Each year dokumentART introduces a different European film school and presents recent films by its students. Discussions with the school’s students and teachers encourage an exchange of ideas about its traditions and style, and provide an inside view of the courses offered there. This year for the first time we are presenting a Scandinavian school – the ELO Film School at Aalto University in Helsinki.

The aim of the education provided by the Aalto University, School of Film, Television and Scenography (ELO Film School Helsinki) is to familiarise the student with the artistic and research processes and practices in the fields of cinema, scenography and costume design and contribute to the renewal of the art forms they represent.

Tuition and research are based on the artistic and pedagogical tradition, passing it on creatively and developing new forms of expression. Creator orientation is seen as an essential part of art research. Studies focusing on knowledge, skills, arts and theory are applied to practice in production exercises and other productions, which are essential forms of tuition. The aim is to offer an education that gives the students a capacity to work professionally in their field and to exercise influence in it.

Together with the Media Centre LUME, the ELO Helsinki Film School offers an excellent setting for studying for basic degrees (3-year BA programmes and 2-year MA programmes), pursuing further studies and engaging in research and artistic work. Traineeships, participation in festivals and competitions, international studies and close-knit cooperation with both the rest of the academic world and business life and other cultural production create a secure footing for moving on to working life.