Semester review for the Digital Media Design degree programme

A particular highlight of the summer semester was the participation of our Digital Media Design students in an Erasmus+-funded Blended Intensive Program in Belgium. For one week, they worked alongside students from other European universities on a special challenge: creating a complete short film in international teams within a very limited timeframe.

The students were responsible for the entire production process – from developing the initial idea and writing the script to filming, editing, and designing a film poster. It was particularly exciting to see how students who had initially been strangers quickly developed into effective creative teams.

The highlight of the week was the public screening of the films at the university’s cinema as part of the concluding film festival. In front of a large audience, the teams had the opportunity to present their work and see the results of their intensive week of production on the big screen.

Alongside the practical filmmaking experience, international collaboration was at the heart of the program. Communicating in English, working with different cultural perspectives, and producing under realistic conditions made the week a valuable experience for everyone involved. The project impressively demonstrated how enriching international collaborations can be for education in Digital Media Design – and how important it is to approach creative work across borders.

The students also had the opportunity to experience film and animation first-hand in Dresden. The Filmfest Dresden has been an integral part of the second-semester Animation Film module for many years and was once again a particular highlight this semester.

Seeing international short films and animations on the big screen is one thing; meeting the filmmakers in person during Q&A sessions offers a completely different perspective on the creative processes behind the works – one that no textbook can replace. The students explored different forms of visual storytelling, gained insights into experimental approaches to animation, and engaged with current developments in international film culture.

For many, the festival provided a vivid insight into the diverse possibilities of the medium of film. The impressions and inspiration gained during the festival often feed directly into the students’ own projects and continue to influence their creative work long after the semester has ended.

The Long Night of Science provided a special opportunity to look back. Under the title “Long Night of Short Films,” the Digital Media Design program celebrated ten years of student filmmaking.

The program featured selected student productions from different cohorts – ranging from animations and documentaries to short narrative films. A particularly special aspect was the connection between past and present: numerous alumni attended the event and shared the ideas, challenges, and stories behind the projects they had created during their studies.

With visible pride, Prof. Fabian Gießler guided the audience through the evening, presenting a diverse film program that impressively showcased the creative development of students over the past ten years. Some of the films shown have already been presented at international short film festivals. They exemplify the quality, diversity, and creative independence that can emerge within the Digital Media Design program.