Master in Film Directing

The master’s degree provides students with the knowledge and techniques required to direct audiovisual works in any format. Students will learn about the director’s job and perform this role and the ones of the other members of the direction department during the preproduction, shooting, and postproduction processes. They will also learn about the tasks performed by other members of an audiovisuals production team: director of photography, art director, editor, sound designer, etc. All this knowledge and skills will be acquired through continued practical work in audiovisual narrative exercises. This practice will be complemented by master classes and theoretical seminars.

Methodology

The master’s degree is based on the learning-by-doing methodology: students undertake practical sessions in audiovisual narrative throughout the course, into which they integrate the conceptual and technical knowledge acquired. The practical sessions in the audiovisual narrative are complemented by theoretical classes and theory and practice sessions focused on other disciplines that comprise the course. Upon completion of the master’s degree, students can submit short film projects individually or as a group. Depending on the quality of the projects, and following a selection process carried out by a jury, two of these projects will be produced by ESCAC according to a schedule and funding allocated in line with the project’s needs.

Teaching staff

The teaching staff team is made up of active professionals from the film and advertising sector, together with ESCAC’s own teachers, who accompany students in their practical work on a daily basis. The teaching staff of ESCAC’s Department of Directing includes the following professionals:

• Sergi Pérez (El camí més llarg per tornar a casa)
• Geoffrey Cowper (Tercer Grado)
• Roser Aguilar (Lo mejor de mí, Brava)
• Albert Pintó (Matar a Dios, Malasaña 32)
• Maria Pau Pigem (Infidels, La Riera)
• Joan Marimón (El montaje cinematográfico, Muertes creativas en el cine)
• Lluís Castells (Un monstruo viene a verme, Warcraft: el origen, Anacleto: Agente secreto, Lo imposible)
• Mar Coll (Tres dies amb la família, Tots volem el millor per a ella)
• Javi Ruiz (Tres bodas de más, Superlópez, Anacleto: Agente secreto)
• Elena Trapé (Las distancias)
• Vanesa Sola (Mi querida cofradía)
• Nely Reguera (María y los demás)
• Mireia Juárez (Biutiful, Truman, Estiu 1993)

ESCAC community

This is the best time in history to work in the audiovisual sector: never have there been such a variety of screens available to so many users. These screens need content to supply products to a global audience and, as a result, the major technology companies invest in audiovisual creation.

ESCAC Talent. Graduates with careers recognized nationally and internationally have trained at our school. Film directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, VFX supervisors, etc. You will find much of the ESCAC talent in the credits of many great films and TV shows.

Our teaching system is based on Learning-by-doing. We want you to learn while you do, accompanied by the best professionals in the sector.

At ESCAC we train storytellers. We’ll teach you how to tell your story, no matter the specialty you have chosen.

The work by graduates and by the school’s production company (ESCAC Films) has won over 500 national and international awards, such as the Best International Short Film Award from the Sundance Festival (2006), or third prize in Cinefoundation, presented by Cannes Festival (2015).

International campus: over these 25 years, more than 5,500 students of 23 different nationalities have visited our campus, something that contributes towards cultural enrichment and the enhancement of the community.

Ten feature films produced to establish graduates in the industry through the Opera Prima program.

Labs to access the industry by young professionals: an open area tutored by active professionals, aimed at graduates or former master’s students in the VFX, script, and Set Construction specialties. The aim of the labs is to put into practice their knowledge and encourage their skills within the context of real productions in feature films, short films, and series by ESCAC Films, as well as collaboration with companies from the sector.

Our school is recognized by CILECT (an organization formed by the best film schools in the world), and we are the only film school in Spain to be officially recognized.

ESCAC trains its students based on cross-skills, providing knowledge and tools to later develop a career in any area of content creation.

Data of interest

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the course you must present a portfolio.

Language

English

Dates

From September 20th of 2021 to June 23th of 2022

Timetable

Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The practical filming sessions involve weekend schedules.

Modality

On-site. All classes will take place at ESCAC’s different locations in Terrassa (Barcelona). *In the case of extraordinary circumstances that may arise during the course, the master’s degree may include streaming content.

Target audience

University graduates in Audiovisual Communication, Fine Arts, and other university degrees related to the audiovisual field. Professionals from the film or audiovisual sector who wish to learn more about filmmaking.

Teaching plan

• Practical sessions in audiovisual narrative
• Audiovisual direction workshop
• Directing actors
• Assistant director
• Film analysis
• Trends and aesthetics in contemporary cinema
• Spanish cinema: from Almodóvar to the present day
• Script
• Production
• Cinematography
• Art direction
• Editing
• Sound
• VFX

Skills

• Knowledge of and the ability to use audiovisual language mechanisms to tell a story.
• The capacity to carry out the work of a director when producing audiovisual work: planning, implementing, and supervising the different production processes.
• Knowledge of and the ability to carry out the work of the other members of the direction team.
• Enough theoretical and practical knowledge of the work performed by the other departments involved in producing audiovisual work (cinematography, art directing, editing, sound, etc.).
• The ability to work as a team to produce audiovisual work, collaborating with the other crew members, and heading a joint project.
• Being mature and having strict analytical standards in self-assessing the work performed, both personally and as a team.