The next program will run from September 8, 2025 - May 31, 2026
RIFS offers a high standard of education in all aspects: education and mentoring, equipment, facilities, services and available cast for student films and exercises. The program, taught by experienced and working professionals, provides students hands-on, intensive training to provide all that’s needed to pursue careers in the field, while also allowing each student to make original, festival-worthy films during his or her time at RIFS, at the highest professional level, creatively and technically.
The First Term: In the first part of the term, students receive 9 weeks of classes, 3 hours a week in each of the following subjects: Directing, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Editing, Acting for Directors, and Short Film Studies. Additionally, there are seminars in Sound Recording, Sound Design, and Production Design. During these weeks they are also developing and writing scripts for the first films.
The Second Term: In the first half of the second term students take advanced courses, three hours a week each, in Production, Screenwriting, Cinematography and Editing, as well as seminars in Advanced Sound Design, Web Series Development, Film Festivals, and Italian Film Studies. As the year progresses, students are trained in more and more sophisticated shooting equipment (camera, lighting and grip) and cinema techniques.
Students are mentored as they develop and write scripts for their diploma films, and the second part of the term is dedicated to the pre-production, shooting and post-production of those diploma films. Once again, students each make their own film and work on films of fellow students. The term ends with a faculty review, a public screening/award ceremony, and the diploma ceremony.
This intensive, professional film-making program, offering hands-on experience and valuable training in the many disciplines that go into the art, business and craft of film-making, gives students advanced skills and a portfolio of work to be proud of, enabling them to jump start their film-making careers.
The One-Year Program tuition fee for 2025/26 is €15,000 Euros.
At the moment we are sorry, but RIFS cannot offer other scholarships or financial aid at this time.
The program is limited to 16 students.
The Fall '25 ten-week program will run from Sept 8 - Nov 14, 2025.
The Spring '26 ten-week program will run from Jan. 12 - March 20, 2026.
This intensive course – run in English – teaches: screenwriting, direction, cinematography, sound, editing and production.
Screenwriting: the basics of the craft, and short film dramaturgy
Film direction: script analysis, directing actors, staging, and running a set
The art of composition: framing and how to use cinematography to tell your story
Technical cinematography: camera functions and operation, grip and lighting
Practical operations: the roles of PM and AD, and a production day on set
Sound recording techniques and operations
Pre-production keys – call sheets, casting, crewing, locations, prep overall
How to budget and schedule a project
The power of sound editing
Pitching film ideas for financial and other support
And students MAKE FILMS!!
The course offers hands-on, practical experience in making films in collaboration with others, and students end up with experience and credits on four short films.
The program runs for ten weeks, with classes for the first 6 weeks; the next two weeks are full time – on location – dedicated to shooting – and the final two weeks at RIFS, full time, editing the four films selected.
The program is limited to 8 students maximum – each student will receive training in classes in all of these disciplines, and have a chance to propose and write a script for a film to make. The faculty will select the four best scripts and all students will work on these four in the final four weeks.
Everyone will rotate in responsible jobs on the films. The roles on the films include:
Director -- Assistant Director -- Production Manager -- DP/Operator -- Gaffer/Grip -- Sound Recordist-- Continuity/Script Supervisor
Winning scripts can (but need not) be directed by the writers of the selected scripts.
Pitches will be made by students in week 6, which will determine roles on the films.
The tuition fees for the 10 week Evening Program is €3,400 Euros.
Each program is limited to 12 students.
The 2025 summer program has begun - The next summer program will be in June 2026
This program is an intensive, exciting, creative experience and students are trained, guided and inspired to complete a film in a remarkably short amount of time.
The first two weeks students receive daily classes in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound and production, and are mentored and advised as they develop and write scripts for the short films they make, as well as sharing ideas and giving feedback to one another. Over the next ten days students each direct a short film, working together for one another as crew, and the final ten days are for editing and completion; the program ends with a screening and faculty reviews.
Training and mentoring is given by top RIFS faculty, all of whom have years of experience as film instructors and are active, award-winning filmmakers in the international industry.
The tuition fees for the 2026 5-week summer film-making course is €3,250 Euros.
This program is limited to 12 students.
Students may sign up for either of the two semesters of the one-year program, joining the one-year students in classes and on productions.
FALL SEMESTER – Next program September 8, 2025 – December 19, 2025
The Fall semester program is open to beginners in filmmaking as well as students with some experience.
