Join the new generation of Filmmakers
Our Screen and Film Faculty is ready for take-off as we open our doors in September 2022. We believe that our cutting-edge, filmmaking degree will help to carry on the legacy of our ethos: to prepare students for a long and sustainable career in the creative industries.
That’s our mission, so if you’re serious about a career in screen and film then join our creative and collaborative student community.
Our BA (Hons) Filmmaking course guarantees you a unique combination of practical modules, high-tech facilities, and the chance to rub shoulders with experienced industry professionals and superstar Masterclass guests, whilst all the time providing you with an understanding of how to operate and flourish in the film industry.
We offer a high level of both academic and personal support, but also the benefit of working within a practical environment where you will be largely judged on your dedication to ideas and film projects. Not only that, but by connecting with your peers in the wider BIMM Institute, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented musicians on exciting film shoots and music videos.
Life as a student in Berlin is full of opportunity: opportunity to interact with the thousands of fellow undergraduates who call the city their home, to explore the capital’s fast-moving landscape, and to become part of a scene that embraces history but always lives in the present, whilst looking towards the future.
As you will discover, Berlin has an extremely rich history with film. This is your time to become a part of that story whilst telling your own.
Key facts
World-class lecturers, active in the film industry today
Job opportunities through our extensive network of industry partners
Access to industry icons through Invitations to screenings, Q&A’s, guest lecturers and masterclasses
Opportunities to collaborate with music students at BIMM Institute Berlin’s music college
Universally recognised course awarded by BIMM Institute
A diverse and international student community
Outstanding student life experience in the international and vibrant hub of Germany’s capital Berlin
Access to high-end industry standard film equipment
Funding for your film projects
Ongoing graduate support, including access to creative career opportunities and equipment to use on your film projects
Berlin’s Film Industry
The film and television industry in Berlin is alive and kicking: production companies are booked up for months in advance and there is a shoot unfolding on every street corner.
The city’s film and television producers have surged ahead in the last two years: both Uncharted, starring Tom Holland, and Matrix 4, restarted and wrapped here in 2021. Babylon Berlin series four was also shot here in the summer of the same year.
Blockbuster productions such as Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Stephen Daldry’s The Reader, starring Kate Winslet, as well as Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise, were all produced on Berlin’s world-famous Studio Babelsberg.
The Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, is one of the world’s leading film festivals. With attendance numbers regularly above 250,000, it is considered the largest publicly attended film festival anywhere in the world.*
In Germany in 2019, there were 157 large movie productions. The production studios are clustered in four film hotspots and the Berlin Brandenburg cluster leads the way with 215 production companies in total.**
There are 1,672 cinemas with 4,849 screening rooms in Germany. In 2018, those cinemas sold 105 million cinema tickets – equivalent to 1.27 annual movie visits per German citizen.**
In total, there are more than 19,000 companies involved in the German film industry. They recorded revenues of €18.9 billion in 2018 and employ around 71,000 film industry professionals. **
On a larger scale, the global theatrical market was worth almost £36 billion in 2019; UK films earned £7.4 billion, up from £6.6 billion in 2018.***
* Source, Britannica
** Source, Germany Trade and Invest
*** Source, BFI
Film contributed
Film is big business
What to expect
If you are passionate about film and you want to get your hands on high-end kit, then Screen and Film Faculty is dedicated to one thing and one thing only: Film. The BA (Hons) Filmmaking course is focused on creating the next generation of filmmakers.
This cutting-edge, industry-led degree provides you with the opportunity to acquire the fundamental skills and techniques of film production required for a sustainable career in the film and related creative industries. You will also be taught by real filmmakers who are active players in their field.
You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with music students from BIMM Berlin Institute’s music college.
You’ll learn core topics within your first year, such as:
- Camera, Lighting and Sound
- Concept Creation
- Production Design
- Post-Production
- Development to Distribution
Optional modules to meet your goals
At the Screen and Film Faculty, we don’t believe that ‘one size fits all’. That’s why our Filmmaking course puts you in control. With our undergraduate course, to begin with you’ll learn the necessary industry skills and find where you’ll fit within the industry. Then, you can customise your studies through our range of optional modules in your second and third years.
These are designed to help you become the multifaceted professional the industry is looking for – and ultimately help you reach your personal and professional goals.
