Workshops for students
Workshop: How to Write About Short Films
November 3–7, Kino Kavalírka, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
This workshop focuses on developing skills in film criticism and reflection, specifically with regard to short films. Participants will learn about various formats of film writing (e.g., reviews, essays, festival catalog texts) and how to approach the analysis of short films. The workshop will be led by film critic and cultural journalist Pavel Sladký.
The workshop is divided into several parts:
- November 3: introductory meeting with the lecturer, where basic formats and working methods will be presented
- November 3–6: during the festival, students will attend short film screenings and write their own texts
- November 7: the final part of the workshop will focus on sharing experiences, joint reflection, and evaluation with the lecturer
Pavel Sladký studied Czech language and literature at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and journalism at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. He collaborates with Czech Radio and publishes texts in magazines such as Cinepur, Film a doba, on Aktuálně.cz, and ČTart.cz. He also prepares a podcast on cinematography for Film a doba. He is a member of the Association of Czech Film Critics, the international federation FIPRESCI, and collaborates with Czech film festivals as a dramaturge and moderator of masterclasses. He is the author of the book Film is a Secret Door to Reality: 10 Essential Contemporary Directors – Portraits and Interviews.
The workshop will be held in Czech and is intended for film students. Capacity is limited. Participants will receive accreditation for the entire festival.
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form by October 10.
Case study: Monyová
November 6, 1:30 p.m – 3:00 p.m., DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
How is a television miniseries created, from the initial idea to the final realization? Creative producer Klára Follová from TV Nova will present the upcoming miniseries Monyová, inspired by the life of popular Czech writer Simona Monyová, as part of a case study. The masterclass will focus primarily on a detailed analysis of the production preparation, from the development of the concept, the assembly of the creative team, and the search for financing, to production planning and launch strategy.
Klára Follová is a creative producer for OnePlay and TV Nova. She graduated from FAMU and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University and has approximately twenty years of experience in the field. At present, she is working on three socially significant projects for OnePlay: the drama miniseries Monyová about the life and toxic relationships of the highly successful Czech writer Simona Monyová; the documentary series Love Doesn’t Hurt, which follows up on Monyová and explores the issue of domestic violence, the transgenerational transmission of trauma, and possible ways of healing; and the period drama miniseries Rekordwoman, which tells the story of the interwar intersex athletic star Zdena/Zdenko Koubková/Koubek. Her main themes are freedom, equality, and stereotypes.
Participants will have a unique opportunity to gain insight into specific work processes that are key to development and production, and will learn about the practical decisions that producers face during the process.
The masterclass will be held in Czech and is primarily intended for film production students, but it will also be a source of inspiration for aspiring directors, screenwriters, and others interested in filmmaking who want to understand what goes into the creation of short-format miniseries.
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form by October 10.
Workshop: Audience Design | How to understand your audience
November 7, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
In this practical workshop, you will try out Audience Design on your own project – you will test several key methods: mapping potential viewers, defining the main attraction of the film and its brief positioning, and choosing the first points of contact. We will work with simple templates and quick feedback from others so that you can get a feel for how the whole process works. The goal is to learn this way of thinking, try it out on your own material, and leave with a clear idea of how to use the tools further – from development and pitching to the release of the film.
The workshop will be led by Ewa Bojanowska, an audience designer and consultant for festivals and promotion, including Torino Film Lab, International Screen Institute, and independent producers across Europe. She is a member of The Audience Design Collective.
The workshop also includes a keynote speech by Ewa Bojanowska, which will take place as part of the International Industry Forum program on November 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Keynote: What is Audience Design?
Audience Design is a playful, collective process that helps filmmakers explore their story, audience, and methods of communication and distribution. This introductory lecture will clearly explain the basics of audience design—what it is, when it is used, who is involved—and show how the narrative, visual, and emotional elements of a film can be translated into clear positioning and specific next steps.
Ewa Bojanowska studied media arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and film production at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. She is also a graduate of the EAVE Marketing and Torino Audience Design programs. From 2015 to 2022, she worked as a festival manager at New Europe Film Sales, where she was involved in the release of festival hits such as Jan P. Matuszyński's The Last Family and Carla Simón's Summer 1993. As head of marketing, she prepared campaigns for films such as SWEAT, ADA, and CORPUS CHRISTI. Since 2022, she has been working as an independent audience specialist and consultant in the field of marketing and festival strategy. Among other things, she participated in the Oscar campaign for the film Film z balkonu (The Film from the Balcony) by director Paweł Łozinski.
The workshop will be held in English. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form by October 10.