Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXIII

2 5 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Tom Sainsbury, Director of Admissions and Marketing at MFS, explained to Simply Abu Dhabi what students can expect from the range of courses available. “Met Film’s goal is to inspire a new generation of fantastic screen creative professionals, and for the last 14 years we’ve been doing just that. Whilst universities tend to bridge research and education in the hope of remaining current, at Met Film we do things differently. Instead, we bridge education and industry, bringing them together in inspirational environments driven by screen production, great coaching, and fabulous role models.” In 2012 the MFS expanded and opened a new school in Berlin, smartly located in the hip neighbourhood of Neukolln/Kreuzberg. Much like the MFS in the UK, the Berlin branch is based at an active film studio – BUFA. This famous studio has been home to film productions since the Weimar Republic and is one of the oldest film studios in Europe. The facilities here include greenscreen, a live TV studio set up, a standing set used for TV production and a large stage for commercial use. The studio is also home to in-house production companies, a camera and lighting rental house, a prop house, a set building company and post-production facilities. This close proximity to the industry offers MFS students an obvious in-road into the professional world of filmmaking. “Students learn about all the fundamentals of screen content production from film to TV,” Sainsbury says. “The school started just three years ago and has grown strongly, launching a new MA in Documentary Filmmaking this year, as well as a number of courses in specialisms such as editing and web series production. And thanks to a recent exciting partnership with YouTube Spaces, our students in Berlin now benefit from access to state-of-the-art training spaces including a fully equipped 1,500-square-foot studio. The partnership with YouTube is another step for Met Film that brings education and the screen industries together. YouTube creators learn from the production and technical expertise of Met Film students, and students get valuable insights in the rapidly growing online content community.” The facilities at both sites are exceptional and students can expect to work with state-of-the-art equipment, computers and stages. Core to the success of the institution, though, is undoubtedly the tutors and naturally they are all at the top of their game. As Sainsbury explains, “Met Film School’s tutors are all working screen professionals – TV and film directors, producers, screenwriters, editors, animators and other industry specialists with numerous awards, including BAFTA, Emmy and Oscar nominations. They are graduates from well-known and respected institutions with postgraduate teaching qualifications and Higher Education Academy membership. Our friendly and professional team of tutors will help you develop all the practical skills you need to succeed in your chosen career path and to become a smart screen creative.” Tried and tested, the Met Film School is a reliable step into the world of filmmaking. As Sainsbury concludes, “If your ambition is to succeed in the wonderful world of film, television and online media, and you’re looking to work with passionate and creative people at the forefront of the industry, Met Film is the right place for you.”