Video Course: Filmmaking with Children's Film Festival and UNICEF
6–14 yrs · free · 20 October 2026 · onlineFree video course "How to Make a Film" for children and teenagers from Children's Film Festival and UNICEF. A series of 9 masterclasses covering filmmaking basics: screenwriting, directing, animation, acting, cinematography, sound, and editing. You only need a smartphone to complete the tasks. Participants will be able to create their own short films.
- Age
- 6–14 yrs
- Cost
- Free
- Applications
- Applications closed
- Results
- 20 November 2026
- Format
- Online
- Where
- Online
- Organiser
- Children Kinofest and UNICEF Ukraine
About the Course
This video course is part of the "In Frame: Through a Child's Lens" programme, which Children's Film Festival and UNICEF are implementing with support from the State Film Agency of Ukraine.
Course Structure
A series of nine planned video lessons. The first two lessons have already been published on the YouTube channels of Children's Film Festival and UNICEF.
First lesson: film curator and author of "Your Book About Film" Olha Birzul explains film types and genres, and the main professions in filmmaking.
Second lesson: screenwriter Maryna Stepanska talks about how to write a screenplay.
The next seven masterclasses: directing (director of "Guardians of Akkerman" Yuriy Kovalyov), animation (animator Stepan Koval), acting (actress Dasha Plakhtiy), cinematography (cinematographer Yaroslav Pilunsky), sound design (sound engineer Serhiy Stepanskiy), editing (film editor Mykola Bazarkin).
Requirements and Conditions
To complete practical tasks, no special equipment is needed – participants can use a smartphone and available materials.
Parallel Programme
As part of the programme, short films from children aged 6 to 14 are being accepted. In their work, participants can tell stories about children's rights, their own home, friends, dreams, school life, or changes they would like to see around them. Completing the video course is not a requirement to participate.
Results and Prizes
Selected works will be shown on UNICEF's information platforms on 20 November – the 37th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The filmmakers will receive certificates from Children's Film Festival and UNICEF, and their works will also be included in the applications for the Children's Film Festival 2027 competition programme.