WORKSHOP INFORMATION
Mentor: Jan Cvitkovič
Dates: February 2026 – March 2026
Location: Academy of Arts of the University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Application deadline: 12 February 2026
Limited number of places available: You can apply via the application form available at the LINK.
The film workshop with director and screenwriter Jan Cvitkovič focuses on exploring conflict and its opposite, peace, through cinematic storytelling. Participants will create original short films by engaging in the full creative process, from idea development and writing to filming and editing.
The central theme of the workshop, “War and Peace,” will not be addressed in a literal sense alone, but primarily through emotional, intimate, and symbolic perspectives. The workshop encourages participants to reflect on fundamental questions of film narration:
– what conflict is and how it manifests within a story,
– who or what represents the opposing force,
– what peace means within the context of a specific narrative,
– what the emotional arc of the story is and how it develops throughout the film.
The working process is designed as a complete creative journey, from initial associations to the final screening. Special emphasis is placed on simplicity of expression, clarity of ideas, and the authors’ personal perspectives.
Workshop schedule:
February 19, 2026, 13:15–14:45
Artist talk
Conversation with Jan Cvitkovič about his creative process.
February 19, 2026, 15:00–17:30
Introductory session – idea development
Group brainstorming and idea development. Opening associations, deepening the understanding of the theme, and finding a personal relationship to the motif of war and peace.
March 2, 2026, 13:15–15:45
Screenwriting and storyboard development
Story development, structuring conflict, character creation, and preparation of the storyboard.
March 10, 2026, 13:15–15:45
Filming
Shooting of the short films at the Academy and, if necessary, at additional locations.
March 17, 2026, 13:15–15:45
Additional filming and first edit
Completion of filming and initial editing steps, including review of the footage.
March 24, 2026, 13:15–15:45
Film review and finalization
Group screening of the films, analysis, mentor feedback, and final editing.
The workshop is part of the project GO!STUDIO – Training for strengthening infrastructural capacities and improving skills and competencies of target groups in the audiovisual field.
Project GO!STUDIO. The training is organized by the University of Nova Gorica – Academy of Arts. The project is funded by the European Union through the Small Projects Fund of the GO! 2025 Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 program, managed by the EGTC GO. www.ita-slo.eu // www.euro-go.eu/spf
