Storytelling and Storyboarding Science at Locarno Film Festival

Good scientists do good science, but great scientists are also great storytellers!

The desire of scientists to communicate elegantly with the general audience and the tireless search of filmmakers for good stories to tell demand tight collaboration between scientists and filmmakers. Having basic knowledge of film storytelling and storyboarding allows scientists to translate their research into elegant and convincing cinematographic stories and facilitates the filmmakers to transform these stories into films. Furthermore, scientists will learn to engage the audience and increase understanding by incorporating narrative attributes into their teaching and publications.

Learn basic skills about conceptual and technical filmmaking. This includes storytelling ‚‚technique, film genre, script-writing, storyboarding and theory of film editing. Attend Locarno Festival to watch films and analyze them in regard to conceptual and technical filmmaking. Discuss with professional filmmakers. The Locarno Festival represents an ideal networking ‚‚platform for scientists and filmmakers, which could result in future common projects.

PhD students in life sciences enrolled at a Swiss Higher Education Institution are most strongly encouraged to apply. Applications from Postdocs and research assistants are also considered.

Registration fee: CHF 150.– (due after admission, it covers course material and equipment, accommodation and entrances to all films at the Locarno Festival).
Contact your doctoral school for the accreditation of this workshop.

Please register online and submit a short CV and a short letter of motivation (max. 1 page each) for attending before 30 April 2018. The organisers will select the 15 most outstanding applicants to participate in this workshop.

Organisers: Platform Biology of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and Locarno Festival
Trainers: Dr. Samer Angelone (Science Film School) and renowned filmmakers from Locarno Festival


Website and registration: biologie.scnat.ch/storyboarding