1st International Taygetos Film Camp

Filmmakers and film enthusiasts from across Europe have the opportunity to participate in a pioneering documentary-making workshop that focuses on the natural environment.

The 1st International Taygetos Film Camp is organised by the Creative Documentary Centre, organiser of the Peloponnese International Documentary Festival, and is hosted on the magnificent Taygetos, a place of unparalleled natural beauty and rich history.

The 10-day programme is designed for students and professionals in the field, as well as graduates in natural, human, and environmental sciences (e.g., archaeology, visual anthropology, cultural management), to develop skills in filmmaking. Through these, scientists will be able to use cinema as a means of communication with a broader audience, which they would not reach through conventional scientific communication, to encourage networking and the exchange of knowledge and experiences through working in multicultural teams. Working in small groups, participants will create 4 to 6 short documentaries under the guidance of the program’s lecturers.

The camp offers an intensive seminar programme, designed to inspire and educate participants in the latest trends and techniques in documentary filmmaking. The seminars cover a wide range of topics, from idea development and scriptwriting to directing, photography, editing and production.

The camp’s educational programme is led by Dr. Iakovos Panagopoulos, Assistant Professor of the Department of Audiovisual Arts at the Ionian University, specialising in “Film Production with a Specialisation in the Creation of Audiovisual Narratives”.

The instructors include internationally recognised film professionals and academics:

Erik Knudsen, Professor of Media Methodology at the University of Central Lancashire.

Luke Blazejewski, photographer and cinematographer with significant experience in film productions. His clients include the BBC, ITV, the NHS, the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts (a federation of 46 local organisations in the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney, which focus on the protection of wildlife and biodiversity).
In addition, the camp includes specialised masterclasses by renowned professionals in the field who guarantee a high-level educational program, such as:

Chronis Theocharis (Editing)

Apostolos Loufopoulos (Sound Design) and

Dimitris Bavellas, director with international distinctions

During the workshop, students will stay in local accommodations and have the opportunity to visit places of interest in Messenia and Laconia, gaining insight into the local culture and interacting with the local community. At the same time, multicultural programs, screenings, excursions and concerts will be organised in the area.

For the implementation of the programme, the Centre has secured cooperation with various local bodies, including the local cultural associations of the region (Artemisia, Alagonia, Lada, Piga), as well as the groups Pame Volta and Messinia Travellers.

The goal of the organisation is not only artistic creation, but also the promotion of the natural beauty of Taygetos, as well as the promotion of the region as an attractive destination for alternative tourism, aiming to create a meeting place and foster coexistence among film academy students from around the world. The presence of participants from various parts of Europe will contribute to strengthening the local economy and promoting the region to an international audience.