The term offers 9 weeks of classes, full time: 27 hours of classes in each of the following subjects: Fundamentals of Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Acting, and Visualization, as well as 6 hours of classes in Sound Recording. Additional seminars and screenings take place throughout the term as well. Two shooting exercises are scheduled in the first three weeks over the weekends. In weeks 10 through 12, students each direct and produce a film they have written, and work on fellow students’ films in different capacities. Finally, students work in the last 3 weeks editing and completing their films.
SPRING SEMESTER – January 5, 2026 – May 31, 2026
The Spring semester is open only to students with demonstrable previous experience in filmmaking.
The term offers 9 weeks of classes, full time: 27 hours of classes in each of the following subjects: Advanced Screenwriting, Advanced Directing, Advanced Cinematography, Advanced Editing, Acting, and Producing, as well as seminars in Writing for TV series, screenings of classic Italian films, and a Film Festival info seminar. April is dedicated to the shooting of films, and each student writes, directs and produces his or her own film and works on fellow students’ films. May is dedicated to editing and completion.
The fee for either One-Semester program is €7,500 Euros.
MASTER CLASSES
RIFS continues to offer masterclasses in specific disciplines, taught by professionals in the field: Screenwriting, Directing, Production, Acting, and Cinematography. Each of these is unique, and are scheduled throughout the year. Please inquire for details of timing and fees.
Some of the masterclasses we have previously put on include: - Writer/Director Tom DiCillo joined RIFS students online for an extensive, fun and enlightening talk.- Writer/Director Jerome Enrico, who is also head of ESEC Film School in Paris, joined RIFS students online to discuss the making of his hugely successful comedy “Paulette”. - Producer/Distributor and cinema giant Larry Jackson (here also seen with Orson Welles) joined us via Zoom to talk about his remarkable experiences in Hollywood and independent cinema. Additionally, acting maestro Michael Margotta and Hollywood veteran Nick Mancuso have offered acting workshops and masterclasses.
ONLINE COURSES
During the Covid Pandemic RIFS began offering online courses in certain subjects that don’t require physical presence at the school.
Periodically, we will continue to offer some online courses in the following disciplines:
* The craft of Screenwriting
* Screen Story Development
" Adapting Literature the Screen
* Script Analysis for Directors
“ Directing Actors
“ Theories of Cinematography
Tuition fees vary depending on the course and duration.
Please check our website periodically for current offerings and write us at info@romefilmschool.com for more information about which courses may be offered.
Taught by esteemed professionals, this bilingual, Italian/English, acting class will run morning and afternoon - from 10am to 1pm & 2pm to 5pm each Friday for eight weeks from September 19 through November 7.
Training will include techniques used in acting specifically for film and TV, as well as the acting approaches of the “Strasberg method’, “Meisner technique”, and other methods, as well as useful training for creating successful self-tapes and for auditioning. Practical, professional and intensive, this program is rewarding and valuable for whoever is serious about developing their acting skills.
The maximum number of students accepted is 16.
The tuition fee is €2,000 (8 Fridays/16 classes).
Don't miss your chance, apply now!
Enrollment requires a deposit of 50%, € 1.000. The balance will be due by August 15, 2025
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Instructors/ Insegnanti:
Manuela Parodi
Carl Haber
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Condotto da pluripremiati ed esperti professionisti, questo corso direcitazione bilingue, italiano/inglese, si terrà al mattino e al pomeriggio (2 lezioni da 3 ore), dalle 10:00 alle 13:00 e dalle 14:00 alle 17:00, ogni venerdì per otto settimane, dal 19 settembre 2025 al 7 novembre 2025.
La formazione include tecniche di recitazione specifiche per il cinemae la televisione (fiction), nonché gli approcci recitativi del "metodo Strasberg", della "tecnica Meisner" e di altri metodi, oltre a una formazione utile per la creazione di self-tape di successo e per la preparazione ai casting. Pratico, professionale e intensivo, questo programma è gratificante e prezioso per chiunque voglia seriamente sviluppare le proprie capacità recitative.
Il numero massimo di studenti ammessi è 16.
La quota di iscrizione è di € 2.000 (8 giorni/16 lezioni).
Non perderel’occasione, prenota ora il tuo posto!
