Students from the London Film School’s MA Film Producing programme travelled to the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) this year alongside Course Leader Sarah Sulick, taking part in a week of industry events, networking opportunities and behind-the-scenes learning at one of the world’s leading film festivals.
The visit offered students a unique opportunity to experience the international film industry at first hand while engaging with producers, financiers, distributors and filmmakers from across the globe.
A particular highlight was the inaugural Film School Summit, the first event of its kind at Berlinale, which brought together emerging filmmakers and film schools from around the world to discuss the future of film education and international collaboration. The summit gave students the chance to exchange ideas with peers and industry professionals while gaining valuable insight into the rapidly evolving landscape of global filmmaking.
Throughout the festival, students also attended a series of specialist seminars exploring key aspects of contemporary film producing. Sessions covered topics including adapting literary works for the screen through book rights acquisition, German film funding and production structures, and the wider European film industry, providing invaluable context for producers developing projects across international markets.
Beyond the festival itself, the group visited Studio Babelsberg, one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned film studios. Home to more than a century of filmmaking history, the studio has hosted productions ranging from early German cinema to major international features and television series. The visit offered students an inside look at the scale, infrastructure and production facilities that support large-scale filmmaking in Europe.
Find out more about the MA in Film Producing at London Film School here.
The trip also provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the London Film School community at Berlinale. LFS alumni were strongly represented in this year’s festival programme, with Filipiñana, Truly Naked selected to screen, alongside Abracadabra, the new graduation film by Amay Mehrishi, who completed the MA programme in January. Seeing the work of recent graduates and alumni showcased at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals offered an inspiring reminder of the international impact of the School’s creative community.
For MA Film Producing students, the Berlinale trip reinforced the programme’s commitment to connecting classroom learning with real-world industry experience. From festival panels and market discussions to studio visits and networking opportunities, the week provided practical knowledge, professional connections and inspiration that students will carry into their own producing careers.
