Attendees speak about the film program

What Former Attendees Have to Say
about the
Film Program Cannes
"the Course, the Facutly and the FPC Total Experience"

The Workshop is a Casual Atmosphere with the "Best" Professional
Film Training in Producing in the World! Read below what former
Program attendees have to say.

“The best producers course I’ve ever taken.”
--From FPC attendee

Attendee's Comments FPC Workshop San Francisco:
"I wanted to find out about the film markets and Ackerman was very informative."
"Yes, and exceeded. I am glad how in depth Ackerman went into producing."
"The class was well structured and the organization of the handouts was impressive.
Ackerman is a great story teller!!"
"Ralph is a storehouse of great information!"
"I loved hearing the tricks of the trade for the markets, producing, etc."
"A lot of information. Important."
"Wealth of information."
"Ralph has a nice way of educating those who really want to learn."
"Yes. Ackerman had a very well organized seminar."
"Workshop be improved. This is the best producing class I have ever had,
including ___________ _____________ University."

What said by A 2006 "ShootingPeople.org member of the UK" FPC Attendee
(2 person producing team from the UK)

My partner and I enrolled in the Film Program Cannes because it was advertised on Shooting People web site as a class based program with the opportunity of follow up, practical involvement in the festival and market (Cannes).
It definitely lived up to it's billing!

It was certainly beneficial that the course took place prior to the official festival start, enabling us, to not only familiarise ourselves with what to expect but also to acclimatize to the atmosphere in advance. What is also unique and advantageous about the course is that it takes place " live", while the actual festival is happening! This gives it a buzz that we've never experienced before. You feel you are a part of the whole process that is the "Cannes Film Festival/Maraket". We were able to learn, experience, apply and then come back to the class to get feedback, not just on what we had encountered "out there" but also got tips and hints from our fellow classmates, in addition to the course leaders Robert Nickson and Ralph Ackerman.

We had a short film in the festival and a feature film in development which we needed to push in terms of funding and distribution. The advice and concentrated detail we received from the course was invaluable and being "prepared" by the course definitely forearmed us. Although I have been a writer, director for many years it was extremely beneficial for us to be taught how to fund, finance and distribute the whole package, including submitting the film to festivals and being given a good understanding of how the festival side comes together in the real world. This knowledge wasn't just something you picked up in the classroom and then eventually forgot, but because you were in the midst of the event you were driven to go out there in that "live" environment where you could put your class-room acquired information and your own skills to the test.

Cannes is a great film festival but if we had gone in uninformed we would have eventually floundered and worse still, looked unprofessional and out of place, and once you get that sort of reputation you'd have to start hiding rather than showcasing your talent. If you are new to filmmaking I would definitely recommend you take the course and get a flavour of Cannes understand how the various cogs in the industry connect and function and then the following year you would be well prepared to enter the festival with a film or a project. But even for established filmmakers taking the course will prepare you in no other way. You will breeze into the booths and the offices of distributors and high powered film execs, who normally wouldn't give you the time of day, with confidence and the right attitude, which comes through your recently acquired knowledge, as if you've been doing it all your life.

The teaching was honest with the bias towards the independant filmmaker. Nickson unveiled movie insider secrets that most tutors are scared to reveal or don't know. With all the staff being actual practitioners, involved in filmmaking on a daily basis, added an extra dimension to the experience. The course also gave us tips regarding the non film related aspect of Cannes as well in terms of where to eat, shop and how to conduct yourself to get the most out of the Cannes experience.

Having taken the course and armed with a better understanding of the mechanics, I was able to plan a strategy for approaching the industry professionals, whether it was suppliers of equipment or film stock, the representatives of countries offering tax credits, private equity investors, sales agents or theatrical distributors. And this has continued well after the festival.

Recommendation
If you are serious about filmmaking this course is well worth taking and is extremely good value. You get accommodation, the breakfast, a great atmosphere, fantastic networking opportunities, everybody talks film and gives you respect, absolutely film heaven really! It definitley demystified how the whole industry works something that you can't normally understand completely in a classroom. Believe me, I have been on numerous courses, as well as having taught filmmaking at Leeds University. It fundamentally reinforced in us the approach, that you have to be bold, even bolder than before if we were going to break through. We felt more confident, for example, when we were trying to get a US theatrical deal for our feature film. Knowing how the numbers worked and the importance of "the package" was great ammunition in our negotiations. Carrying yourself with professionalism and not being pushy or appearing desperate was also a great bit of advice from Robert.

I would readily recommend the course, it is great value, run by good people. If you are serious about filmmaking what more would you want?
We were in a fantastic environment by the sea, meeting all kinds of inspiring wonderful people, learning about and watching films, the good, and the bad! (Well at least there's hope for ours then!)
Many thanks Robert, Ralph and Pat. Keep up the good work."
--from - Raza Mallal, London, UK

A Writer/Director 2006 attendee, Los Angeles, California

" 'Film Program Cannes' was everything I expected and more. Literally the
best Producing course I have taken. Robert Nickson (2006 director/instructor) was informative and to the point. He presented a 'real approach' to Producing our next film instead of a series of "War Stories" often heard at other professional seminars.
Without reservation, I highly recommend this course. "
from a writer/director 2006 attendee from Los Angeles, California.

An Attendee Olga Tymshan's from Moscow,
Russia notes on the 2005
Film Program Cannes "Intensive"

"First of all, I would like to thank Robert Nickson and Ralph Ackerman for giving those of us who are beginning their filmmaking careers the opportunity to gain the basic and indispensable knowledge about filmmaking--right from the heart of the Cannes Film Festival/Market the happening place for film professionals. This is a unique idea that has been realized in the most effective ways for all participants of the creative process As for my personal experience at the Film Program Cannes “Intensive” I might say that when I first thought about taking this program, I didn't really have a defined goal or perspective to shape my career, in so far as my limited experience in the movie business in the closed spheres of TV distribution and sound track dubbing studios allowed. I also should mention, however, that I assisted an American producer in Moscow, Russia (I live and work in Moscow up till now) who was consulting some Russian productions on the issues of Hollywood and international practices. It was then that I realized that there were very few producers who understood the basics of leveraging of financing, packaging, and sales. That was my first incentive for wanting to know more about producing films professionally and as far as I didn't have time for the full time educational program I decided on participating in the Film Program Cannes “Intensive” master course, especially as it takes place during the Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Film Market which is the biggest film market. Having been one of the participants in the Film Program Cannes in 2005, I can say that it is a unique opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge you get in this short period of time from the industry professionals that students at universities study for 6 or 10 months. And once your class is over you go straight to the Film Market and see how it all works--in reality. So you can try out your own project, whether it is a feature film, short film or just the idea supported with resources of the film production company. During the Film Program Cannes I learned many aspects of contemporary filmmaking, the mechanisms and strategies of the marketplace, and found new contacts among film industry professionals. I also think that the Film Program Cannes is really informative for all the participants whether independent filmmakers, directors, writers, producers, or executives. In independent productions it is very important to understand the main functions of a producer in terms of decision making and financial commitments. Moreover, the Film Program Cannes “Intensive” is a lot of fun. It gathers people from all over the world so there is constant interaction, communication and sharing of experiences among all the participants. This opportunity gave us a wider vision and fresh and interesting ideas that can be an inspiration for future projects.
— Olga Tymshan, Moscow, 2005 Attendee

the Master Class meets before and during
the Festival/Market giving addindees
a "head start" and support during the Market.

the Film Program Cannes is the Educational
Member of the
International Film Associaiton