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Training takes place once a week on Thursdays, the 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th of Sept, 17th and 31st Oct at 17:30 - 20:45 in ZOOM.

"The greatest benefit was probably the practical skill of formatting a screenplay and the opportunity to write my own screenplay as homework and receive feedback on it."

Target group 

Anyone interested in screenwriting. No prior experience is necessary.

Content and objectives of the training

Acquire basic knowledge of the dramaturgy of an audiovisual work and understand the specifics of a film screenplay.

• The training provides an overview of the process of creating an audiovisual work, the history, format, and style of screenplays, the fundamentals of storytelling and dramaturgy, and the generation of ideas.
• Participants will learn about the structure of feature and documentary films and the development of characters in both films and series.
• They will be taught how to write drama, scenes, dialogue, short forms, and presentation documents.
• Each lecture will include 3-4 practical exercises, film viewing and analysis, and feedback on homework assignments.

"I especially enjoyed hearing the instructor's direct experiences related to the work of a screenwriter."

Learning outcomes

Participants will have an overview of the script development process, understand the structure of an audiovisual drama, be able to create characters, tell a story visually, write and analyze a screenplay, and communicate their ideas to other members of the film production team (director, producer, etc.).

About the Lecturer

Leana Jalukse (1979) is an Estonian screenwriter and script consultant. Her debut film MOTHER (2016) premiered internationally in competition at Tribeca, USA, won Best Feature in Kitzbühel, Austria, Best Estonian Feature at Tallinn Black Nights, Estonia, was selected Estonia’s national entry for the Oscars, and nominated for Best Screenplay at Estonian Film and TV Awards. FIRE LILY (2018) premiered in Mannheim-Heidelberg, DESERTED (2021, as co-writer) premiered in Busan and won Best Feature at Estonian Film and TV Awards, and KIDS OF THE NIGHT (2021, as script doctor) won Best Screenplay at Estonian Film and TV Awards. The feature documentary KELLY. SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM, as writer-director, held its world premiere at Hot Docs in April 2024, making it to top 10 in audience rankings. Leana is also working on a number of drama series, including Creative Europe and Eurimages supported DETECTIVE VON FOCK, which wrapped production in August 2024, C21 Drama Series Script Competition 2023 shortlist project BREAKING THE ICE, and BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN, the Most Promising Project award winner at TV Beats Co-Financing Market 2023, and THE CODE OF THULE, which received development financing from the Estonian Film Institute. Leana teaches screenwriting at Tallinn University and acts as an expert for international film funds, markets, and workshops. She is a founding member of the Estonian Screenwriters’ Guild and a member of the Estonian Filmmakers’ Union and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.