Overview of the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris
La Fémis and the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg have created in 2001 Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris, a continuous training programme dedicated to European production and distribution, with the support of the French and German states, the MEDIA sub-programme scheme of Creative Europe, and OFAJ (the French-German Youth Office). A session in London was launched in 2007 in partnership with the National Film and Television School.
An overview of the programme
This full time continuous training programme takes place over one year from the beginning of October to the end of August. Its objective is to offer a new generation of future producers and distributors a realistic and concrete view of current strategies in screenwriting, financing, producing, distributing, marketing and selling films in Europe, and more specifically in France, Germany and the UK.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to work with the different financing and production systems, communicate in another language and understand the culture and mentality of another country. The objective of the course is also to teach participants the development of a common project and a network of future European partners.
Pierre-Yves Jourdain runs the programme in France.
The training is based on three main activities:
— Professional meetings, seminars and workshops aim to encourage dialogue between the participants and the professionals from the European film industry on specific topics and build their contacts for their future projects.
Case studies of recent films allow to work on the concrete aspects of a given topic: the work of a producer, the screenplay and screenwriting, the financing partners of a producer, the European film contracts, co-productions in Europe, distribution and marketing, international sales, and TV networks and their subsidiaries.
— Practical exercises are designed to explore the situation in different European countries based on case studies related to the entire filmmaking process, from screenwriting to distribution, and include regular meetings with the directors, producers and distributors of the feature films studied over the year.
— Active presence at three major films festivals, Clermont-Ferrand, Berlin and Cannes allow participants to meet professionals in a work context, outside the school’s environment, to put their knowledge into practice during a festival and a market, to work within national and international structures, and to widen their professional network in the European and International Industry.
The production project:
Since 2001, the German branch of the TV channel Arte has supported the activities of Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris for the production of a collection of short films, which are broadcast on the channel.
The Atelier participants handle the production of these films, written and directed by students of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and of La Fémis.
The programme is completed with an active presence at three major film festivals: Clermont-Ferrand, Berlin and Cannes.
During the course, the participants have the chance to meet a number of directors, producers and distributors with whom they can discuss the films selected for the different case studies.
During the year, the participants are tutored by the heads of the programme who monitor their progress and supervise their Arte projects.
Calendar of the programme
Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris is a continuous training programme over one year from the beginning of October to the end of August. Teaching is given through a series of six sessions: two sessions in Ludwigsburg, two sessions in Paris, one session in Berlin and one session in London.
First session in Ludwigsburg: October, November and December
Second session in Paris/Clermont-Ferrand : January, February
Third session in Berlin: February, March
Fourth session in London: February
Fifth session in Ludwigsburg: March
Distribution internship: April
Sixth session in Paris/Cannes: May, June
Pre-production, production and post-production of the Arte films, Paris and Ludwigsburg: June, July, August.
Please note that all dates listed here are subject to change.
Admission criteria
To be admitted into Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris, candidates must:
— Be a national of a member state of the wider European Union or a candidate country of the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe [2], or a non-European candidate
— Hold a postgraduate degree (minimum three years of higher education),
— Have professional experience in film and media and be strongly motivated to work in this sector,
— Be no older than 30,
— Have excellent knowledge of French OR German AND English.
For the 2023-2024 edition, Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris will continue to offer the programme to candidates from non European countries (maximum 30% of its participants) with a view to provide knowledge and expertise to non European professionnels who are interested to work in the European film industry.
Candidates must be prepared during the year to attend intensive courses to study the second language of the programme (all students must be fluent in English). If participants do not have the required proficiency in the second language, a 4-6 week intensive language course is compulsory. Language classes must be taken in advance of the training (in August/September) at the Goethe Institut or the French Institute, but preferably in the country of the language they need to learn. These costs are covered by the participant.
However, during the first two sessions, interpreters are hired by the programme to provide simultaneous translation of all the seminars and meetings. As of Berlin, the participants are meant to have sufficient proficiency of both languages to be able to follow classes without the need for interpreters. The learning of a second language, and above all the specific terminology of the film industry, is one of the objectives of Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris.
Status of participants
Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris is a continuous training programme, which means that its participants do not hold the student status.
Each participant receives a certificate on completion of the training, at the end of August, on presentation of the accounts and delivery of the films to Arte.
Financial terms and conditions
The course fees in 2024/2025 are €1500, plus costs for accommodation in Ludwigsburg, Paris, Cannes and London (€3400) (subject to change). The Atelier will organise and cover the cost of accommodation for excursions and festivals. It will also organise and subside accommodation in Ludwigsburg, Paris, Cannes and London on a pro rata basis (included in the €3400).
The course fee and share in accommodation costs must be paid before you start the programme at the film academy.
The Filmakademie covers part of the accommodation for the three sessions held in Germany and asks for a contribution, the conditions of which can be requested by contacting the Filmakademie.
Written applications
Candidates are preselected based on their written applications.
At La Fémis in Paris :
— For French applicants and French speaking applicants of other nationalities.
At the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg, Germany :
— For German applicants and German speaking applicants of other nationalities.
— English speaking candidates with no French nor German are to apply at the Filmakademie Baden-Wüttemberg.
Applications must include the following items:
— The application form, available at the top of this page.
— A detailed CV presenting the projects they have worked on, language level, and level of studies (min. three years of higher education),
— A cover letter explaining their motivations for Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris and their expectations after the programme,
— An analysis of a recent film of their choice (maximum three pages),
— A written profile of a producer whose production choices would match their own production criteria (maximum three pages),
— Employment/internship/education certificates, and when available a LIST (no showreels or videos) of the films they have produced or worked on.
— A copy of the applicant’s passport or ID.
Preselected candidates are invited to attend an interview.
At La Fémis in Paris :
— For French applicants and French speaking applicants of other nationalities.
At the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg, Germany :
— For German applicants and German speaking applicants of other nationalities.
— English speaking candidates with no French nor German are to apply at the Filmakademie Baden-Wüttemberg.
The following topics will be discussed at the interview:
- The candidates’ personal interest to join Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris,
- Their international culture
- A presentation of their motivation
- Their language proficiency,
- Their educational/professional experience,
- Their aptitude to get the most out of the programme.
Candidates are required to cover the cost of travelling to the interview.
The final list of candidates and the waiting list will be published on La Fémis website.
Candidates are permitted to apply many times. However the final interview is permitted no more than twice.
For the 2024-2025 programme, applications from French speaking candidates must be submitted no later than 31 May 2021 (12 pm CEST) by email to Charlotte Grimandi c.grimandi@femis.fr, copied to Pierre-Yves Jourdain py.jourdain@femis.fr.
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[2] Albania / Austria / Belgium / Bosnia - Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / Czech Republic / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / Germany / Georgia / Greece / Hungary / Iceland / Ireland / Italy / Latvia / Liechtenstein / Lithuania / Luxembourg / Malta / Montenegro / Moldavia / Netherlands / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Romania / Republic of North Macedonia / Republic of Serbia / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Sweden / Tunisia / Ukraine
Contact
Pierre-Yves Jourdain
Supervisor of the French Division
ATELIER LUDWIGSBURG-PARIS
Tel. + 33 1 53 41 22 13