Film Lab

The Meervaart Studio Film Lab is not your average course: it's an intensive, several-month-long program in which young Amsterdam residents are guided and coached by industry professionals. Under the direction of filmmaker and coach Paulien van Hummel, you work step by step toward creating and releasing your own short film. The Lab provides space to experiment, create, and most importantly, to learn. Whether you already have some filmmaking experience or have just put your first ideas on paper – the Film Lab challenges you to think bigger, grow, and find your own voice. 

The Film Lab offers guidance in every aspect of the production process: from scriptwriting to directing, cinematography, editing, and post-production. During the program, you'll learn not only how a film works technically, but also how to convey your story in an impactful way to your audience. The project always concludes with a festive final presentation at the Netherlands Film Academy or Meervaart, where all short films are screened on the big screen. 

Collaboration with the Netherlands Film Academy 
A special aspect of the Meervaart Studio Film Lab is its collaboration with the Netherlands Film Academy. This partnership ensures that participants gain access to additional expertise and can build a valuable network within the film industry. The school hopes to inspire more young people from various Amsterdam neighborhoods to pursue a future at the Film Academy. 

In recent years, several participants have gone on to the Netherlands Film Academy and other arts education programs. In addition, various former participants are now professionally active in the field, for example at television broadcasters and advertising agencies. They work as camera professionals, lighting technicians, directors, producers, and editors, among other roles. Films from the Film Lab have been screened at various film festivals, including the Netherlands Film Festival in 2024.