“Shoot your film (comprehensive guide to low-budget filmmaking)” is a project that aims to teach young filmmakers how to make films in low production circumstances without decreasing the originality of their ideas and quality of their stories.
The overall goal of the project is to help strengthen regional young film production, to educate young film professionals about low-budget filmmaking by taking them through the entire filmmaking process, from the very idea to the finalised short film and to help the young filmmakers to meet and exchange experiences and possibly open opportunities for their future cooperation.
One of the specificities of this project was the connection between formal education and film practice — all sessions were considered as an added value to the educational curriculum, covering certain topics in more detail.
Five sessions of Film Labs, workshops and master classes were organised in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Cetinje (Montenegro) and online. The participants were students of the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo and the Faculty of Drama Arts in Cetinje, as direct beneficiaries of the project entirely dedicated to a new generation of artists that will be guided through the entire filmmaking process, from the very idea to the finalised short film.
These five creative labs were marked by practical exercises and master classes delivered by regional and European experts who helped them finish two low budget short films ready for festivals and distribution.
Voiced by one participant of the “Shoot Your Film” project:
“I was really thrilled to be working on this project, it is unfortunately a rare opportunity to meet fellow artists from different cities and even countries and get to work with them on a specific project that excites and inspires the whole group. This project gave me a good overview of working in our region’s film industry.”
— Sara Ristić, Academy of Performing Arts after “Scriptwriting Lab”
After all the work done in the past ten months, young filmmakers are now equipped with a concrete know-how for their future films and skills to initiate their own networks and collaborative opportunities by meeting other regional young filmmakers.
As a result of this project, two short films will be premiered in Sarajevo on the 19h of August during the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival: “Dostava” and “Sklonište”.
Implementing partners of the “Shoot Your Film” project: Association of Filmmakers in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, University of Sarajevo – Academy of Performing Arts, University of Montenegro - Faculty of Dramatic Arts – Cetinje.
“Shoot your film (comprehensive guide to low-budget filmmaking)” is supported by the British Council through “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” project funded by the European Union. CC4WBs aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.
