MetFilm School hosts collaborative showcase with acting students from UdK Berlin
MetFilmSchool Berlin has continued its collaboration with Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK), bringing acting and directing students together for a series of practical workshops at Molecule Studios for the fourth year in a row.
The programme gives directing students the opportunity to develop their screen directing skills by working with emerging actors from outside their established network, while building creative relationships with students from another of Berlin’s leading arts institutions. These connections are designed to provide bridges for future collaborations, like MetFilm School’s graduation projects.
Over four weeks, directing students from MetFilm School worked with actors from UdK in a series of practical workshops.
“Filmmaking doesn’t happen in isolation. Collaborations like this give emerging filmmakers the chance to build creative networks, develop relationships across disciplines, and experience the value of working as part of a wider artistic community. In previous years, students have continued collaborating beyond the workshop, forming lasting artistic partnerships and new creative projects”
– Sarah Marecek, Coordinator and Course Leader.
Founded over 300 years ago, Universität der Künste Berlin is one of Europe’s largest universities for the arts, providing education in disciplines like fine art, architecture, design, and the performing arts. The collaboration was first conceived to create additional opportunities for students from both institutions to exchange perspectives, and learn from one another’s approaches to their respective disciplines.
Led by Sarah Marecek, the programme participants were divided into three groups to support focused training and engagement. Working with actors from outside their usual learning environment gave Directing students from MetFilm School the opportunity to explore the practical demands of directing performances, while developing logistical and communication skills they can apply to future productions.
What was included?
- Discovery Session – Initial meetings where actors and directors meet with workshop leader Sarah Marecek to get to know each other, the scene, and their onscreen personas.
- Scene Study I – Actors and directors engage in intensive scene rehearsals, focusing on performance depth and directorial vision
- Scene Study II – Actors and directors engage in intensive scene rehearsals, focusing on performance depth and directorial vision
- Screening and Reflection – Actors and directors watch the footage together and reflect on the process.
Students from both institutions demonstrated strong commitment and reliability throughout the programme, skills that BIMM University proudly instills in our student body.
“The actors from UdK, predominantly trained for stage, bring versatility, strong performance skills, and a wealth of experience. The filmmakers from MetFilm School Berlin introduce the specific demands of working for the camera, exploring how performance, timing, and nuance can shift between stage and screen. It’s a valuable exchange that challenges both disciplines to approach their practice differently” Sarah added.
For MetFilm School students, working with UdK actors provided a valuable opportunity to build professional relationships outside of the classroom. For many of our international students, these connections can be particularly important in helping them establish networks, and find future collaborators as they begin their careers in Berlin.
Thinking about studying in Berlin?
Visit us at an Open Day to chat with lecturers, meet current students, and experience BIMM Berlin firsthand.
