1 Year Advanced Filmmaking Course | Prague Film Institute

This 1 year advanced filmmaking course welcomes fresh faces to our school as well as continuing students from the 1 Year Filmmaking Course. Your program will be concentrated on one of the filmmaking specializations of your choosing: cinematography, post-production, scriptwriting, production, directing, or documentary. Students of the Advanced Course arrive with a strong foundation in filmmaking and film language. In this year, you will learn how to apply your knowledge to express your ideas and tell stories that captivate audiences. Emphasis is given to one-on-one consultations with your teachers and to the individual creation of your final films and showreel. Students of the Advanced Course have priority for professional internships on film and commercial sets to further prepare you for your career. The Advanced 1-Year Course includes assessments and culminates with a Certificate of Completion.

course highlights

Why take this course?

Industry Exposure

Access internship placements in commercials, feature films, and other industry projects. Apply classroom learning in real-world settings and build professional relationships that can kickstart your career in filmmaking.

Specialized Techniques

Gain specialized skills and techniques tailored to your interests and career goals. Apply theory to real-life professional scenarios, adapted for your chosen specialization, preparing you for this competitive industry.

Portfolio Development

Create a portfolio of work that showcases your skills and creativity, including 2 final films produced during the course. Build a strong foundation for launching a successful career in the film industry.

Industry Equipment

Practice on professional cameras including the Arri Alexa LF, RED V-RAPTOR 8K, and Sony VENICE 6K, as well as complex software for editing, post-production, and VFX. Get familiar with the tools used to create top-tier films.

what will you learn?

In the Advanced 1 Year Filmmaking Course, you will expand upon foundational knowledge and deepen your expertise across various aspects of filmmaking. Students have the opportunity to choose a specialization in cinematography, directing, production, post-production, documentary, or scriptwriting, enabling them to focus on specific areas of study and develop under the guidance of experienced industry professionals.

Advanced Project Development

Planning and producing a major short film project
Working in specialized roles (e.g., director of photography, editor, sound designer)

Advanced Directing

Directing Actors in Challenging Scenes
Working with actors in emotionally intense or physically demanding scenes
Mastering techniques for blocking and staging complex sequences
Directing short films or scenes with advanced technical and creative requirements
Managing multi-camera setups, action sequences, or ensemble casts

Guest Lectures and Industry Workshops

Invited speakers from the industry sharing insights and experiences
Workshops on specialized topics such as visual effects, documentary filmmaking, or film marketing

Film Screenings and Analysis

Watching and analyzing classic and contemporary films
Understanding different genres and styles of filmmaking

Specialization Tracks

Choose a specialization in cinematography, directing, postproduction, documentary, scriptwriting, or production
Advanced coursework and projects tailored to the chosen specialization

Advanced Scriptwriting

Pitching and selling your script
Understanding advanced story structure
Introduction to writing for specific formats (feature films, episodic television, web series, and short films)
Understanding the industry standards and market demands for different formats

Advanced Cinematography

Introduction to advanced cinematography concepts and techniques
Understanding the creative and technical aspects of green screen (chroma key) and multi-camera setups
Overview of specialized equipment (cranes, anamorphic lenses, steadicam)
Lighting Techniques for Specialized Shots
Understanding the aesthetic and creative uses of each technique
Experimenting with lighting effects and styles to enhance visual storytelling

Industry Internship

Practical experience on professional film sets or in related industry roles
Networking and building industry connections

Portoflio and Professional Development

Compilation and presentation of final projects and portfolio
Preparation for showcasing work to industry professionals
Resume building, pitching techniques, and job search strategies
Career guidance sessions

Advanced Postproduction

VFX

Introduction to visual effects (VFX) principles and compositing techniques
Incorporating VFX elements into footage using industry-standard software

COLOR GRADING

Understanding color theory and aesthetics for film and video
Hands-on experience with professional color grading tools and techniques

EDITING

Advanced editing techniques
Mastery of timeline organization, advanced editing tools, and multi-cam editing
Techniques for crafting complex narratives and storytelling through editing

SOUND

Sound design and audio post-production
Techniques for enhancing audio quality and creating immersive soundscapes

MOTION GRAPHICS AND TITLE DESIGN

Creating dynamic motion graphics and engaging title sequences
Integration of motion graphics with video projects using animation techniques

Bridging the Tech Gap

THE TECH BOOTCAMP

For incoming students to our Advanced Course, we offer a Tech Bootcamp at the beginning of the academic year to fill in any gaps in experience or simply to refresh your memory on production and post-production workflows. This intensive training familiarizes students with our in-house technology, including RED cameras, Tascam Mixers, Adobe Premiere Pro, AVID ProTools, and DaVinci Resolve.

We understand that access to such high-end technology and software is a privilege that many young filmmakers don’t have. A lack of experience with these specific cameras and softwares should not inhibit you from participating in the course. We value applicants who understand the filmmaking principles, which remain the same across all levels of technological complexity.

Weekly Schedule

Immerse yourself in our engaging lessons, scheduled for 5-6 hours per day, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend shoots. After class, allocate dedicated time to work on your assignments and prep for your final film projects.

program details

What To Bring?

To get the most out of the program, we recommend that all students bring:

Portable external drive (minimum 2 TB)
To safely store and back up your film projects, you’ll need a portable drive with at least 2 TB of storage capacity.
Laptop for editing and independent work
You’ll be doing a lot of post-production on your own device. Your laptop should ideally meet or exceed the following specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7, M1 (minimum)
  Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9, M2, M3 (recommended)
- RAM: 16 GB (minimum) / 32 GB+ (recommended)
- GPU: 6 GB VRAM (minimum) / 8 GB+ VRAM (recommended)
- Media storage: SSD or RAID (minimum) / SSD, Direct Attached RAID or NAD RAID (10 GbE) (recommended)
If needed, you’ll also have access to the school’s computers and software.
Final film budget (approx. 5–10 000 CZK/semester)
As part of our hands-on approach, students are expected to fund their own film projects. We provide filmmaking equipment and a transportation van, but all other production costs are your responsibility. Choose or write scripts that match your available resources — being creative on a budget is part of the learning.
Personal liability insurance (approx. 1 600 CZK)
To protect you in case you accidentally damage equipment or property during your studies, the school will arrange a personal liability insurance policy on your behalf. The approximate cost is 1 600 CZK per year, which should be brought in cash at the course of the program.
Security deposit (5 000 CZK)
All students are required to bring a refundable security deposit of 5 000 CZK. This amount will be held by the school throughout the duration of the program and may be used to cover intentional or negligent damage not covered by liability insurance, fines for breaking school rules, damage to school property, equipment misuse, parking violations or similar incidents. The deposit acts as an additional layer of responsibility and is fully refundable at the end of your studies, minus any deductions if applicable.

What is Included

We understand that by choosing to study with us you are making a big financial commitment. We want to make sure you understand exactly what your tuition fee will cover when you decide to become a Prague Film Institute student.

Lectures, workshops & master classes
Teaching materials
Filmmaking equipment (see more here), in this course you will primarily work with the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k
Licences to Premiere Pro/Da Vinci/AVID Pro Tools
School van for student projects
Green-screen and cinema room on-site
Discounts at our industry partners
Certificate after successful completion of the course

Not Included

Airfare
Visa fees & health insurance
Living expenses (housing, food, transportation)
Production cost for your film (such as locations, props, actors, fuel)

However, Prague is still cheaper than many European cities. The capital offers very safe living environment with high rating in housing and healthcare.

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