Program Overview

Filmmaking for Scientists

Course Information

The Filmmaking for Scientists course is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Friday, March 27, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Registration opens on January 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM, and the deadline for registration is February 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The course is free of charge and is exclusively available to doctoral candidates and postdocs of the University of Basel, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 participants.

Trainer

The course will be led by Dr. Samer Angelone, a filmmaker and scientist who is the founder of the Global Science Film Festival and has directed several fiction and documentary films. Dr. Angelone holds two PhDs in Film Studies and Biology and teaches filmmaking and science communication at various universities and research institutes.

Credits

Participants can earn credits towards Higher Education Teaching Certificates, specifically Module Context Higher Education.

Organized by

The course is organized by the Graduate Center, Transferable Skills, and GRACE.

Aims

The primary objective of the course is to equip participants with the skills to prepare their own films, including script and storyboard development, camera and lighting techniques, and editing.

Content

The course focuses on the technical skills required for filming and editing, as well as developing a strong narrative. Participants will learn about camera and audio equipment, lighting, and film editing software. The course will also cover the basics of making a documentary, including writing, designing, and carrying out a film project.

Methods

The course will consist of two main components:

• Theory and practice: Participants will learn about camera and lighting techniques, screenwriting, and storyboard development, as well as film editing using CapCut and Premiere Pro CC.
• Projects: Participants will work in small groups to film short documentary films or interviews.

Target Group

The course is designed for all doctoral candidates and postdocs.

About the Trainer

Dr. Samer Angelone is a filmmaker and scientist with extensive experience in teaching filmmaking and science communication. He has directed several fiction and documentary films and is the founder of the Global Science Film Festival.

Workload

The course requires:

• 1 hour of preparatory work (brainstorming and planning)
• 16 hours of attendance at the workshop
• 5 hours of work on assignments during the workshop

Feature

Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours, and course places will be allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24-hour period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location

The course will take place at the Universitätsbibliothek Basel, GRACE room 306 (3rd floor), Schönbeinstrasse 18-20, 4056 Basel.