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[active project]
Biografilm Academy is a free advanced training course for cultural operators who can get to know the world of film festivals and become part of it, realised from 2023 by Associazione Fanatic About Festivals - the organiser of Biografilm Festival, together with ForModena - an accredited entity for training in Emilia-Romagna, Alma Mater Studiorium University of Bologna and other partners collaborating in the realisation of the festival and the training course.
The main goal is to train highly specialised figures who can respond to the demand from film festivals and events for this type of professionalism at regional and national level.
The film festival production process professional works in the field of festivals/festivals/events related to the audiovisual or performing arts field. He/she is a professional who knows how to move between the various realisation processes of a festival since he/she has understood its organisational structure and the mechanisms of its management and operation. He/she has acquired specific knowledge related to three central areas in the development of a festival: audience development, communication strategy in its traditional or more innovative forms, technological tools and green management. He/she is able to enter professionally with organisational, technical and technological skills: projection or graphic communication.
At the end of the training activity, the participants may be employed in various capacities in businesses dealing with events/festivals, or collaborate in their realisation.
The course is open to people resident or domiciled in Emilia-Romagna before registration for the training course and in possession of the following requirements: completion of the mandatory education and training school obligation; medium good computer skills; knowledge/skills in the audiovisual sector acquired in working and/or formal, non-formal or informal learning contexts. Experience in the audiovisual sector and in the topics covered by the course will be of added value.
The professional profile trained by the course operates in the field of film festivals, showcases and events related to the audiovisual and performing arts sectors. This professional is able to navigate the various production processes involved in the organisation of a festival, having a solid understanding of its organisational structure, management mechanisms and operational workflows.
Participants will develop specialised knowledge in three key areas for festival development:
Audience Development
Communication strategies, both traditional and innovative
Technological tools and green management
The profile also includes competencies related to public funding, such as drafting calls for proposals, financial reporting, budget management, and understanding the relationship between access to funding and audience development strategies.
Graduates will be able to work professionally with organisational, technical and technological skills within the cultural and audiovisual sectors.
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA
I WONDER SRL
TCB SRL
KW SRL
FANATIC ABOUT FESTIVALS
BLACK MAMBA SRL
MONTEGRAPPA CINEMA SRL
CASA DELLE DONNE PER NON SUBIRE VIOLENZA APS
The programme is open to individuals resident or domiciled in the Emilia-Romagna Region prior to enrolment, who meet the following requirements:
Completion of compulsory education and fulfilment of the right/duty to education and training
Intermediate to good computer skills
Knowledge and/or skills in the audiovisual sector acquired through formal, non-formal or informal learning or work experience
Previous experience in the audiovisual sector and in topics related to the course content will be considered an asset.
Selection will be based on the following steps:
Curriculum vitae assessment to verify compliance with the required criteria. Additional value will be given to:
Personal production work in the audiovisual field
Participation as a collaborator in festivals, showcases or events
Creation of content for traditional media or digital platforms
Collaboration on communication and promotion projects related to artistic and cultural heritage
Written test (50% of the overall score), aimed at assessing entry-level knowledge
Individual interview (50% of the overall score), aimed at evaluating motivation, interest, experience in creative sectors, availability to attend the course, and ability to use technical equipment (computer, software, video camera, etc.)
All candidates meeting the entry requirements are entitled to take part in the selection process if applications exceed the number of available places.
Training Modules
Total duration: 300 hours
180 hours of classroom-based theory
120 hours of internship
1. General Aspects of Film Festival Design and Production
Festival organisation, programming and funding
Budgeting and administrative management
Strategies for sustainable and green events
Hospitality office management
Formats and film copies
2. Audience Development and Communication
Brand identity
Social media and community management
Strategic and creative marketing
Press strategy
Visual content creation
Audience development
Internship: 120 hours
At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Graduates may find employment opportunities, in various capacities, within companies and organisations involved in the planning and production of festivals and cultural events.
Professional area: Performing Arts and Cultural Production
Total duration: 300 hours (180 hours of theory + 120 hours of internship)
Approximately 20 hours per week are scheduled, consisting of:
Four in-person morning sessions
One session potentially delivered remotely (online)
The classroom phase will take place from February to April.
The internship will run from April to June, within the programming and production activities of the 22nd edition of Biografilm Festival (5–15 June 2026).
Applications must be submitted by 12:00 PM on 26 January 2026 to the following email address: cristina.piccinini@formodena.it
Required documents:
Completed pre-registration form (downloadable from the link)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Valid ID document
For further information, please visit the ForModena website.
BIOGRAFILM ACADEMY 2025 - INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR THE ORGANISATION, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING OF A FILM FESTIVAL
Operation Ref. PA 2024-23172/RER approved by DGR 2318/2024 of 23/12/2024 and co-financed with European Funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region ESF+ 2021/2027. Operation approved and awaiting funding.
Biografilm and ForModena present the third edition of the free advanced training course ‘BIOGRAFILM ACADEMY - Innovative strategies for the organisation, audience development and financing of a film festival’, a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the world of planning and management of film events.