L'iscrizione richiede un acconto del 50%,pari a € 1.000. Il saldo dovrà essere versato entro il 15 agosto 2025.
SECOND YEAR PROGRAM
Mini-series production
Students get advanced training in specific disciplines, and together produce a 4-episode original limited mini-series
8 students will be selected
· 4 Directors
· 2 Directors of Photography
· 1 Production Designer
· 1 Line Producer
Each Director will be responsible for directing one of the 52 minute episodes, and each DP will serve as DP on two of the episodes.
The Line Producer and Production Designer will hold these positions for all four episodes.
When not directing, Directors will serve as 1st AD, PM, or Script supervisor on the other three episodes, When not in the DP role, DPs will serve as AC or Key Gaffer/Grip.
All students may participate in thewriter’s room/development of the story and screenplay, and in the postproduction/marketing phase.
RIFS will consider EU and international students, and make the selection of applicants based on their previous training and experience. Excellent command of English is critical and some knowledge ofItalian a plus.
Interested students should apply via email to info@romefilmschool.org, and include links to previous work, together with a CV and letter telling us about themselves (age, origins, education, work history if any), and what they hope to do in the future, and which position they wish to apply for.
TUITION FEE STRUCTURE
The tuition fee for each student will be 12,000 Euros.
A fraction of these tuition fees will be used to cover faculty salaries for the training and consultations offered, with the majority going toward the series’ production costs. Additional funding for the series will be raised by RIFS and its affiliated production company, and RIFS will also contribute equipment and facilities to defray production costs.
Student tuition fees therefore will be considered part of the investment into the series’ production costs, and can be recouped on a percentage basis, together with other investments and possible deferments, derived from eventual sales and commercial exploitation of the project.
If after recouping the total negativecost of the film there are additional moneys earned from sales and licensing ofthe film, and the production goes into profit, students will also be entitled to a percentual share of those profits, in line with standard distributionpractices.
The PROGRAM TIMELINE:
September 8– November 7, 2025
Classes / tutoring - Mondays through Thursdays in the mornings for 9 weeks:
Mondays: Advanced Direction
Tuesdays: Advanced Cinematography
Wednesdays: Production Practices
Thursdays: Production Design
In the afternoons, Monday through Thursday during this period, the group meets for the writers’ room – in the first week, ideas will be discussed, and the theme and subject will be selected. In subsequent weeks the synopsis, treatment and screenplay drafts will be developed.
Not all students are obliged toparticipate in this process, but all are welcome to do so.
The project selection and the scriptdevelopment will be supervised by faculty, based on:
- Thematic interest
- Originality
- Do-ability
- Character development
- Commercial possibilities
- Budgetary and time constraints
- Brilliance!
November 7– December 20
While the episodes’ script polishing is finalized by the writers, together with faculty input, casting and pre-production will begin, as well as finalized budgeting and the beginning of efforts to generate additional financing. Besides the tuition fees of students, RIFS will raise additional funding for the project from:
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Regional funding where available
- Tax credits
- European financial support where pertinent
- Service provider and crew deferments
In this period, we will also be crewing up; bringing on board other crew members to flesh out the needed crew, including:
- Art department staff
- Sound recorders and designers
- Additional Gaffers and Grips
- Makeup artists
- Wardrobe team
- Foley and other sound team
- PAs
- Accountant
January 8 – Jan 23, 2026
Pre-production, finalizing crewing and casting, scheduling, and preparing for the shoot.
Jan 24 – February 28
The production/shooting of the series.
March to end of May
The series episodes will go into post-production with completion set for the end of May. In this time, we will be editing picture and sound, culminating in the mix and final test screenings for eventual distribution.
In this period we will also be working on marketing and beginning the process of efforts to sell the series (both domestic/Italian outlets as well as global streamers) and see the series entered into relevant international festivals.
In this way all students will be involved in the post stages and marketing.
Summary
This is a unique opportunity for recent film school grads to jump start their career, while continuing to learn by doing, and work on the development, production, post production and marketing of a professional, commercial limited TV mini-series, gaining professional credits and important practical and creative experience. At the same time, if, as we aim to achieve, we produce a series that finds a market, it offers a possibility to recoup some part or even all of the tuition fees spent. Although there is never a guarantee of this, even with genuinely quality work, it is in everyone’s interest to produce a series that finds an audience, both for economic, artistic and professional satisfaction.
