ABOUT PETER WEBBER Peter Webber has had a diverse career as a director of film, television and documentaries including the critically renowned ˜Girl with a Pearl Earring™ and the HBO series "Six Feet Under". Peter is perhaps best known for his film directorial debut ˜Girl With a Pearl Earring", the film adaptation of Tracey Chevalier's bestselling novel. The film tells the story of the creation of the famous painting by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer of the same name. The film saw Peter directing Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth as the films leads. Released in 2004 the film went on to be nominated for no less than 3 Academy Awards, 10 BAFTA nominations as well as numerous other honours. Webber was then tapped by Dino de Laurentis to direct "Hannibal Rising". Based on Thomas Harris upcoming new book of the same name, and starring Gaspard Ulliel, Li Gong and Anthony Hopkins, In 2012 Peter directed the Feature Film "Emperor", Starring Tommy Lee Jones, and Mathew Fox. Peter has also directed the Netflix Original Pickpockets (2018). His documentary work includes the award-winning environmental feature documentary Ten Billion (2015) and Earth: One Amazing Day (2017), narrated by Robert Redford and Jackie Chan. Webber's productions include the "Kingdoms of Fire" (2019), television series, which takes viewers back to the past as the Ottoman Empire seeks to conquer Cairo, as well as the documentary "Inna de Yard" (2019), a portrait of the pioneers of reggae music in Jamaica Peter Webber is currently directing DRAGN, an action-horror film that follows a group of colleagues on a team-building retreat in a remote forest, where they become prey to a rogue AI-driven drone. The film is now in post-production. Peter Webber's experience speaks for itself and guarantees the high standards our participants have come to expect from FEST FILM LAB. WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION This workshop is designed to equip directors, cinematographers, and film professionals with essential blocking techniques for film. Under the guidance of Peter Webber, participants will combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical exercises using live actors, learning how to stage scenes that enhance narrative and visual storytelling. Day 1 – Foundations and Practical Application Welcome & Introduction Introduction of participants and an overview of the workshop objectives. Brief presentation of Peter Webber’s career and his approach to blocking in film. Fundamentals of Blocking Theoretical discussion on the principles of blocking: The importance of spatial arrangement and movement. How blocking contributes to character dynamics and narrative pacing. Analysis of selected film clips to illustrate effective blocking techniques. Practical Exercise: Initial Scene Work Hands-on session with live actors on set. Guided exercises focusing on: Positioning and movement of actors. Adjusting blocking to complement camera angles and narrative flow. Immediate feedback and group discussion on the exercise outcomes. Day 2 – Advanced Techniques and Collaborative Practice Recap & Q&A Brief review of key insights from Day 1. Open forum for questions and discussion regarding challenges encountered. Advanced Blocking Techniques In-depth exploration of: Adapting blocking strategies across various genres. Integrating the director’s vision with technical considerations. Discussion on how subtle adjustments in blocking can dramatically alter a scene’s impact. Practical Exercise: Live Scene Blocking Peter Webber to block a scene using live actors. Selected participants stage a scene, followed by a analysis. Peter Webber provides critiques and suggestions for improvement. Final Group Discussion & Wrap-Up Sharing experiences and insights from the day’s exercises. Discussion on how to incorporate blocking techniques into larger film productions. Concluding remarks and key takeaways from the workshop. Workshop Outcomes: Develop a solid understanding of how effective blocking enhances storytelling. Hands-on experience in staging scenes with live actors. Learn to adapt blocking techniques to different narrative styles and production contexts. Receive direct, personalized feedback from Peter Webber. This workshop is made possible with the support of the Portuguese Film Institute – Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual (ICA). As part of this collaboration, a limited number of scholarships are available for Portuguese filmmakers or those based in Portugal. You can find the form to access these on this link: https://forms.gle/2uMKG1iXdeLdsZbc9 PROFILE OF PARTICIPANT The workshop designed for Directors, Film Students, or anyone serious about a career in the Film Business on the area of Directing. WORKSHOP LOCATION Lisbon, Portugal Duration: 2 days 10:00 - 18:00 Dates: 29th - 30th of November 2025 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Price: 599EUR (399EUR Until 12th of November) Maximum number of participants: 25 By registering to the workshop you agree with FFL terms and Conditions Please add our address to your email safe senders list, address book or contact list to avoid FEST e-mails in spam. REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP ON THE LINK BELOW:

