Study film-making and sound production in Bordeaux
See. Shoot. Listen. Create.
Two weeks. One city. One film from image to sound.
Spend two intensive weeks at 3iS Bordeaux discovering how a film is created — from the first idea and shoot to its final sound design and mix.
Taught entirely in English, this hands-on summer program combines film-making, cinematography, sound recording, sound design, music and post-production through one collaborative short film inspired by Bordeaux.
During the first week, you will develop, shoot and edit your film. During the second, you will give it its own sound identity through field recording, Foley, music, sound editing and mixing.
One project. Two creative perspectives. A complete journey from first idea to final screening.
Campus
Bordeaux
Entry requirements
No previous technical experience is required. A good command of English is necessary to follow the course and participate fully in projects.
Certification
3iS certificate
Who is it for?
Secondary-school students, university students and young adults interested in film, sound and audiovisual production
At a glance
Duration
2 weeks
Languages
English
Dates
19–30 July 2027
Pace
Full Time
Study format
On-Campus
Format
Practical workshops + collaborative film project + filming + field recording + studio production + cultural and professional visits
Accomodation
Optional
Tuition fees - Non-French tax residents
€1,200 for 2 weeks
One city. One film. One sound world.
Bordeaux becomes part of the creative process from beginning to end.
Its streets, riverfronts, architecture, people, voices and atmospheres inspire the story, provide locations for filming and later become material for the film’s sound world.
You will discover how writing, directing, cinematography, sound and editing interact to shape the same story.
Week 1 — Tell the story through images
Explore Bordeaux, develop an idea, prepare the shoot and create a short film as a team.
You will work on storytelling, framing, mise-en-scène, cinematography and editing to develop a clear visual point of view.
Week 2 — Build the film’s sound identity
Return to the city with a different purpose: to listen.
Record voices, atmospheres, textures and sounds, then transform them in the studio through Foley, sound editing, music and mixing.
You will discover how sound can change rhythm, meaning, atmosphere and emotion — and transform the way an audience experiences an image.
Who is this Bordeaux Creative Summer for?
This program is ideal if you want to:
By the end of the two weeks, you will have:
From city to story
Discover the campus and gain an introduction to audiovisual storytelling, camera work and sound recording.
Explore Bordeaux for the first time as a potential film location and form your production teams.
Challenge: find a place, subject and story worth filming.
Turn an idea into a shoot
Develop your concept through short-form writing, point of view, shot breakdown, location scouting and technical preparation.
Assign roles and plan the shoot.
Challenge: pitch your project and prepare to film.
Bordeaux as your film set
Spend the day filming across Bordeaux.
Rotate through responsibilities in directing, cinematography, sound, production and, where relevant, performance.
Challenge: capture the images and sounds needed to tell your story.
Find the story in the footage
Review the rushes, select takes and begin shaping the film through editing, narrative structure, rhythm and pacing.
Start making the first sound choices.
What should your film sound like?
Screen the first cut and analyze its sound potential.
Where should there be dialogue? Atmosphere? Foley? Music? Silence?
Challenge: define the sound direction for week two.
Hear differently
Discover the recording studios and professional sound equipment at 3iS Bordeaux.
Explore microphones, recording techniques, critical listening, voices, atmospheres and textures.
Challenge: identify the sounds that could deepen the film’s world.
The city as a sound library
Return to Bordeaux for dedicated field-recording sessions.
Collect voices, atmospheres, rhythms and urban or natural sounds connected to your project.
Challenge: build an original sound library for your film.
Give the film a voice
Select and edit recordings, create Foley, transform sounds and integrate voices or musical elements where relevant.
Challenge: build a coherent sound identity for the film.
Make image and sound work together
Work on synchronization, atmospheres, effects, music, space and balance.
Discover the fundamentals of mixing and how sound can reinforce storytelling and emotion.
Challenge: make every sound serve the film.
Your Bordeaux on screen and in sound
Complete the final picture and sound work and prepare your presentation.
The program concludes with a final screening, where each team presents its film and explains the visual and sound choices behind the project.
What you will leave with
At the end of the program, you will leave with:
See the city. Hear it. Tell its story.
Tailor-made programs for partners
For groups of 15 participants or more, 3iS works with universities, schools and international partners to create tailor-made programs in English or French, adapted to their objectives, calendar and student profile.
Interested in developing a program for your students? Contact our International Relations team at international@3is.fr to discuss your preferred dates, format and objectives.
Indicative program. Content may evolve depending on learning objectives, the availability of lecturers and partners, and programming opportunities.
