What is “real” in today’s media landscape? How can cinema make sense of it? REAL – Reality Exploration Academy of Locarno - is a ten-day program that brings together cutting-edge audiovisual research and creative practices to explore how reality is represented, questioned, and reimagined on screen. At the crossroads of theory and industry, it offers a unique space for dialogue between scholars and filmmakers, inviting participants to reflect critically on the power and responsibility of filming the real.
REAL builds on the legacy of the successful Documentary Summer School after 25 editions with a new reimagined format for the 26th, designed to challenge perspectives and propose new ways to navigate the evolving landscape of non-fiction media. REAL is more than just a summer school, it’s a meeting point between theory and industry, where academic insight and film culture collide to explore the future of nonfiction storytelling.
From acclaimed scholars like John Caldwell and Brian Winston, to visionary documentary filmmakers such as Wang Bing, Sylvain George, and Andrea Segre, REAL has welcomed some of the most influential voices shaping contemporary non-fiction cinema.
REAL– Reality Exploration Academy of Locarno is where critical thinking meets cinematic imagination. Held during the Locarno Film Festival and hosted by the Institute of Media and Journalism at the Università della Svizzera italiana, REAL provides a transformative educational experience that dives deep into core questions: What is the “real” today? How do we engage with it ethically, creatively, critically?
This is the only program at the Locarno Film Festival awarding ECTS credits (up to 6), making it a unique opportunity for Bachelor, Master, and PhD students, as well as emerging filmmakers who want to deepen their theoretical reflection on the real. REAL embraces an innovative approach that incorporates video essays as practice-based research, utilizing Locarno Film Festival as a laboratory environment for both study and creation.
REAL is not just a course. It’s a journey of discovery that opens doors to new insights and forms lifelong bonds among the next generation of talents. It’s a conversation, a community, and a launchpad for reimagining and questioning how we engage with reality through cinema.
If you’re curious, critical, and ready to challenge the way we see the world through film—then REAL is the right place for you.
REAL is calling for:
10 unforgettable days of ideas, images, and inspiration at one of the world’s most iconic film festivals.
Participation fee: CHF 750 covering your stay, festival accreditation, lectures, screenings, and more. You just cover your travel and meals (except breakfast).
