1 Year

Filmmaking Course (Europe)

Prague Film Institute > Filmmaking Course (Europe)
learn from film masters

1 Year Filmmaking Course (EU)

This discounted version of 1 Year Filmmaking Program is available only for applicants with citizenship in EU, EEA or Switzerland.  The course is hands-on, full-time and taught on our campus in Prague, the Czech Republic. The study ends with qualification BTEC Level 4 HNC in Creative Media Production (Film) which is equivalent to the first year of bachelor’s study. The curriculum of this course is the same as for our other 1 Year Filmmaking Courses and you will choose your specialisation in directing, cinematography, production, scriptwriting or post-production

This study program consists of two semesters and will teach you everything you need to know to make festival-worthy films of high production value. It includes internship on a film set, taking part in production up to 40 short films and scenes of different styles, as well as making your own 2 festival-worthy short films with high-quality filmmaking equipment (RED Gemini, RED Dragon, Alexa Amira or Sony F55). You will be required to learn all the basics of general filmmaking to make you understand the entire process from pre-production to post-production, which is crucial for kick starting your career in the film industry. The emphasis on your chosen specialisation is given mostly during practical workshops and shootings.

You will learn film-industry standards and processes, internship on a film set and create your own festival-worthy films.

COURSE FEATURES

Available for: EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens

Type: Hands-On Training

Dates and Tuition: see Price List & Dates

Duration: 10 Months 

Qualification: BTEC HNC in Creative Media Industry (Pathway Film)

Study Mode: Full Time

Language: English

Groups: Small (5-15 people)

our value proposition

course highlights

Film Shooting Every Week

During the course, you will practice your skills in your chosen specilisation on up to 40 short films of different styles, create industry- standard showreel and present it to the panel of film professionals in a public cinema.

Festival-worthy Films

You will make your own 2 festival-worthy films shot on most popular cinema cameras such as RED Gemini, Alexa Amira or Sony F55. You cinematography lessons will be taught in professional filmmaking rental house.

Internship on a Film Set

You will get a chance to take part in filmmaking internship on a professional film set. The internship will grow your network of all-important contacts and set yourself apart in a very competitive career field. 

festival-worthy films

Your main focus during the year will be to shoot at least 2 final films of festival-quality. You will invest most of your free time developing your final films, which will have higher production value compared to average school films. Through guidance of your tutors, you will prepare your film on the same level as a professional film production. Your film will be shot on professional filmmaking equipment at the value of more than 90 000 USD.

Entry Requirements
What to Bring?
What’s Included
Not Included

Entry Requirements

AgeMinimum age to enter the course is 18 years.
EducationNo prior filmmaking experience is required.
EnglishCommunicative level.
DocumentsCopy of passport, curriculum vitae (CV), example of creative work / motivational letter.

What to Bring

We recommend that all new Prague Film Institute students purchase their own personal laptops for self guided learning and post-production practice. Our goal is to teach students how to use their own computer for high quality results. Make sure that you choose a laptop which meets the minimum recommended specification. However, for tasks which requires specialist software tools, you will be also allowed to use Prague Film Institute’s computer equipment. 

ComponentMinimum RequirementRecommended Requirement
CPUIntel COre i7 or AMD Ryzen 7Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9
RAM16 GB32 GB+
GPU4 GB VRAM8 GB+ VRAM
Media StorageSSD or RAIDSSD, Direct Attached RAID or NAD RAID (10 GbE)

What is Included

We understand that by choosing to study with us you are making a big financial commitment. The tuition fee of this course is 20  250 USD. We want to make sure you understand exactly what your tuition fee will cover when you decide to become a Prague Film Institute student.

  • At least 2 own final films of festival-quality
  • Internship on a film set 
  • Lectures, workshops & master classes
  • BTEC Level 4 HNC in Creative Media Industry (Pathway Film)
  • Field trips to industry partners
  • Access to editing room
  • Teaching materials
  • Showreel
  • Filmmaking equipment 
  • Discounts at our industry partners
    • 50% discount in Fundus of Barrandov Studios
    • up to 2 000 USD free rental of weapons & props at Three Brothers production company 
    • up to 70% discount of filmmaking equipment at LS Lumination Pictures

What is Not Included

  • Air fare
  • Visa fee & health insurance (you can order our visa service package – more info here)
  • Living expenses (housing, food, transportation)

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

 

CERTIFICATION

This hands-on course is awarded by Pearson BTEC HNC in Creative Media Production (Film).