In this two-day FEST FILM LAB workshop, colorist Marc Boucrot invites participants to explore how color becomes a storytelling language of its own, shaping atmosphere, rhythm, and emotion from the first creative discussions to the final grade. Drawing on his extensive experience on films such as Climax, Enter the Void, Love, Blue Is the Warmest Color, and Dallas Buyers Club, Marc will take participants behind the scenes of his collaborations with visionary filmmakers like Gaspar Noé and Jean-Marc Vallée, revealing how visual style is defined and refined through an ongoing creative dialogue between director, cinematographer, and colorist. Over the course of the weekend, participants will learn to understand color not just as a technical process but as a vital narrative tool. Marc will examine how choices in tone, saturation, contrast, and texture affect how audiences perceive a story’s emotion and truth. He will also discuss how color decisions are shaped by performance, lighting, and editing, how grading can subtly guide the viewer’s focus, intensify emotional beats, and create coherence across scenes and sequences. In addition to color, Marc will also explore the creative and aesthetic decisions behind working in Black & White in contemporary cinema, and how the choice between Film and Digital affects texture, contrast, and grain — and ultimately, the emotional tone of a film. The sessions will include case studies, scene breakdowns, and open discussions, offering a close look at Marc’s creative process and practical workflow. Participants will gain insight into how to translate abstract creative intentions into precise visual outcomes, and how to build a consistent visual identity that enhances a film’s storytelling power. Topics explored will include: - How to define and build a film’s color palette from pre-production to final delivery - Using color to shape emotion, mood, and rhythm - The dynamics of the collaboration between director, cinematographer, and colorist - The influence of grading on lighting continuity, editing, and visual flow - Balancing artistic ambition with technical feasibility - Managing communication, expectations, and creative choices in the grading suite - Black & White choices in contemporary film - Film vs Digital: contrast, grain, and texture - Case studies from Climax, Blue Is the Warmest Color, and Dallas Buyers Club Rather than being a purely technical workshop, this will be focusing on the creative side, and reflection among professionals. The goal is to equip participants with a deeper understanding of how color contributes to storytelling, and how collaboration and intuition turn grading into a true art form. ABOUT MARC BOUCROT Marc Boucrot is a highly established senior colorist and film editor, known for his exceptional eye for visual storytelling and his collaborations with some of contemporary cinema’s most daring filmmakers. Over the past two decades, his work has defined the look and feel of a wide range of international films, from stylized arthouse projects to major award-winning features. A long-time collaborator of Gaspar Noé, Boucrot has been behind the color of the director’s most visually groundbreaking films, including Irreversible, Enter the Void, Love, Climax, Lux Æterna, and Vortex. His distinctive color sensibility has been integral to Noé’s bold cinematic language, where image, emotion, and perception fuse into one immersive experience. As a colorist, Boucrot’s artistry extends far beyond technical precision, he has become a creative partner to filmmakers such as Jean-Marc Vallée, Abdellatif Kechiche, and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. His contribution to Blue Is the Warmest Color (Palme d’Or, Cannes 2013) and Dallas Buyers Club (Academy Award Winner, 2014) cemented his reputation as one of the most respected colorists working today. Boucrot’s filmography spans an impressive range of acclaimed projects, including Climax, Vortex, Dallas Buyers Club, Blue Is the Warmest Color, A Prayer Before Dawn, The Owners, Hands That Bind, Wild, Love in the Time of Civil War, and Demolition. More recently, he has contributed to Yunan (2025), Who Loves the Sun (2024), and Witchboard (2024), as well as numerous short films, music videos, and collaborations with visual artists. Known for his deep understanding of texture, tone, and emotional color, Boucrot’s approach bridges the artistic and technical sides of filmmaking. His mastery of both film and digital workflows, his nuanced exploration of grain and contrast, and his recent interest in modern Black & White cinematography make his work continually relevant and inspiring to a new generation of filmmakers. Whether in the grading suite or the editing timeline, Marc Boucrot’s process remains deeply collaborative, a dialogue between director, cinematographer, and story. His ability to translate emotion into image has made him one of the most sought-after colorists and editors in international cinema today. PROFILE OF PARTICIPANT
The workshop is designed for colorists, editors, cinematographers, DOPs, directors, post-production supervisors, and filmmakers who wish to deepen their understanding of color as a storytelling tool. It is also ideal for filmmakers seeking to refine their creative and technical approach to color grading, visual style, and the collaborative process between director, cinematographer, and colorist. WORKSHOP LOCATION London, UK Duration: 2 days 10:00 - 18:00 Dates: 10th - 11th of January 2026 Location: London, UK Price: 599GBP (379GBP Until 19th of November) Maximum number of participants: 25 Please add our address to your email safe senders list, address book or contact list to avoid FEST e-mails in spam. REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP ON THE LINK BELOW By registering to the workshop you agree with FFL terms and Conditions

You've no doubt heard the claim that "A poet needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." Well, with the advent of AI-generated film, we're approaching the time where a filmmaker just needs to sit at their computer and get access to AI. We're not there yet - but this course will help you get there, and see where we are now.