The course, lasting a total of 300 hours, combines 180 hours of lessons in Bologna and 120 hours of internship during the 21st edition of Biografilm
Application deadline extended to 7 February 2025
Estimated starting date of the course: 3 March 2025
The steps for selection are as follows: the written test on 13 February (correction scheduled for the same day) and oral interviews on 17 February. At the end of the selection process, a final ranking will be drawn up and each candidate will be notified of the outcome. In order to formalise enrolment, successful candidates must send confirmation of participation.
The course is realised in collaboration with I WONDER SRL, TCB SRL, KW SRL, Fanatic About Festivals,Black Mamba SRL, Montegrappa Cinema SRL and Casa delle Donne per Non Subire Violenza APS.
Biografilm Academy 2025 teachers:
Cristina Piccinini, Training Coordinator ForModena - Introduction to the course and training pact
Simone Soranna, TV author, journalist, film critic and lecturer - Lecture: Disseminating cinema: Audience Engagement
Biagio Sorrentino, Biografilm Accreditation and Audience Development Office - Lesson: Accreditation Strategies for Festivals
Caterina Mazzucato, Bio To B | Industry Days audiovisual market co-ordinator and Biografilm Programmer- Lesson: Events dedicated to professionals: Festival markets
Morena Brunetti, Biografilm Hospitality Office Coordinator - Lesson: Hospitality office management, institutional and guest relations
Emanuela Ceddia, Vice President and Marketing Director I Wonder Pictures - Lesson: Strategic and Creative Marketing
Benedetta Caponi, Commercial Director I Wonder Pictures - Lesson: The commercial management of a distribution company
Marco Pisciotta, Head of Editions I Wonder Pictures - Lesson: Projection formats and copy processing
Simone Soranna, TV author, journalist, film critic and teacher - Lecture: Divulgating cinema: Audience Engagement
Dario Bonazelli, Theatrical Sales and Festival Manager I Wonder Pictures - Lesson: How to promote films through Festivals
Riccardo Volpe, Executive Director and Environmental Sustainability Manager Biografilm - Lesson: Budgeting and administrative management and reporting public and private bodies
Barbara Gagliardelli, I Wonder Pictures Group Administration - Lecture: The administrative side of the film sector; administrative-accounting aspects
Alessandra Sisti, Project Manager I Wonder Pictures and Human Resources Manager Biografilm - Lesson: Introduction to personnel management
Margherita Apone, Cultural Planner and Operator anti-violence centre Casa delle Donne Bologna; Silvia Saccoccia, Operator promotion, communication and fundraising sector Casa delle Donne Bologna - Lesson: Awareness raising 2.0: forms of cultural entertainment
Federico Ferrari, Artistic Director Ennesimo Film Festival and teacher Ennesimo Academy - Lesson: Emilia Romagna on site. The Ennesimo case study
Daniela Marreu, Archilabò Designer and Project Manager - Lesson: CulturalMente: Applying to calls for proposals to promote culture
Martina Tormena, Cultural Planner Zalab; Lucia Pornaro, Cultural Planner and Audiovisual Sector Zalab - Lesson: Relationship with the territory and participatory planning; Lesson: Project Management and funding opportunities
Paola Brembilla, Unibo Associate Professor CITEM Coordinator - Lecture: Participatory cultures: communities as cross-industry synergies in the media and entertainment sector
Federico Borreani, Audience Development Analysis and Strategy BAM Cultural Strategies - Lesson: Audience Development Strategies and Tools
Milo Sarrini, Audience Analysis and Study BAM Cultural Strategies - Lesson: Data Management for Consumption: Audience Analysis
Cristina Piccinini, ForModena Training Coordinator - Introduction to the training course
Elisa Palagi, Head of Editorial Content and Press Biografilm - Lesson: Press strategies: editorial content and management
Camilla Medori, Graphics and Communication Coordinator Biografilm - Lesson: Coordinating the communication of a festival: strategies, tools and best practices
Giada Sartori, Social Media Manager Biografilm - Lesson: Social Media and Community Management
Francesca Rossini, Press Office Bologna and Emilia-Romagna for Biografilm - Lesson: Press strategy: editorial contents and press office management
Chiara Boschiero, Educational Projects Coordinator and Biografilm Programmer - Lesson: Biografilm Campus: educational projects that extend the Festival
STUDIO ROOF - Lesson: The communication strategy of a festival: building a brand
Elisa Palagi, Head of Editorial and Press Contents Biografilm - Lesson: Managing contents for catalogue
STUDIO ROOF - Lesson: The communication strategy of a festival: building a brand
Chiara Boschiero, Educational Projects Coordinator and Programmer Biografilm - Masterclass
Francesco Fantoni, Vice-President Pop Up Cinema and Acquisitions Coordinator I Wonder Pictures - Lesson: The programming of a cinema hall
Giada Sartori, Social Media Manager Biografilm - Lesson: Social Media and Community Management - LAB
Enzo Setteducati, Artistic Director of Pop Up Cinema - Lesson: Loyalty tools
Apply now!
