"It's back again! Exeter Phoenix’s famous Summer Film School returns, created in partnership with newly award-winning film and theatre company Four of Swords (thanks to their entry to the 48 Hour Film Challenge for Two Short Nights, featuring alumni from past film schools!)

This year, Summer Film School will run from Monday 24th to Friday 28th August. The week-long workshop is aimed at young creatives aged 10 to 17 years old. It offers the chance to work with skilled filmmakers to create an amazing short film from scratch in just one week.

Activities include:

Writing / Story-boarding / Devising
Set / Costume / Make-up Design
Acting!
Prop & Model making
Camera Operation
Green Screen Work / Animation

You don’t need to be interested in ALL of these areas, but everyone will have the chance to try everything. Mostly, of course, it will be exhausting, enormous fun!

This year’s film school will be held at Columbjohn Farm, an idyllic location on the edge of the Killerton Estate (Rewe, Exeter EX5 4ER). Each day will run from 9am – 4pm, with a dedicated lunch break.

Our theme for 2026 will be creating a Devon-based kaiju-style monster flick, taking inspiration from Godzilla, King Kong, War of the Worlds and Ultraman.

The final film will premiere at Exeter Phoenix, where parents, family and friends will be able to see the finished film on the big screen. Spaces are limited. As there are only 25 places available, early booking is advised for this popular workshop."