This intensive weekend workshop will take you through the complete pipeline of AI-assisted filmmaking, from initial concept to finished production. By the end of this course, you will have created your first AI-generated short film - or a substantial chunk of it - whether a trailer, TV commercial, or short drama, and gained hands-on experience with the most powerful AI tools currently available.

Are AI tools perfect? No. Things which are easy to film - two people speaking in a room - can be very hard or impossible to do well in AI. By contrast, things that are very hard to film for real - a 19th century dock scene with working steam trains and tall sailing ships - can be done trivially easily in AI. You're not making a film in 5 years' time - you're making a film now. So we will show you what you need to know now, warts and all.

Do you need technical skills to participate? No. But it's helpful if you have some basic familiarity with using AI. We will focus on accessible tools that are easy to use for non-technical people, not complex systems requiring coding experience.

You will have the chance to not only learn these cutting-edge techniques but also interact in a very direct way, as the group will have up to 25 participants, making it extremely practical and interactive. The workshop will be hands-on, with participants working on their own material throughout the weekend. Depending on the scale and complexity of your vision, you may not complete your short film by the end of the workshop, but you will have all the tools you need to continue independently.

CHARACTER CONSISTENCY AND VIDEO GENERATION Processing characters with Runway Elements for consistency across multiple angles; building character libraries; generating videos in Veo 3 using image-to-video with audio; managing challenges with voice and performance control; understanding video "shooting ratio" and costs.

ENHANCEMENT AND POST-PRODUCTION Processing Midjourney and Runway images with enhancer software; "Reverse Photoshop" techniques with Enhancor to make AI images more realistic; refining images in Photoshop for video generation readiness; the critical importance of human oversight in editing - why AI systems give imperfect results requiring human intervention at the edit stage.

FINISHING AND MUSIC Video-to-music generation for adding musical scores; upscaling with Topaz (comparing 720p, 1080p, and 4K); final delivery considerations.

ETHICS AND POLITICS: AI AS HISTORICAL MILESTONE AI represents a milestone in human history with vast effects on all our lives. If you describe yourself as an AI Film Maker, you'll likely be challenged about AI ethics. We don't push a particular viewpoint, but explore key questions so you can articulate your own position on these issues.

SUBSCRIPTIONS To take the best of this workshop, you should sign up for: Midjourney (online image generator) www.sonovid.ai/ (the most cost-effective way to access Veo 3) We will provide group subscriptions to: Enhancor (image enhancement software) Runway ML (video generation and character processing) ABOUT MARTIN PERCY Martin Percy is a British director celebrated for his pioneering work in interactive cinema, virtual reality, and the creative use of artificial intelligence in film. A graduate of King’s College, Cambridge, Percy has built a career defined by experimentation with new forms of storytelling that actively involve the audience, merging narrative, technology, and participation.

His breakthrough came with Lifesaver (2012), an interactive crisis simulator that won a Grand Clio Award, a Webby Award, and received a BAFTA nomination. The project, which featured Daisy Ridley in her first professional role, established Percy as a leading figure in interactive film. He later expanded this format with Heart Class (2019), which won an Emmy in the United States, and CardiacCrash (2023), a Canadian project that won three Webby Awards and was nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards.

Percy has collaborated with some of the most respected institutions in the world, including the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute, the National Theatre, and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. His projects have often brought together acclaimed actors such as Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Derek Jacobi, and Daisy Ridley, combining high-profile talent with cutting-edge interactive design. His VR project Virry VR (2017), filmed at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, received both BAFTA and Webby recognition and reinforced his reputation as a leading innovator in immersive media.

In recent years, Percy has increasingly integrated artificial intelligence into his practice, creating works that adapt to the user’s emotions, decisions, and interactions. Projects such as AI Basics: Thrills or Chills (2023) and the Adaptive-Media Interview Coach exemplify his commitment to exploring how AI can reshape creative expression and audience engagement. His TEDx talk, How to Save Lives with Interactive Film, highlighted his dedication to using new technologies not just for storytelling, but also for education and social impact. Throughout his career, Martin Percy has been recognised with a BAFTA, an Emmy, a Grand Clio, and more than a dozen Webby Awards. His work stands at the intersection of creativity and innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of how stories can be told and experienced.