Film School in a Week: One phone, one film

Discover the art of filmmaking using the device you carry every day: your mobile phone. Film School in a Week: One phone, one film is an immersive, hands-on introduction to the essential elements of filmmaking for complete beginners. Over the span of five days, participants will explore the timeless concepts that underpin all types of cinema, whether fiction, documentary, or even social media content, while creating a short film entirely on their mobile device.

Designed around accessibility and creativity, this course doesn’t focus on the technical optimisation of mobile cameras. Instead, it uses mobile filmmaking as a practical and intuitive entry point to core storytelling and production principles. Participants will learn how to move from concept to final cut using free editing tools, gaining practical experience in shooting, editing, and collaborative critique.

This course is ideal for beginners with an interest in filmmaking, content creation, or visual storytelling. No prior experience needed.

Through a mix of exercises and guided feedback students will film their own short movie in just one week—learning by doing.

1. Teach essential elements of filmmaking to beginners – using their own mobiles and free editing software
2. Introduce core concepts relevant to every type of filmmaking
3. Develop some practical shooting and editing skills
4. Get an insight into how films are made and what is most important when deciding to shoot a film

*This is not a course that teaches you how to get the most out of your phone. It uses the phone to teach you about timeless concepts at the heart of every type of film, whether fiction, documentary, or social media.

Lily Markiewicz is a freelance film editor and consultant. Her main work over the past 20 years has been in helping people turn their dreams and visions into interesting films and successful artworks. She specialises in film editing, but also consults on all other aspects of filmmaking and fine art.

“To me, helping people find the stories they really want to tell and turn them into enjoyable and interesting films is uniquely rewarding and deeply fulfilling. I am particularly interested in enabling people’s own capacity, teaching them both practical skills (e.g. use of software and technical aspects of filmmaking) alongside conceptual underpinnings and critical engagement, something I think of as visual literacy.”

She has been teaching film and video related subjects ever since her own postgraduate student days. She is also an award-winning and internationally exhibited/collected artist and editor.