Workshops
Daily instructor-led intensive sessions.
Blocking
The art of the movement, or lack of movement, of subject in relation to camera. Using clips and tips, and with short exercises, participants will examine the various approaches and artistry of blocking out a fictional scene
Doc & Hybrid Forms
Explore nonfiction practices that blur the boundaries between observation, performance, archive, and fiction, expanding documentary as a creative and critical way of making films.
Mise-en-scène
How do directors create their own style? How do past styles inspire new generations, from Ozu to Jarmsuch or Leone to Tarantino? To this end, we will look at how directors use light, color, wardrobe, hair & makeup, composition, art direction, aspect ratio, and acting styles to tell a story and reference pre-existing genres.
Rough Stuff: Raw Footage, and What No One Else Sees
Using actual films and footage, participants will look at the evolution, pitches, and prep of a project, through rough cuts, mistakes, surprises and happy accidents that no one else sees of a finished film. A great way to see what is actually shot and how it’s manipulated.
Previz
The art of imagining a project before it exists.
Getting it Made & Getting it Out
How to make your film. At all costs. [Can’t stop, won’t stop!] And what are some things you can do with it when you’re done.
Exercises & Activities
Individual creativity and group collaboration.
Exquisite Corpse Filmmaking
A 15 minute film, which will include a one minute segment directed and edited by each participant. This method, invented by the Surrealists, collectively assembles a group of short pieces of writing or images into a single work of art. Creating our own tradition, the film will be screened on the last evening of the retreat.
Pitching
Over the course of the retreat Neal and Mika will pitch past or future projects. Some participants might try their hand at a no-pressure group pitch as well!
Screening & Discussions
We'll watch a bunch of films. Our discussions will range from Q&As with the filmmakers themselves, to why we’ve found these films to be inspiring and exciting, to how they’re relevant to the workshops.
Daily Meditation Sessions
Using meditation to unlock creativity, connect to your unconscious, and improve your intuition.
Visiting Filmmakers
Award-winning filmmakers will bring their unique perspectives on creativity, production and festivals.
The visiting filmmakers are one of the most wonderful parts of Wandering Cinema!
Laura Carreira
Porto, Portugal - Edinburgh, Scotland
Laura Carreira is a Portuguese filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her first shortfilm Red Hill won the New Visions Award at the 73rd Edinburgh International Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Short Film award at the 2019 BAFTA Scotland Awards. Her short film The Shift premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2020 and was nominated for the European Film Awards and the London Critics' Circle Film Awards. In 2021 it won the New Talent Award at IndieLisboa. In 2022, Laura was named one of the Rising Stars Scotland by Screen International magazine.
Her debut feature film On Falling was produced by Sixteen Films and BRO Cinema - with the support of the BFI, BBC Films, Screen Scotland, ICA and Goodfellas. On Falling had its World premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2024 and its European premiere at the 72nd San Sebastián Film Festival where Laura won the Silver Shell for Best Director. The film also won the Sutherland Award at the 68th BFI London Film Festival. In 2025, On Falling won a BAFTA Scotland for Best Film and Laura won a BAFTA Scotland for Best Screenwriter.The film also received four nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (Best Debut Writer, Best Debut Director, Best Writer and Best Director). Laura was selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough UK and chosen as The List Number 1 Scottish Artist in the Hot 100 List of 2025. On Falling won the Discovery Award for Best European Debut at the European Film Awards 2026.
Kit Zauhar
New York City, USA
Kit’s first feature, that she wrote, directed, and starred in, Actual People, which premiered at Locarno Film Festival’s Cineasti del presente competition, and went on to play Jeonju Film Festival, Slamdance, BAMcinemaFest, and won the Aprile Award at Milano Film Festival as well as Best Screenplay at Indie Memphis. It was lauded as: “An auspicious start to a very promising career for someone who is likely to become an essential voice in contemporary cinema.”
Her second feature, This Closeness, premiered at SXSW and went on to play Champs-Elyseé Film Festival, Philadelphia Film Festival, and Cucalorus, and received a special jury mention for best ensemble cast at SIFF as well as as the Youth Jury Award at Cinemajove Film Festival. The New York Times said, “This Closeness wittily examines the ways we create and avoid closeness in modern life, both by choice, and, especially when we’re young, necessity…"
She is currently awaiting a festival premiere for her third feature, No Feeling Is Forever, a United States and Korean co-production, and in post-production for her fourth feature, You Made Me Feel.