Expand your skill set with optional modules, such as:
- Screenwriting
- Directing Fiction & Documentary
- Producing
- Camera, Grip and Lighting
- Sound Recording and Sound Post
- Editing, Post-Production & Grading
With our optional modules, you’ll build your own path to success and launch into your dream career in the industry. As you can see, the BA (Hons) Filmmaking course takes you to places and areas of film that may come as a surprise to you.
Your potential career paths:
- Broadcast Presenter
- Event Manager
- Marketing Executive
- Talent Agent
- Public Relations Officer
Exclusive networking opportunities
If there’s one thing you’re guaranteed to hear time and time again as you begin your career in the TV & film industry, it’s that networking is absolutely key to building contacts and developing opportunities.
At the Screen and Film Faculty you’ll have access to exclusive networking opportunities and the chance to collaborate with like-minded film buffs throughout your course. And as we’re all about collaboration here at BIMM Institute, you’ll connect with creatives studying different disciplines through BIMM Connect – our own exclusive social media platform. This allows you to team up and network with fellow students, musicians, film enthusiasts, alumni, and more, to get the most out of your time here.
At the Screen and Film Faculty, we believe it’s important for you to be taught by film and television working professionals who each specialise in their own craft.
From directing, cinematography, editing, camera operation and screenwriting, our friendly and experienced team of lecturers will help you develop all the practical film-making skills you need to succeed in your chosen career path in the film industry. They will also provide you with exclusive opportunities to work on projects such as documentaries, feature films, short films and editing work – most of which is paid and creates a wonderful opportunity to start to build your film-making CV.
Laura is a filmmaker, video artist and cutter with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of documentary, fiction, essay and experimental film, music videos, video art, VR and installation art.
In the last twenty years, Stephanie von Beauvais has created music videos and shot both commercials and documentaries with a wide range of budgets including artists like the Beatsteaks, Materia, Kreator, Cro, Tocotronic, Turbostaat, Gudrun Gut, Tom Schilling and many more. As a Commercial Film Director, she shot ads for clients such as Twix, Axe, Maggi, Cabinet, SAT1, Brigitte, DEVK, Aok and many others.
Amongst working in features, documentaries, short films and commercials, Olaf shot several successful campaigns for Volkswagen, Continental, Sennheiser or Huawei. His latest VFX-heavy feature „Sky Sharks“ just left cinemas to be admired on Amazon Prime. Aside from shooting, Olaf always finds the time to share his knowledge in several educational institutions in the last years.
There will be an extensive range of guest speakers attending the Screen and Film Faculty each year to share with our students their insight and experiences in the film industry. We are committed to our students developing in their chosen specialism, and we will work with you to arrange industry guests either in a group or 1-1 scenario, who are working in the industry in that profession.
Preparing our students for a successful and sustainable career in the film and television industry is why we do what we do. It’s who we are. During your time at the Screen and Film Faculty, you will have the opportunity to undertake a series of work placements, freelance work, live project briefs and internships to build your calling card ready to enter the film industry. You will work closely with the in-house Industry Engagement team who will source these opportunities and work 1-1 with students to build their CV based on their chosen specialism, whilst being a student, not after graduating.
In order to achieve a sustainable and rewarding career in the film industry – and be the absolute best you can be – we know you’ve got to have the best equipment and facilities around you.
At the Screen and Film Faculty you will spend your teaching hours in state-of-the-art studio space, sound studios, post-production editing suites, Mac suites, screening rooms and collaborative learning resource spaces.
The new college facilities of Screen and Film Faculty are in close proximity to the House of Music that enables you to collaborate on creative projects with our music students including music video production and film scoring.
Furthermore, Screen and Film Faculty has fantastic links with professional companies such as Panavision, Panalux, Arri and many others to support us in the purchase and loan of high-end kit.
Our industry lecturers are also experts in every single element of industry tech (from software to production hardware) and will always be on hand to help you upskill, improve and ultimately reach your filmmaking aspirations.
In order to give you an impression of the facilities and equipment you can expect during your Filmmaking course, we have shared some visuals from our Education partner Screen and Film School in Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham.
Screening Room
Our screening room is equipped with a 4K projector and high-quality sound system, which provides a fantastic experience for watching films and viewing your projects.
Mac Suites and Post-Production Suites
Across our Mac rooms and our post-production suites, we have iMacs and iMac Pros, all installed with the entire Adobe Creative Suite, along with other up to date industry software.
