DFS Program offers a full-circle journey through the art and craft of narrative short film-making — from the initial spark of an idea to the final screening on the big screen. Through group-based exercises and hands-on practice, participants will gain experiential understanding of cinematic storytelling, screenwriting, pre-production, directing, and post-production.
At the heart of the course is a creative methodology based on three colored cards (Character, Location, Event), which helps spark original story ideas. These ideas are then developed into screenplays by the students themselves. Divided into small collaborative groups, students will experience various production roles and ultimately produce one or more short films together.
This workshop aims to:
- Nurture both individual creativity and collaborative teamwork;
- Guide participants from abstract ideas to actual execution;
- Cultivate a practical understanding of cinematic language and visual storytelling;
- Prepare students to independently produce their own short films—both personally and professionally.
Dead Filmmakers Society was established in Kurdistan by Saman Hosseinpuor and its ambition is to be a worldwide practical educational program for everyone who desires.
This intensive and hands-on workshop is designed to guide students through every phase of making a short film—from idea to festival-ready screening. Students will not only learn about storytelling, script writing, and film analysis, but also collaborate on the production of one or two completed short films. Shooting of each film will takes place parallel to the workshop time and the instructor will visit the shooting to help and give instruction direction to each team.
Built on a participatory and creative pedagogical method, this course will:
- Strengthen students’ capacity for creative and independent idea development;
- Train them in evolving a simple concept into a fully realized dramatic situation;
- Cultivate critical skills in rewriting, group critique, and collaborative revision;
- Provide real-world experience in various film crew roles (writer, director, producer, actor, etc.);
- Introduce students to the fundamentals of pre-production, production, and post-production;
- And help prepare finished films for submission to festivals.
This workshop is designed for students who are ready to move from theory to practice—those who want to make a real film, not just learn about film-making. Each student begins with a blank page and finishes with their film(s) projected on the big screen.
DFS Program is ideal for film schools, cultural centers, and international labs looking to offer an immersive, hands-on filmmaking experience. The course emphasizes learning by doing, and every participant walks away not just with new skills—but a completed film.