PrepClass

Photo: Edlin Jap

The PrepClass prepares prospective international students for their application at the Film University.

Dates: multiple dates from May to July 2023     Language: English

Number of participants: 6                                  

We will be able to accept more applicants for the Orientation & Mentoring sessions.

Location: Filmuniversität Babelsberg and online          
Cost: Participation is free of charge 

In the PrepClass, international prospective students learn about the diverse study opportunities at Babelsberg Film University - from Bachelor to Master. If you would like to apply for an artistic degree programme, we will help you with your application. This offer is aimed in particular at prospective students with a refugee background.

The PrepClass takes place every summer semester and consists of two modules: Orientation & Mentoring and an experimental short film workshop.

Applications for 2023 are closed.

Content & Objectives

Orientation & Mentoring

Participants will learn about the variety of study opportunities at the Film University in Babelsberg – from Bachelor to Master degree with a focus on the artistic study programmes. If you are interested in one in our artistic study programmes, we will support you with your application.

Alumni of the Film University will deliver insights into practice and talk about their experiences with the application process as well as the study programme and their professional career. This way the PrepClass participants learn from former students and get valuable input and feedback for their own start into the film industry.

Current students of the Film University will accompany the PrepClass participants until the application process is finished. They will help with individual and personal counseling during the preparation of the application and the application portfolio.

In addition to that, the participants will get individual counseling meetings with lecturers from different study programmes to clarify individual questions regarding the application.

‘Die Insel’ – with Jean Boué

‘Die Insel’ is an interdisciplinary short film workshop in which international applicants and students of the Film University will develop a short film idea from script to screen.

In three storytelling workshops the participants will develop an idea for a short film which will be realised on an excursion in Brandenburg. Participants may choose a subject to inspire their film, or participate in the suggested theme of arriving in an unknown surrounding. The goal of this workshop is to connect PrepClass participants with students from the Film University by working hands-on as well as gaining experience with student film productions.

The Summer School will cover the costs of accommodation for the excursion. Travel and meals will be paid by the participants themselves.

Past Run

A couple of projects which were finalized during the PrepClass since 2017: The audio play "Damascus Requiem" and two movies. „The Letter“, „A Piece of German History“, "Berlin Disappears", "Erdbe" and "Light", which were all shown in an open university context. "Damascus Requiem" was awarded the AMIKO Award 2018.

The PrepClass will be held for the seventh time in 2023.

Dates

08 May, 2 pm - 6 pm (online)

Opening event
09 May, 2 pm - 6 pm (online)Insights into practice with Marcus Lauterbach (Cinematography)
10 May, 2 pm - 6 pm (online)Insights into practice with Brigitte M. Schmidle (Editing)
11 May, 2 pm - 6 pm (online)Insights into practice with Jalal Maghout (Animation)
12 May, 2 pm - 6 pm (online)Insights into practice with Sharon Ryba-Kahn (Directing)
23 May, 1 pm - 5 pm (on-site)Storytelling Workshop „Die Insel“ with Jean Boué and students of the Film University

30 May, 1 pm - 5 pm (on-site)

Storytelling Workshop „Die Insel“ with Jean Boué and students of the Film University
06 June, 1 pm - 5 pm (on-site)Storytelling Workshop „Die Insel“ with Jean Boué and students of the Film University
11 - 16 June (on-site)Field trip and film shoot „Die Insel“
20 & 27 June (online)Postproduction „Die Insel“ with Jean Boué and students of the Film University
04 July (on-site)Closing event and project presentation, feedback and review, next steps in the application process

Mentors

PrepClass | Brigitte M. Schmidle

Editing | Brigitte M. Schmidle

Brigitte Maria Schmidle studied media and information at the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences specializing in film editing. After engagements in London and Berlin, she worked at the Leipzig-based production company Accentus Music on internationally awarded films. Brigitte Maria Schmidle is currently studying at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF Montage (MFA) and has so far edited over twenty documentaries, short and feature films as well as animations. Among others, the documentary "Barbara Hannigan - An Opera Star on New Ways" and "Silvia is my Name".
PrepClass | Jalal Maghout

Animation | Jalal Maghout

Jalal is an animation filmmaker who graduated with a BFA from Damascus University in 2010. He taught there before coming to Berlin in 2013, where he started working on his animadoc SULEIMA. The film was screened at many of the most important animation film festivals worldwide. In 2019, he completed his MFA in Animation Directing at Babelsberg Film University. His graduation film HAVE A NICE DOG! has screened at numerous festivals since 2020 and won several awards. Most notably, the film qualified for the 2020 Animation Short Film Oscar. Jalal was also a jury member at ITFS, Annecy and other festivals.
PrepClass | Sharon Ryba-Kahn

Directing | Sharon Ryba-Kahn

The French-Israeli director grew up in Germany, Israel and France. She began her career by studying acting and film producing in Paris and New York. Her first film “Recognition” (2015) was screened in 20 festivals worldwide. Her graduation film “Displaced” from the Film University in Berlin was nominated for the First Steps Award (2020). It ran in over 30 festivals word wide. “Berlin’s Dancing Warriors”, her new feature length documentary was awarded development funding it by the FFA, and she has been accepted at the mentoring program of Documentary Campus. She is also undertaking a PhD on Representations of Trauma in Indigenous Australian Cinema.

Cinematography | Marcus Lauterbach

Marcus Lauterbach moved to Berlin in his early twenties to gain diverse experience in the film industry through camera and lighting internships. These internships ranged from student sets to major Babelsberg productions. As part of his bachelor's degree, which he began at Konrad Wolf in 2012, his second-year film "Präsenzlücke" (16mm) screened at the Max Ophüls Preis and other film festivals. Additionally, his documentary productions such as "Domoy" and "Ahoy" were screened on television as well as at international festivals. During his master's studies, he focused on advertising films, which is now his primary focus in the industry.

Workshop instructor

Jean Boué is an author, director and producer of documentary formats for public television and cinema. Many of his films have been broadcasted internationally and shown at festivals. His films have been awarded the German Grimme Prize and the European Civis Award, among others. He holds scholarships from DEFA and the Robert Bosch Foundation. In 2000, Jean Boué founded the production company JABfilm. He is a member of the German Documentary Association Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dokumentarfilm and the German Filmakademie. Since 2013, he is a regular lecturer at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.

PrepClass | Jean Boué

Application & Admission

The PrepClass particularly addresses immigrants who live in Germany as prospective students. Whether you are interested in a bachelor or master degree, during the PrepClass the participants will get to know the different artistic study programs as well as their entrance requirement.

Applicants need to be at least 18 years of age and have already gained practical experiences.

Please fill out the application form below by March 1. Based on that application form we will invite you to a personal online interview, which will take place between 13-17 March 2023.

The PrepClass is supported by the State of Brandenburg within the network ESiSt - "Erfolgreicher Studieneinstieg für internationale Studierende im Bundesland Brandenburg" and by the German Academic Exchange Service and its programme Welcome – Students Helping Refugees, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

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