Learning Resources and Student Spaces
As a student at Screen and Film Faculty, you’ll have access to dedicated learning resources to help make your studies a success.
Throughout your time here, you’ll have access to online learning tools, such as an online library, which holds digital versions of many key subject texts as well as thousands of other works. Every student can also log onto Canvas, our Virtual Learning Environment, to access learning resources, submit work and receive feedback.
We also offer dedicated spaces for quiet study as well as Macs that can be used for research, essay writing and for preparing for pre-production work. You’ll have access to Microsoft Office’s 365 Suite, which includes OneDrive cloud storage, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote.
Our meeting rooms can also be used for study support, counselling, student support and academic support meetings.
Film Studios and Sets
We offer state-of-the-art, purpose-built film studios with sound-proofed walls, and industry-standard rigging.
The sets are flexible spaces that can be dressed and adapted to the requirements of each shoot, working alongside your Art Department will help you to create your perfect scene.
The studio space is adaptable and multi-functional, meaning you can hold your pre-production meetings, film screenings and a writer’s room all in one space.
The technician’s store is located within the set space, so rest assured, you have the full support of the technician when you need them.
Equipment
During your time here, you’ll feel right at home working with high-end equipment, whether that’s shooting on an Arri Alexa Mini, lighting your scene with Arri LED kits or setting up your shot with DJI Ronin’s, the Screen and Film Faculty has a huge range of industry-standard equipment that’s at your fingertips.
Our high-spec range of equipment is also available to use free of charge on your own projects outside of the curriculum through a Flexi Kit that includes cameras, lenses, lights, microphones and grip.
- Why are you opening a film faculty at BIMM Institute?
- What does the film industry in Berlin look like?
- Can I apply as an International Student?
- Do I need to submit a portfolio as part of my application?
- What is the deadline to apply for the Filmmaking course?
- What is the timetable like – how many hours of contact time will I have each week?
- What are the career opportunities after graduation?
- What facilities and services will I have access to?
- Who will be teaching the Filmmaking course?
- What do the internship and job opportunities during my studies look like?
- Who will the Masterclass guests be?
- What Bursaries & financial aid is on offer to applicants?
Why are you opening a film faculty at BIMM Institute?
There has always been a rich history of collaboration in the creative industries between different disciplines such as music, film and the arts, and we believe that in today’s creative market music and film are unequivocally intertwined. Music is reliant on filmmakers, directors and producers on creating visuals for music videos and adverts, and the film industry relies on musicians when it comes to creating audio for film and sync. Sound and vision have always existed together and have built-in symbiosis, which is why launching a film faculty at BIMM Institute was the next logical step for us.
We are not only Europe’s largest music college with 8 music colleges in the UK, Germany and Ireland but also Europe’s most successful group of music, film and performing arts colleges with the Screen and Film School, Performers College and the Institute for Contemporary Theatre also being part of the BIMM Group in the UK. With the launch of our new film faculty and the BA (Hons) Filmmaking course at BIMM Institute Berlin, we want to support future filmmakers in starting their career and getting a foot in the door in Berlin’s film industry, one of the most exiting film industries in the world!
What does the film industry in Berlin look like?
The film industry in Berlin is flourishing. There are more than 4,000 film and TV companies, which together generate a turnover of 1.9 billion euros per year and have chosen Berlin as their home. Thanks to the good production infrastructure, the funding conditions and the creative atmosphere, Berlin attracts producers, film distributors, streaming portals and VFX companies from all over the world that settle in the capital.
Can I apply as an International Student?
Yes, BIMM Institute is proud to welcome students from a diverse range of nationalities and backgrounds, and you will be joining a student community comprising over 50 different nationalities if you choose to study BA (Hons) Filmmaking at BIMM Institute Berlin.
International students may require a student visa in order to study. Information on how to apply for this and your options to work during your studies can be found here.
Do I need to submit a portfolio as part of my application?
Yes. You need to have successfully completed a portfolio review and interview. Examples of portfolio work include showreels, short films, screenwriting pieces, academic film analysis, photography and anything that reflects passion and enthusiasm to study Filmmaking. Full details on your portfolio review and interview will be issued after you apply.
What is the deadline to apply for the Filmmaking course?
