It is available in three study tracks. In the Exploration track, you will find an open, experimental structure and your master’s project can take the shape of any audio-visual format, in the Production track you will produce a short documentary, and in the Concept track you will develop a market-ready longer or serialised project.
All three tracks adopt an associative and often experimental approach in teaching visual storytelling and the conceptual work with moving images. We want to challenge your visual thinking and the way you use filmic forms. During the programme, you will be able to select intensive courses from our programme and courses offered by other master’s programmes at our School according to your personal needs and interests. This will help you to focus on your personal development and on your practical and theoretical master’s project.
The master’s programme is an intensive, four-semester study programme. We teach mainly in English, international candidates must be able to communicate in written and spoken word in German or English and must be willing to learn the other language. The programme is also available part-time with up to eight semesters. It yields 120 ECTS credit points (CP). The weight of your own project in CPs varies from 69 to 84 CP's, that is, you will be able to give the development of your individual project your highest attention.
The Lucerne School of Art and Design boasts a state-of-the-art film and animation infrastructure. Thanks to its low five-to-one student-teacher ratio, your MA in Film lecturers will be available when you need them. You will be given personal tuition according to the requirements of your project.
Production track
Apply with a concept for a short film, XR experience, installation or another format. During your studies, you will produce a project ready for distribution at international festivals. You will be able to pitch your project to production companies and potentially co-produce your project with them.
Concept track
Develop your idea for a longer or serialised format into a production-ready concept. The Concept track teaches you the ropes from concept development to the production of a trailer or proof of concept to the project’s financing, marketing and distribution. Once finalised, you will pitch your project to a panel of professional producers and potentially realise it after graduating.
Exploration track
Here, the focus is on a personal area of interest explored through an experimental study of documentary forms and/or research-based artistic work. You study and develop a personal area of interest and consolidate your artistic approach.
The programme is structured along modules dedicated to your practical work, your written thesis, the theoretical and practical framework of filmmaking, and transdisciplinary work, including a range of elective courses.
Project
This cluster of modules is designed to give you the space and skills to develop your individual master's project.
In the core module (Production, Concept, Exploration) you will develop the story or the concept of your project. In other modules, you will work on your production design and prepare the production of your film. If your aim is to gain experience in the financing of films, you will write a production dossier. If you wish to self-promote as a professional filmmaker, production company or artist, the Self-Marketing module will equip you with the necessary tools.
Research and Written Thesis
This cluster of modules is designed to guide you through your project-based or scientifically oriented research and towards your written master’s thesis. We encourage our students to consider the practical and the written thesis as two aspects of the same project and to establish a close link between the two.
Framework
In the Framework module, we teach the theoretical and practical context of filmmaking. You will attend classes in narration theory, film- and media theory, film- and media history, image making, editing, documentary theory and various forms of expanded cinema.
Experiment
The Experiment module is a transdisciplinary module. You will learn to work with the latest moving image technologies and address the challenges of working in a team. Working in groups with your fellow students, you will produce and present a short project.
Exchange
The Exchange module is an elective module geared towards your individual specialisation. Depending on your interests, you will be able to pick the fields that you would like to examine in more depth or in which you would like to improve your skills.
