche-oriented art and literature, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the university to clearly indicate the orientation and ways for its development and guided it to creditably discharge its mission and duty as the seat of education in drama and film.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un stressed with deep trust that Pyongyang University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts should turn out to bring about a revolution in the cinema in the new century. He indicated the issues for improving its education contents, methods and forms in a revolutionary way and provided a lot of equipment and books necessary for the education and practical training of students.

Over the past 70 years, the university has produced one hundred and tens of films, stage works, etc. and many teachers, researchers, creators, artistes and students have successfully carried out the tasks for depicting the works at production institutions.

A meeting took place at the Pyongyang International Cinema House on Wednesday to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the university.

Present there were Jo Kyong Jun, vice department director of the C.C., Workers' Party of Korea, Jong Yong Nam, director-general of the National Administration of Motion Picture Industry, officials concerned, and officials, teaching staff, students and graduates of the university.