Introduction
Throughout its history, Cineuropa has paid great attention to the issues related to professional development and training in the Audiovisual industry.
Cineuropa has, at various times, developed and managed, with its own resources or in cooperation with other entities and institutions, training courses in different areas of the AV industry. Cineuropa has developed a training know-how by managing a vast spectrum of formats and training products providing participants with the unique advantages linked to Cineuropa’s prominent role and extensive network.
Here we present user-friendly, new training products managed by Cineuropa not only to European professionals but also to non-EU audiovisual players.
In emerging or small countries it is very common to have cross-role professionals: directors are often also scriptwriter as well as producers. Sometimes it is a personal choice, most of the time is a forced situation due to national industry circumstances and the need to shoot the film at any cost.
What differentiates the following proposals from other existing similar initiatives is the attention paid to the peculiarity of the above mentioned situation, through two elements:
- the target group of emerging professionals that usually cover more than one position: filmmakers/scriptwriters/producers
- the point of view of each lecture/proposal: external pov to give all participants a precise idea on how the full chain of industry works; internal pov asking every participant to deeply know the roles that they are called or forced to cover.
The modules presented in this page are addressed to cinema and audiovisual centres, film commissions, local and national authorities in charge of implementing cinema and audiovisual policies in their country.
Please contact Valerio Caruso caruso@cineuropa.org, for further details.
Module 1
Training programme for non-EU emerging professionals (filmmakers/producers) with online follow up
What
The training programme aims to provide participants specific tools to understand and take the first steps in the audiovisual international industry. Through a combination of frontal lecture, group work and project-based work, all participants will achieve a deeper understanding of the full AV chain.
10 participants will be selected with projects: the projects will be used as a training tool to “test” some practical elements and as a bridge between theory and how to implement their acquired knowledge.
Format
Session 1: project based training + pitching simulation | 3 days
Session 2: on line follow-up session | 2/3 days
Session 1:
3-day workshop for emerging professionals (10 of them selected with project)
Proposed topics:
- The development process & chronology + Creative documents | Focus on participants’ projects;
- Legal & Financial elements;
- Marketing & Distribution strategies in the international panorama | Pitching preparation;
- Pitching & Package: simulation of pitching & feedback session with all participants + trainers.
- How to get the most out of Film Commissions:
- Overview of FCs around the world (focus on Europe)
- Role in financing /funding
- Non-monetary support for projects (development/production)
- Logistics and permits
- Support in marketing/distribution
Session 2:
2/3 days on line follow-up for 10 selected projects
Practical work on selected projects (pitch & package)
Target audience
The ideal participant should have previous experience in the national context as director, scriptwriter or producer and should have participated to at least one short or feature film released in her/his own country. No previous experience is required in the international market.
Participants can apply with or without a project. The selected projects will be used as training tools and group work will be organised on projects basis.
Cost
Contact: caruso@cineuropa.org
Module 2
Training programme for non-EU emerging professionals (filmmakers/producers) with online follow up and pitching session organised in a EU market
What
The training programme aims to provide participants specific tools to understand and take the first steps in the audiovisual international industry. Through a combination of frontal lecture, group work and project-based work, all participants will achieve a deeper understanding of the full AV chain.
10 participants will be selected with a project that will be developed during the training session, in specific dedicated follow-up online session and that will be presented in a dedicated pitching session to selected decision makers during an European market.
Format
Session 1: project based training | 3 days
Session 2: on line follow-up session | 2/3 days
Session 3: pitching preparation + pitch in a EU market | afternoon day 1+morning day 2
Session 1:
3-day workshop for emerging professionals (10 of them selected with project)
Proposed topics:
- The development process & chronology + Creative documents | Focus on participants’ projects;
- Legal & Financial elements;
- Marketing & Distribution strategies in the international panorama | Pitching preparation;
- Pitching & Package: simulation of pitching & feedback session with all participants + trainers;
- How to get the most out of Film Commissions:
- Overview of FCs around the world (focus on Europe)
- Role in financing /funding
- Non-monetary support for projects (development/production)
- Logistics and permits
- Support in marketing/distribution
Session 2:
2/3 days on line follow-up for 10 selected projects
Practical work on selected projects (pitch & package) for market preparation
Session 3:
2-day event during the market:
Day 1: pitching preparation & rehearsal
Day 2: pitching in front of an audience of decision makers attending the event
Target audience
The ideal participant should have previous experience in the national context as director, scriptwriter or producer and should have participated to at least one short or feature film released in her/his own country. No previous experience is required in the international market.
Participants can apply with or without a project. In case of selection with project, participants will have the opportunity to develop it during the training and they will be called to pitch their project in a EU market in front of a selection of decision makers.
Cost
Contact: caruso@cineuropa.org
Module 3
Training and consulting for EU and non-EU Film Commission(ers)
What
Day 1:
- FC and local stakeholders. Creating meaningful relationships;
- Managing and marketing a FC;
- FC and Tourism. Strategies and tools;
- The Incentive Game and the competitive landscape;
- FC and Training. Creating a sustainable local crew base;
- The future of the Location Business;
- Green shooting.