MANDATORY MODULES

Below you can see the basic modules which you will complete on the course. About 60% of our lessons are practical. The emphasis on your chosen specialisation will be given mostly during practical classes and shootings which will help you to create industry-standard showreel and equip yourself with key skills needed to make festival-worthy short films at the end of the course. The curriculum of this program is identical to the first year of the 2 Years Filmmaking Degree Course.

Scriptwriting

  • Writing to Theme
  • Writing Characters
  • Utilizing the Story Framce (setting)
  • Dramatic Dialogue
  • Set-up/Pay-off, Casuality and Cosmology
  • Twin Tools of Drama: Intrique and Suspense
  • Classic Narrative
  • Alternative Story Structures
  • Episodic Narratives for TV and Webisodes
  • Short Film Storytelling
  • Working with Genre
  • From Concept to Final Draft – a Screenwriter;s Workflow

Directing Theory

  • General Introduction
  • The Scenario – What is the Story?
  • Non-narrative Surrealism
  • Narrative Surrealism
  • Comedy – timing, improvisation, sticking to a script
  • Creating a National Identity
  • The transposition of live brutality to the silver screen
  • How to Direct
  • Racism in Film
  • Expermental Film
  • The Czech New Wave
  • Polish Cinema: The Cold War
  • New Zeland Cinema
  • Short Films as an Apprenticeship

Practical Directing

  • Directors Mindset – Forming a Voice, not an Echo
  • Reversed Technical Screenplay Analyse
  • Casting Actors – making choices / feedback on exercises
  • Communication with Producers / feedback on exercises
  • Communication with DOP- why do we need each other eyes / feedback exercises
  • Communication: Actors 1 – forming a relationship, direct or indirect approach / feedback on exercises
  • Communication: Actors 2 – creating the role together, acting techniques / feedback on exercises
  • Communication: Editor – creating a functional workflow / feedback on exercises
  • Development: in depth process of preproduction from Directors point of view
  • Regular feedback on practical exercises according to theme
  • Acting workshop with video recording feedback: understanding actors
  • Interpretation workshop
  • Postproduction process from Directos point of view
  • Mental health and work-life balance in the film industry
  • Advertisment Industry vs. Film Industry – different context of work (preparing treatments, moodboards, presentations)
  • Festival Strategy and Networking – how to represent your work and create international network for your future career
  • Consultations on final film

Production

  • Film Crew: Roles and Responsabilities
  • Basics of Line Producing
  • Introduction to the Business of Film
  • Film Financing
  • Project Planning
  • Pitching
  • Line Producing
  • Project Development
  • Location Management
  • Business Development
  • Talent Management
  • Marketing & Distribution

Cinematography - Camera

Cinematography - Lighting

  • Features of Lighting in Cinematography in Creating a Visual language
  • Safe Setup, Operation and Control of Lighting Equipment
  • Presentation of Dailies/Rushes Demonstrating Different Approaches to Lighting and Cinematography

Postproduction - Editing & Color Grading

  • Usage of Editing Techniques for Different Production Contexts
  • TermInology and Different Movie Parts
  • Types of Shots
  • Continuity Editing
  • Parallel Editing
  • Montage/Jump Cut
  • Emotional Curve of the Scene
  • Timing and Pace
  • Bridging Scenes with Music
  • Cut by Color and Contrast
  • Cutting Dialogues
  • Editing for Different Genres

Film Studies

  • Growth of Film Industry and Audience Through Time
  • History and Development of Narrative Film
  • Theoretical Framewrok Within Film Studies

Practical Workshop – Shooting of scenes & film

Production

Production Design

OPTIONAL SUBJECT

You will have chance to join number of optional and discovery workshops which will further evolve your knowledge in the field. Please note that the cost of all optional subject (except underwater cinematography) is included in the tuition fee. 

Documentary Filmmaking

  • Research in Documentary Filmmaking
  • Still photos, footage newspapers, online articles
  • Letters, Journals, diaries
  • Archival Research
  • Government Documents
  • Production process
  • Observational Documentary
  • Character-Driven Documentary
  • Interview Style Documentary

Drone Cinematography

Underwater Cinematography

  • The only optional subject which we offer for extra cost
  • The price for our students is 3 500 USD (standard price 5 000 USD)

Action Scenes

  • Security of action scenes
  • Specifics of shooting preparation
  • Stunt coordination
  • Directing shooting
  • Editing
  • Special Effects (SFX)

Czech Language Course

1 YEAR FILMMAKING PROGRAM (EUROPE)

Application Form

KEEP IN TOUCH

CONTACT US

    Antispam control captcha
    ×

    Hello!

    Click one of our contacts below to chat on WhatsApp

    × How can I help you?