CINEMATOGRAPHY PROGRAM 2026–2027 — ENROLLMENT OPEN
Professional cinematography training and hands-on filmmaking practice.
Program starts: October 16, 2026
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The ROZMAII Cinematography Program is a structured professional training program designed to develop visual thinking and provide practical tools for creating cinematic images.The program combines work with camera, lenses, composition, lighting, colour, and movement, teaching students how to translate a director’s vision into the visual language of a film. An important part of the program is understanding the dramaturgy of the frame, collaborating with the director and creative team, and gaining continuous practical experience on set. Throughout the program, students not only develop technical skills but also learn to create images consciously — images that serve the story, atmosphere, and emotion of a film.
A cinematographer is not simply the person behind the camera, but a co-author of the film’s visual language. That is why technical training in the program is always combined with the development of artistic vision.
CURRICULUM
The curriculum consists of two parallel areas of study: practical cinematography training twice a week and the shared Anatomy of Art course once a week.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Twice a week
Professional practical training for cinematographers — from the fundamentals of image-making, camera work, and lighting to developing an original visual concept and working on a short film.
Visual Language of CinemaHow images tell a story. Framing, composition, shot size, angle, perspective, space, point of view, movement, colour, and light as dramatic tools.
Camera, Lenses and ExposureThe structure and capabilities of a cinema camera, exposure, shutter speed, ISO, aperture, focus, focal length, lens selection, and how different lenses affect the image.
LightingNatural and artificial light, its direction, quality, contrast, and colour.Building lighting setups, working with light sources and modifiers, and creating the atmosphere of a scene.
Camera MovementStatic and moving shots, pans, handheld camera, tripod work, stabilisation, and other approaches to camera movement. Students learn to choose movement consciously according to the dramatic needs of the scene.
Working with a DirectorDeveloping a shared visual language, working with the director’s vision, references, storyboards, scene planning, and preparing cinematographic solutions before filming.
ANATOMY OF ART
Once a week
Shared classes with students from the acting, directing, screenwriting, and producing programs, focused on the history, psychology, and cultural context of art.
Film, theatre, literature, music, visual art, and other artistic disciplines are explored not only historically, but through the analysis of works, artistic movements, ideas, and processes that shape art.
The aim of the course is to broaden cultural awareness, develop the ability to recognise connections between different art forms, analyse works and artistic phenomena, formulate independent opinions, and develop artistic taste.
Studying together with students from different disciplines also creates a space for discussion, exchange of perspectives, and the development of a shared professional language between actors, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and producers.
Two people look down. One sees a puddle, the other sees the stars. Each sees what they are able to see.
Oleksandr Dovzhenko
LEARNING THROUGH PRACTICE
The Cinematography Program works in close collaboration with the other ROZMAII film programs. Students work together with directors, actors, screenwriters, and producers and go through the real filmmaking process — from preparation and developing a visual concept to working on set. Throughout the program, cinematography students complete individual and team assignments, shoot scenes and short films, take part in pre-production, and work in different roles within the camera department. This allows students to understand how the department works from the inside, learn to collaborate with the team, and build confidence on set. The footage produced during the program is reviewed and analysed together so that every new shoot becomes another stage of professional development. Preparation for filming, collaboration with directors, team assignments, and filming itself take place alongside regular classes. The final project of the program is the cinematography of a graduation short film.
PROGRAM FORMAT
The Cinematography Program runs from October 16, 2026 to July 30, 2027.
Classes: 3 times a week
Class duration: 3 hours
The program combines practical and theoretical training.Twice a week, students attend practical cinematography classes, and once a week they take part in the shared Anatomy of Art course.Throughout the year, the program will also include workshops and meetings with film industry professionals.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Developed visual thinking
Confident work with camera and lenses
Practical skills in lighting and colour
Experience collaborating with directors and film crews
Participation in the creation of short films
Original cinematography work for a professional showreel
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
How does admission to the program work?
Admission to the Cinematography Program is based on an interview. After you submit an application, we will contact you to get to know you and discuss your creative interests, motivation, and expectations from the program.
How are the classes structured?
Theory is continuously combined with practice. Students work with cameras, lenses, and lighting, complete cinematography exercises, analyse films and their own footage, develop visual concepts for scenes, and shoot their own work.
What is “Anatomy of Art”?
Anatomy of Art is a shared course for students from all ROZMAII film programs, dedicated to the history and psychology of culture and art. During the course, we analyse film, theatre, literature, and other artistic phenomena, learn to understand context, explore how and why works of art are created, and develop our own artistic taste.
Do I need to work outside regular classes?
Yes.Preparing for shoots, working with directors, searching for references and visual solutions, testing equipment, and filming itself may take place outside the regular class schedule.
Do I need to own a camera?
No. For the main practical classes, students work with the equipment provided by the program. Having your own camera may be useful for additional independent practice, but it is not a requirement for admission.
What will I gain after completing the program?
You will gain a structured foundation in cinematography, practical experience working with camera, lenses, lighting, and colour, an understanding of the visual language of cinema, and experience collaborating with directors and film crews. Throughout the program, you will take part in the creation of short films and develop original cinematography work for your professional showreel. You will also become part of a creative community of like-minded people. ROZMAII is a place where actors, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and producers meet, work together, create their own projects, and continue making art together after completing the program.
How long does the program last?
The program lasts 9 months, from October 16, 2026 to July 30, 2027.
Classes take place three times a week, with each class lasting 3 hours.