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 Mon 24 Aug to Fri 28 Aug. 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.

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.

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!

Each day will run from 9am – 4pm, with a dedicated lunch break. Our theme for 2025 will be adapting Brothers Grimm-style fairytales.

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 15 places available, early booking is advised for this popular workshop.

Feedback from previous workshops:

“Thank you for creating such an engaging and inclusive course. [My child] has felt completely comfortable, inspired and accepted.” Parent Feedback

“This is amazing that children were involved in all stages of creating processes! You helped our daughter to discover and develop her hidden talents!” Parent Feedback

“I just want the whole thing repeated this week and every week.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed the week as I always do with Four of Swords.”

See more from previous workshops >>>>

TUTORS: Four Of Swords

Four of Swords was founded in 2012, born of two friends’ determination to create sensational theatre, and right from the start the use of film projection in their theatre shows was integral to their work. Since 2014, they have combined their filmic and theatrical expertise for Exeter Phoenix’s Summer Film School and other filmmaking workshops including ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of How to Act on Film’. In 2018, Film School even went international when Four of Swords took it to Shanghai, China. Four of Swords are also creators of a host of other community and education projects, including Immersive Theatre School, Ambitious Performers and Madame Thespia’s Deliciously Diverse Open Mic Cabaret.

VENUE: Columbjohn Farm, Killerton

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>