Day 2:
Will be dedicated to consulting on the outline of a strategic plan and on practical issues to be dealt with for its implementation
Format
2-day event
Target audience
Current or future Film Commissioners and their staff.
Cost
Contact caruso@cineuropa.org
Module 4
Training course for EU Industry Event Managers (International Festivals and Markets)
What
The training programme aims to provide participants specific tools to set up, work or reinforce an industry event within the international panorama. Thanks to a very practical approach, the training will tackle all segments of an industry event: the financial management and setting, the strategic positioning, partnerships, projects scouting, DMs involvement.
International AV Industry events with a strong focus on:
- management and administration;
- strategic positioning in the international AV landscape;
- partnerships;
- scouting and promotion;
- DMs involvement.
Format
4-day workshop
Target audience
The ideal participant should have previous experience in the audiovisual international industry or festival, not necessarily specific knowledge on industry events.
The training fills the needs of beginners as well as professionals that intend to reinforce or internationalise their already existing industry event.
Cost
Contact caruso@cineuropa.org
Past Projects and References
Training for film professionals and future film commission staff in Tunisia and Lebanon
Following two feasibility studies for the creation of Film Commissions in Tunisia and Lebanon, Cineuropa experts carried out two 2-days training sessions for movie professionals and public institutions in Tunisia and for the Fondation Liban Cinéma staff in Lebanon on issues like movie industry and local economic development, film tourism, attraction of incoming productions, training for professionals and location managing.
AlbaScript
In partnership with the Albanian National Film Center, Cineuropa created ALBAScript, a script development training programme for Albanian professionals. The programme was open to Albanian writers/producers who were working on a short or feature-length film project that had already received development funding from the Albanian government. The participants were coached in how best to structure their scripts and instil a regional perspective into their projects.
Writing for the Web and Gocritic!
Cineuropa created two training courses for journalists: “Writing for the Web” and “GoCritic!”. Writing for the Web was held during the Brussels Film Festival and equipped participants with the techniques they needed to write for a website, including how to conduct interviews and integrate social media into their reporting.
GoCritic! is a training programme for emerging film journalists and critics. It is organised by Cineuropa together with various European film festivals and is the first pan-European training programme of its kind. The course includes workshops led by acclaimed film journalists and critics at several festivals as well as online tutoring after said festivals. The main objective is to improve the participants’ skills in writing about cinema through practical work focusing on producing such content. The extended online tutoring ensures continuity in the participants' work.
Development in the Namibian Film Industry
Over the course of one week, two tutors trained Namibian producers and scriptwriters. The training centred on the development of an audiovisual project: how the creative elements, legal and financial issues, marketing and distribution aspects intertwine in the development process. The participants carried out a SWOT analysis and formulated a business plan. They learnt how to take advantage of international markets by coming up with a strong financing plan. The training encompassed plenary sessions and individual meetings.
Audiovisual Script Development Programme for Kyrgyz and Indonesian Film Professionals
Cineuropa organised a complete training cycle for Kyrgyz professionals (in person) and their Indonesian counterparts (online). The training cycle made use of StoryTricks, or screenwriting techniques for storytellers. With a playful combination of tricks and practical examples, participants learnt the most efficient ways to write cinema, series or video-game stories.
Day 1
The most important principles behind stories. Understand the relationship between stories and the human brain. Why do we love stories, and how can we create them for a global audience while maintaining an original and personal approach?
Day 2
Why do we need genres, and how can they help us to tell better stories? Practical tricks to build characters that feel real and inspire empathy throughout their transformation arc.
Day 3
Story structure is where the magic happens. Learn a market-proven method to break down your story into the 45 segments present in every top-ranked film or series. After assimilating these story beats, you will never be the same writer again.
Production of Series for Kyrgyz Film Professionals
Cineuropa helmed a series of master classes for Kyrgyz film professionals on how to develop a TV series. The first step tackled Netflix original case studies. Netflix original or multi-party international co-production case studies are just the tip of the iceberg of this training programme, which also targeted development, fund financing and pitching for feature-length titles and documentaries. The master classes covered the process of producing a series, from the early development of the script right up to the final exhibition window.
Training for Young Professionals and Film Students
Cineuropa organised several short-film courses for young professionals or film students in various countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Paraguay and Venezuela. The training course explored how to make a short film and also covered documentary production. The cycle of courses gave participants a clear picture of how to approach their entry into the field of documentary short production. The tutor explained the steps that needed to be taken to develop the script, also covering everything right up until the final distribution of the short worldwide.
Project Development for Venezuelan and Paraguayan Professionals
Cineuropa organised two four-day sessions for Venezuelan and Paraguayan professionals, on film development. The course included topics such as the processes behind developing a movie, when and how to present the project to decision makers, pre-production, production and filming, post-production, commercialisation, definition of the target market and objectives, b2b marketing, presentation tools, festivals and markets. The training course also presented several practical case studies and international co-production financing schemes, such as IBERMEDIA, Eurimages and ACP.