Applications must be received by the 29th August 2022 for courses starting in September 2022. We however recommend submitting your application before the final deadline as this will give you enough time to prepare for your interview and portfolio review. Please find an overview of recommended deadlines here.
What is the timetable like – how many hours of contact time will I have each week?
Your overall teaching time will be 15 hours per week. You will also have access to additional film craft workshops, to further develop your film-making skills, as well as Masterclasses with well-known guests working in the industry.
What are the career opportunities after graduation?
After graduating from the film-making course at BIMM Institute, you will be fully equipped to enter a variety of fields with the film industry, as well as other creative industries such as digital media, marketing and distribution. Following a final year in which you will focus in on a chosen area, you will graduate with the specific expertise to pursue that specialism further.
What facilities and services will I have access to?
In order to achieve a sustainable and rewarding career in the film industry we know you’ve got to have the best equipment and facilities around you. At the Screen and Film Faculty you will spend your teaching hours in state-of-the-art studio space, high-tech MAC Suites, screening rooms, collaborative learning resource spaces and post-production editing suites.
Screen and Film Faculty has fantastic links with professional companies such as Panavision, Panalux, Arri and many others to support us in the loan of high-end kit.
Our industry lecturers are also experts in every single element of industry tech (from software to equipment) and will always be on hand to help you upskill, improve and ultimately fulfill your filmmaking aspirations.
Who will be teaching the Filmmaking course?
At BIMM Institute’s Screen and Film Faculty, we believe it’s important for you to be taught by working professionals in the film and television industry, who each specialise in their own craft.
From directing, cinematography, editing, camera operation and screenwriting, our friendly and experienced lecturers will help you develop all the practical filmmaking skills you need to succeed in your chosen career path in the film industry. They will also provide you with exclusive opportunities to work on projects such as documentaries, feature films, short films and editing work – most of which is paid and creates a wonderful opportunity to start to build your filmmaking CV.
What do the internship and job opportunities during my studies look like?
Preparing our students for a successful and sustainable career in the film and television industry is why we do what we do. It’s who we are. During your time at the Screen and Film Faculty, you will have the opportunity to undertake a series of work placements, freelance work, live project briefs and internships to build your calling card ready to enter the film industry. You will work closely with the in-house Industry Engagement team who will source these opportunities and work 1-1 with students to build their CV based on their chosen specialism, whilst being a student, not after graduating.
Who will the Masterclass guests be?
There will be an extensive range of guest speakers attending the Screen and Film Faculty each year to share with our students their insight and experiences in the film industry.
We make the commitment to our students that in order to progress in their chosen specialism, we will work with you in order to arrange industry guests either in a group or a 1-1 scenario, all of which will be currently active in the industry.
What Bursaries & financial aid is on offer to applicants?
BIMM Institute Berlin’s Screen and Film Faculty are pleased to offer an exclusive bursary to all students planning to start their studies in September 2022. If you submit your completed Application Form on or before Monday 25th April 2022, and subsequently enrol in September 2022, you will automatically receive a €500 discount of your tuition fees at enrolment.
The Emerging Talent Bursary is intended to help support students with additional funds to allocate towards future film productions or academic projects. We imagine you may want to use this bursary for research, books, travel expenses, equipment for productions, access to cinema showings of independent and international films – in fact anything that will inspire your creativity.
More information can be found on the Scholarships and Bursaries page here.
Check out our resources below to discover more about studying Filmmaking and life at BIMM Institute in general. We have inspiring student stories as well as advice from Filmmaking graduates.
With Germany’s capital being one of the most important locations in Europe for the film industry, we created a guide showcasing Berlin’s most exciting film festivals.
Many blockbusters are set and filmed in Berlin and you can visit a lot of those locations! Here are 10 locations that were used as film sets for some of the biggest Hollywood films as well as German cult classics.
Berlin is where one of the most diverse and welcoming film scenes in the world unites with endless creativity and possibilities for collaboration. Ask a local what Berlin is like and they’ll say it is experimental, creative and always accepting.
Welcome to our brand-new Screen and Film Faculty - Filmmaking is alive in Berlin!
BIMM Berlin friend and Masterclass host, Stephanie von Beauvais shares her five top tips on how to create your own music video.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our Filmmaking course, or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Institute, please contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0)30 311 99 186 or email admissions@bimm-institute.de.