BIOGRAFILM ACADEMY 2024 - INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND BRAND IDENTITY OF A FILM FESTIVAL
Download here the Biografilm Academy 2024 calendar
The course, Operation RIF PA 2023-20280/RER, is approved by DGR 2195/2023 of 18/12/2023, co-funded with European Funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region ESF+ 2021/2027 and in 2024 reaches its second edition.
180 hours of teaching with industry professionals, with case studies and practical workshops.
120 hours of internship between May and June during the 20th edition of Biografilm Festival (7-17 June 2024).
Partner companies: I Wonder Pictures, Pop Up Cinema (Black Mamba SRL and Montegrappa Cinema SRL), KW SRL, TCB SRL.
Also collaborating in the realisation of lectures and testimonies are: BAM! Strategie culturali, Archilabò, Zalab, Laboratorio delle parole, Arpae Emilia-Romagna and Studio Roof.
Planned start of lessons: 19 February 2024.
Classes will take place from February to May 2024 (the calendar will be published here by 31 January), Monday to Friday, in Bologna at the Lydia Borrelli Library in Via Saragozza 236.
Apply by 31 January 2024 by sending ForModena:
Contacts for info and application: Cristina Piccinini (cristina.piccinini@formodena.it) and Elisa Stefani (elisa.stefani@formodena.it).
The selections for access to the Course will take place:
Tuesday 06/02/2024 (written test)
Thursday 08/02/2024 and Friday 09/02/2024 (oral test)
The figure to be trained is a professional who knows how to move transversally in the production processes of realising a live event such as a film festival, but who at the same time develops specific skills and knows how to approach the transformations that are affecting live events and film festivals in the field of both digital innovation and design, with a transversal focus on environmental sustainability.
In particular, it aims to increase the knowledge and develop the skills of the learners by focusing on two areas:
1) Audience development - the study, creation and targeting of one's own audience through participatory planning with the territory, data collection and analysis, loyalty strategies and diversified accreditation.
2) Communication - the communication plan of a festival, the study and realisation of graphic and video materials able to build the festival's brand identity and reach different audiences, the work of the press office, social media management strategies and the strategic use of digital innovations.
The programme is divided into the following training modules for a total of 300 hours, of which 180 hours of theory and 120 hours of internship.
1. GENERAL ASPECTS OF PLANNING AND REALISING A FILM FESTIVAL
2. PROCESSES FOR THE REALISATION OF A FESTIVAL: COMMUNICATION AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Teachers of the Biografilm Academy 2024:
Fabio Abagnato, responsible for Emilia-Romagna Film Commission; Federico Borreani, project manager at BAM! Cultural Strategies; Chiara Boschiero, head of educational projects and senior programmer of Biografilm; Paola Brembilla, professor of Television and Digital Media Unibo; Benedetta Caponi, commercial office manager of IWonder Pictures; Emanuela Ceddia, marketing director of I Wonder Pictures; Luca Cioci, specialist in Ai & Marketing; Marco Cucco, professor of Cultural Economics at Unibo; Alessandro Di Pasquale, programming office coordinator of Biografilm; Daniela Dubla, founder & CEO of Inner. ME; Francesco Fantoni, vice-president Pop Up Cinema; Federico Ferrari, artistic director of Ennesimo Film Festival; Monica Ghisleri, accreditation and hospitality manager of Biografilm; Chiara Liberti, artistic co-director of Biografilm; Paolo Martinelli, professor, semiologist and president Archilabò; Caterina Mazzucato, coordinator of Bio to B Industry Days and senior programmer of Biografilm Italia; Gustavo Marfia, professor of Data Management for Consumption at Unibo; Massimo Mezzetti, general director of Biografilm Festival; Elisa Palagi, Biografilm editorial content manager; Guglielmo Pescatore, professor of Data Analysis for Media at Unibo; Marco Pisciotta, I Wonder Pictures editions manager; Lucia Pornaro, cultural and audiovisual sector planner for ZaLab; Susanna Ricci, head of Quality Service Ecomanagement Training at ARPAE; Andrea Romeo, distributor and producer, CEO of I Wonder Pictures and Pop Up Cinema, founder of Biografilm; Emiliano Rossi, researcher in Media Economics and Marketing Unibo; Francesca Rossini, press office Laboratorio delle Parole; Milo Sarrini, project manager at BAM! Cultural Strategies; Giada Sartori, social media & community manager for Biografilm; Enzo Setteducati, artistic director of Pop Up Cinema Bologna; Massimo Sterpi, director of Pop Up Cinema Bologna; Alessandra Sisti, project manager at IWonder Pictures; Adriano Sforzi, director and screenwriter; Helga Tenaglia, prevention technician in the environment and workplaces at ARPAE; Martina Tormena, cultural and social project manager for ZaLab; Riccardo Volpe, production director of Biografilm.
