On 2nd of March ISI - International Screen Institute launched with a special event at EFM, followed by its first webinar How To Pick a Sales Company.
ISI is a brand-new training centre for the film and media industry and initiated by major international production companies Terra Mater Factual Studios and Satel Film. The institute will be a European centre of excellence for the training and development of industry professionals with courses starting this summer.
ISI will offer innovative and top-level training from Vienna, the heart of Europe, reflecting the diversity of both the continent and the Film and TV industry and is strongly focused on business aspects. ISI is committed to five core values that will strengthen the future of European audio-visual industry: collaboration, quality, inclusion, innovation, and sustainability. The various courses on offer are taught by international experts and industry practitioners and are aimed at professionals at all levels of their careers, from emerging filmmakers and executives to company owners and senior executives. ISI’s goal is to develop sustainable careers and businesses.
Collaboration is at the heart of ISI’s mission, as well as the quality of the teaching on offer. This means fostering professional experience and skill exchange across sectors and borders. A major focus is placed on diversity and inclusivity when it comes to both speakers and participants. The digital emphasis aims to future-prove the skillsets of course participants and extends to course content and innovative teaching methods. Sustainability is a top priority in ISI’s management and training: not only will environmental and ethical values be part
of every course curriculum, but the operation of the institute and the courses will also be measured by these same standards.
ISI’s Head of Studies, Julia Short joins with vast experience of running European training programmes including Creative Europe Funded INSIDE PICTURES and the Media Business School’s Marketing & Distribution programme. Short will work with Course Director Beatrice Neumann, an independent international film and distribution consultant, trainer and mentor. Petra Gnad, takes on the management of the institute alongside her role as Managing Director of Jackson Wild Austria.
“At a critical time when the industry is going through seismic changes, we are delighted to have the opportunity to design and deliver industry-focused training which will meet the challenges of the future. “ Julia Short and Beatrice Neumann emphasize.
Courses at ISI will commence in July 2021. The first is Sustainability Management, led by Beatrice Neumann, which will be the first in a 3-course series applying environmental and ethical standards not only to film and TV production but also to the operation of projects and businesses across all sectors of the industry. The course is aimed at anyone running a company, large projects in the film & TV industry from productions, production companies to festivals, financiers, sales and distribution companies and people who want to train as sustainability coordinators and monitors. Applications will open in late spring.
Following this in December, will see an intensive short course aimed at early-career professionals: Market Ready. Led by Julia Short, the course improves participants’ knowledge of international markets, developing strategies, and confidence for packaging, pitching and negotiating deals. Individual mentoring on specific projects is included, as well as a visit to EFM Berlin 2022. A combination of in-person and online teaching, plus a mixed cohort of students (filmmakers, sales agents, and distributors) aims to impart a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of the film industry.
Further to these practical courses, and while in-person teaching opportunities continue to be limited by Covid-19, ISI aims to offer a range of webinars in collaboration with international festivals, conferences and markets. The training on offer will continue in 2022, with course highlights including Making an Impact: Audience Engagement, Sales & Distribution Forum & Mentoring, Legal & Business Affairs and Europe to LA, a business TV series programme.
As a non-profit organization, founded by Terra Mater Factual Studios and Satel Film, both of which are based in Vienna, ISI is also supported by partnerships with the Austrian Film Institute (ÖFI) and Unverzagt Rechtsanwälte based in Hamburg and Berlin.
“Terra Mater has always been dedicated to connecting and supporting great talent on the threshold of the international film industry, across all genres and continents. We are delighted to now bring ISI to life together with Satel Film and our supporting partners, who share our passion for the audio-visual industry and the wellbeing of our planet. ” says ISI chairwoman Dinah Czezik-Müller, COO Terra Mater Factual Studios.
Heinrich Ambrosch, ISI Deputy Chairman CEO Satel FILM, ads: “Film and series shape our culture. That’s why we at Satel Film strive for unique, local content that reaches international audiences. Together with Terra Mater Factual Studios we launched the International Screen institute in Vienna. Top-level training and development of young industry professionals at our doorstep, will certainly strengthen the Austrian and European media landscape and it will help us to tell more exceptional stories that defines our identities and shape our experiences. We are proud to be part of this innovative collaboration.“
Roland Teichmann, Director of ÖFI, confirms: “The founding of the International Screen Institute (ISI) in Vienna is a great private initiative. We fully support its mission to train industry professionals to high standards in all relevant fields of production. Film production is becoming more and more complex, so state-of-the-art training providing a broad range of all aspects of modern production is inevitable for further development and sustainable success.”
