Portugal film school provided me with an amazing hands-on experience and opportunity to work side by side with industry professionals. It was a short but very intensive program during which not only did I learn how to interview, compose a story and align it with the footage, but I also ended the course with my very own first documentary. This was an incredible and unique time to connect with likeminded people and share ideas. 

Lia Vinogradov (USA)

What a wonderful, inspiring two weeks! We worked hard, learnt a lot from motivating professionals and had immense fun throughout. I came away with enough skills to start experimenting on my own. For me this was a key first step towards a film making career. Thank you for the best and most productive two weeks I’ve had in a long time.  

Giovanna Vaccaro (Italy)

Thanks to Ton’s dedication and the professionalism and kindness of all teachers, we learned in a small group the fundamentals of making a documentary with the aim of having a short portrait film by the end of the course and each student had the chance to discuss with the teachers what they individually need for their future project. It was indeed an eye-opening experience on many levels to meet people from different backgrounds and age groups in a magical place like Alentejo.

Sarah Ehab (Egypt)

After a train ride through the Portuguese country side I found myself, in the summer of 2022, in a small town with a group of curious individuals from 4 different continents.

They all shared one passion; a passion for stories, film, poetry, books and politics. All eager to learn the ins and outs of film making.  It didn’t take long before we got to know each other well, shared thoughts for films but also our anxieties about things that we did not yet know.  The teachers guided us through the process, in comfortable lessons but also hardcore on-site shoots where our skills for improvisation, storytelling and our budding director’s eye were thoroughly tested. 

Within a week we were dreaming loglines, trawling through material, again and again – escaping in hammocks, swimming pools, piano concerts, big Portuguese dinners and dances till midnight. We went to bed under the stars, to be woken up by sheep – within two weeks we adopted the rhythm of this beautiful place in Alentejo. 

The experience felt surreal. 

Now that I am back home I start on my next adventure: I will continue film school and am taking photography classes. 

I could skip the first year because of my experience in the Portugal Film School. And, I am also learning Portuguese – so I can come back, soon! 

Marieke (Netherlands)