Scan Magazine | Education Feature | Den Europæiske Filmhøjskole
Try your hand at the film industry Many young people dream of working in the film industry, but getting a foot in the door can be a daunting task. At the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark, students aged 18 and up are given the unique opportunity to become filmmakers in less than a year, and to acquire the skills needed to make it in the film and media business. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Carl Jansson
Each year, 120 new students from all over the world attend Den Europæiske Filmhøjskole (the European Film College) in Ebeltoft, Denmark. Over the course of eight and a half months, the students learn to write, develop and produce films. But the college is not only a place for learning; since it is a residential school, it also becomes the students’ home, and the close quarters lead to both life-long friendships and teamwork. The teamwork in particular is an important aspect of being at the school. “Our students work closely with each other throughout the entire journey from idea to finished film, and it gives them a unique appreciation of the whole process and the responsibilities that everyone on a film set have. At the European Film College, we see this as essential 32 | Issue 107 | December 2017
for making good films and for working in the industry later on. Film is a collective art form,” says principal Nadia Kløvedal Reich.
Multicultural environment Every year, students of around 25 different nationalities live together, creating an exciting international environment. The creative atmosphere at the college is exceptional, as are its facilities, which include two cinemas, a big film studio and state-of-the-art equipment. Over the course of their stay, the students explore all the practical elements of filmmaking, and the days – and nights! – are often long and intense, packed with classes, film projects, film screenings and guest lectures with professionals from the Danish and international film
business. “The European Film College is for everyone who loves film,” says Kløvedal Reich. “We have no requirements in terms of prior experience – but you really have to love film, and you have to be willing to live and breathe film very intensely for almost a year.” A stay at the European Film College will be a vital stepping-stone into the world of film. After their stay, the majority of the students go into the film and media industry. The college provides one of the best film foundation courses in the world and is the perfect place to further explore your passion. Den Europæiske Filmhøjskole (The European Film College): Former students include: Joachim Trier, Pilou Asbæk, Christina Rosendahl, Nikolaj Arcel, Charlotte Bruus Christensen, Peter Albrechtsen, and Fabian Wagner.
Web: www.europeanfilmcollege.com