Alumni

“The Sustainability Management programme exceeded my expectations. It strengthened my sense of belonging to a global community of changemakers and renewed my confidence in the mission of transforming the audiovisual industry to meet contemporary climate challenges. The sessions on diversity and inclusion, especially the concept of curation justice, opened new perspectives for me, while Brontie Ansell’s inspiring approach to granting legal personality to nature and Nina Mbah’s African Climate Stories redefined how I think about creativity and impact. The “Claiming Space” panel was a turning point – I no longer feel I need to wait for permission to act. I’m committed to using this knowledge and network to drive tangible, sustainable change across film production.”

“Sustainability management in the film and TV industry is still an emerging field across many European countries. While common regulations and vocational training frameworks are not yet fully in place, the demand for expertise is rapidly increasing in response to global and national climate goals. The Sustainability Management programme fills an important gap by bringing together professionals from diverse countries and backgrounds, offering a comprehensive understanding of how sustainable practices are evolving in different contexts. It provides a holistic framework for a profession that will undoubtedly become one of the most crucial roles in the future of green employment within the screen industries—while also creating an invaluable space for international collaboration and networking.”

“Screeninstitute’s Sustainability Management course exceeded my expectations and left me wanting to learn and explore more, change the way I do things and manage processes in my professional and personal life.”

“Really insightful and well-structured program —sessions walked us through the production lifecycle step by step, touching on lots of different areas. Very helpful for everyday work with plenty of practical tips and insider know-how. The speakers clearly are experts in their respective fields. Also, it was a great chance to connect with peers and professionals from across the industry. The entire event is exceptionally well-organized and run with a high level of professionalism throughout.”

“As a Production Manager in the animation industry, the sustainability programme reinforced the importance of integrating eco-conscious practices into every stage of production — from resource management to storytelling. The programme has inspired me to lead animation productions with greater environmental awareness, ensuring our creative work not only entertains but also supports a sustainable future.”

“An insightful and well-structured course offering a practical overview of business and legal affairs in film and television production. The sessions on financing were especially useful, delivered by speakers with deep industry knowledge and experience. I’d recommend this course to anyone working in production management or business and legal affairs.”

„The program provides a variety of content and has greatly helped strengthen my understanding of the “business and legal” aspects of the industry.
Additionally, it features excellent guest speakers. It is absolutely worth participating in.“

„The workshop was a refreshing international experience, very much hands-on in small groups with a supportive spirit and great expertise.“

„Each session was an opportunity to connect with a community passionate about meaningful storytelling. Thank you for this unforgettable journey!“

„It was great to have so many international speakers from the film industry sharing their knowledge and experiences.“

„The motivation found from a room filled with such breadth of diverse knowledge and experiences was invaluable and highly recommendable.“

Zsófia Szemeredy works closely with film and TV productions to embed sustainability both strategically and creatively, with credits including Down Cemetery Road, Hijack, F1, Poor Things, Alien: Romulus, Dune: Prophecy, and Moon Knight. A graduate of the National Film and Television School, she began her career in sales, distribution, and script development. With a passion for aligning
impact with industry practice, she founded Leverage Point Entertainment to support the transition toward a low-carbon future and to
advocate for systems-level thinking across development, financing, and production.
Zsófia is also the founder of boutique production company, Palbion, dedicated to crafting compelling, commercially-minded stories rooted in the cultural richness of Central and Eastern Europe.

„I really enjoyed the course, it was really very practical, and my project was very much changed for the better in a very short time.“

„The course provided me with an essential foundation for understanding sustainability practices for media from a holistic perspective that also considered the team’s well-being and our responsibility as storytellers. It has inspired me to approach future projects with a more environmentally conscious mindset.“

“Growth is uncomfortable. Go small, go locally, and go slowly then the change make a difference” – Katherine Gonzales

„Attending the 2024 Business and Legal Affairs sessions at the International Screen Institute in Vienna has been an enriching experience. Each speaker brought valuable insights, covering key industry trends and legal frameworks essential for navigating today’s screen industry. I truly appreciated learning from such knowledgeable professionals, each offering unique perspectives that deepen my understanding and spark new ideas for my work. The sessions were an excellent blend of practical advice and visionary thinking, leaving me inspired and better equipped for the future.“

