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The is a two-year MA creative documentary course based on practice rather than theory. The course director is , assisted by , both practicing filmmakers. They will guide students on short film exercises, semester films (10-15 min) and on producing and directing a graduation film (30 min). [caption id="attachment_15979" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Head of the programme Riho Västrik.[/caption] In what way is the course distinctive?  The focus is on the creative documentary filmmaking process, encouraging filmmakers to find their own distinctive film language and style. Students will develop the ability to express independent ideas through sound and the moving image, rather than by the kind of journalistic approach that relies on a commentator to give information. Experiment and the synthesis of various documentary genres is encouraged. What kind of subjects does the syllabus cover? Documentary directing forms the core of the syllabus. There are practical filmmaking master-classes as well as theoretical subjects (e.g. The History of Documentary and Documentary Studies). The course begins with a basic introduction to filmmaking skills: camera, sound and editing. The syllabus is integrated with the course: Visual Anthropology students will join the Documentary students  and Documentary students will attend some Visual Anthropology courses. What kind of students, with what kind of backgrounds, might be interested in this programme?  Artistic, self-reflective and socially aware students interested in audiovisual storytelling and film-language. [caption id="attachment_15997" align="alignright" width="300"] Students heading out to learn practical skills.[/caption] What are the practical skills that students acquire during their studies?  Students will experience the whole process of documentary filmmaking from the birth of an idea thorough research till completing a documentary film and share all tasks of practical filmmaking in small film crews. For what sort of work will the course prepare students after they graduate?  Our students can work as independent filmmakers, documentary film critics or participate in the work of a documentary film production team. Our graduates are able to teach documentary film making at BA level. What in your view is most exciting about this programme? It is an international course, in which students of various backgrounds influence one another and together expand the boundaries of independent thinking. Situated as it is, on the border of the EU, the Nordic countries and Russia, Estonia is ideally placed to stimulate students to draw from these cultures as well as from their own, and to share in the adventure of film making. Text by Riho Västrik (, the Head of the ).  

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