„Great experts, lots of exciting input in a short time and a good get-together with interesting new people!“

„A helpful, valuable experience with dedicated and engaged mentors.“

„A well-curated course with inspiring mentors, genuine support, and a lasting network. You feel cared for long after it’s over.“

„An enlightening week spent in a space with like-minded people, supporting and challenging each other.“

„I had a very good time on the course and met great people and professionals!“

„The course was a fantastic experience that was eye-opening regarding both ecological sustainability and social sustainability.“

“Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” Claude Debussy

“A great opportunity for personal and professional growth.”

“My time in Vienna, attending the Audience Design Lab and Business and Legal Affairs courses, was incredibly enriching. The blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights provided a comprehensive understanding of the subjects. I highly recommend these courses to anyone looking to deepen their expertise in these areas.”

“This course successfully delivers a clear and updated overview of the legal and business aspects of film/TV, boosting confidence in handling contracts and negotiations. I highly recommend it.”

“The most useful courses I have ever been at! High-quality lectures on the legal aspects of the film industry.”

“If you want your films to be watched – listen to Sile Culley and other audience designers. It’s worth it.”

“Content and very useful programme, chance to gain knowledge in very friendly environment”

“Excellent speakers, location and well organised”

“The course gave me knowledge on sustainability and access to a network of great people to whom I can reach out whenever I need to discuss a solution.”

“I had a fantastic time with loads of information and amazing people.”

“An enriching, safe space with international film colleagues, sharing experiences, targets and hopes for a socially and environmentally sustainable industry.”

“Insights, hard knowledge, great mentorship, and an amazing group of participants!”

“We will never stop making films.”

“Truly comprehensive and up-to-date programme delivered by industry professionals who were generous with their time and insights.”

“Market Ready was an incredible experience with top-tier experts, excellent organisation, and a high-quality course. The participants were fantastic, and we had a lot of fun along the way. I’m truly thankful for the connections made and the knowledge gained.”

“The Business and Legal Affairs course taught me the true impact of legal and strategic choices, making my productions run much smoother.”

“A fascinating and brilliantly run insight into all aspects of film financing and legals. First class course.”

“Good teachers. Friendly environment. Very profitable. Vienna incredible as always.”

“The Market Ready course was an impactful, profound, and inspiring experience. The generosity and professionalism of everyone involved shone. Recommended!”

“Great experience with a great bunch of people from all over Europe!!”

“Many thanks to the ISI team for giving such an amazing opportunity. The course is top class, and the attendees were professionals with different roles in the film industry.”

“Global insights, all-star speaker line-up, and inspiring international participants.”

“The International Screen Institute, especially Katja Schwarz and all the speakers, created an inspiring training to emphasise the green path for every individual company. It was a great opportunity to discuss diverse approaches from 8 different countries regarding best sustainability practices.”

“Great speakers, strong content, well organised – perfect course!”

“Fantastic days at the lab with such great people!”

“Authors often have to fight to get a seat at the table. International Screen Institute is offering this seat.”

“The knowledge we received was really valuable, and we’ve already started using it in further work on our project.”

“The ISI team looked after us extremely well! Such an inspiration to listen to all the guest speakers and to meet colleagues from all over Europe.”

Xavier Henry-Rashid started his career as a photographer, which introduced him to the festival circuit some 18 years ago. Thereon he contributed to publications including Variety, Screen, Esquire, and GQ, as well as being a writer for the original Yahoo Movies, Film247, and BBCFilms news websites.

He has worked in various festival positions, from previewing for Sheffield Doc/Fest, in sponsorship for Sundance London/AEG and the East End Film Festival, and in management as a programmer and executive director of Raindance Film Festival, where he also ran the year-round training programme.

Since 2012, he has run Film Republic, a London-based world sales company that specialises in director-driven features and young auteurs. He is a Berlin Talent Campus alumnus, a Screen Institute alumnus, and a member of EAVE.

Xavier attended the Business and Legal Course in 2022 and is one of the Sceen Institute’s esteemed alumni.