Step into the future of filmmaking and visual storytelling with a groundbreaking course that fuses traditional cinematic techniques with the creative power of artificial intelligence. AI & Cinema Practice invites you to explore the intersection of technology and creative arts, offering hands-on experience with leading AI tools like Claude, MidJourney, Freepik, Seedance, HeyGen, ElevenLabs, and Suno.

In this program, you will learn to harness AI to revolutionize storytelling, scripting, and visual composition, whether your goal is a short film, a social media campaign, or branded content. You will gain skills that place you at the forefront of innovation in the film, media, and creative industries. With an emphasis on creativity and ethics, this program equips you not only to create compelling narratives but also to critically evaluate AI’s role in shaping the future of visual media.

This program takes place during Summer Session 1 (June 2 - June 25, 2026) and consists of two separate courses:

CLCS 207 (AI, Cinema, and Philosophy)
VCA 205 (AI & Cinema Practice)

This 6-credit experience offers a cohesive immersion in both the theory and practice of creating films using AI.

Open to Students and Professionals

Franklin University Switzerland’s AI & Cinema program is open to both students and external professionals looking to explore the cutting-edge intersection of artificial intelligence and filmmaking. Whether you are a student, filmmaker, or industry professional, this program offers a unique opportunity to dive into AI’s transformative role in cinema.

Price with 6 hours of university credits: 6400 CHF / 7800 USD *
Price without university credits: 1250 CHF / 1560 USD

*click here for information on housing costs and other fees.

If you would like to register as a non-credit participant, please fill out the form below.

For any other information, write an email to admissions@fus.edu.

MORE THAN JUST A CLASS

This program is more than a classroom experience, it’s a launchpad for creative professionals working at the intersection of AI and visual media.

Build a portfolio of AI-made work: You will leave with finished projects, such as a short film, a trailer, social media content, or spec ad, made with professional AI tools.
Learn from working professionals: The program is taught by filmmakers and researchers actively working with AI in production, giving you direct access to current industry practices.
Go beyond the campus: A field trip to a cultural destination in the region will round out the program (details announced closer to the start date).
Access professional AI tools: Selected tools will be provided for use during the program. For others, participants will work on their own accounts, with guidance on setup and free-tier options.

Whether you are a filmmaker, a marketing professional, a content creator, or simply curious about the possibilities of blending technology with art, AI & Cinema Practice promises to inspire and equip you to shape the future of creative industries.

FACULTY

Elettra Fiumi

Elettra Fiumi is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of Fiumi Studios, a creative production company specializing in documentaries and branded content for clients such as Siemens, BBC, Longines, Netflix, The New Yorker, and EOC Hospital. With a Master’s degree in AI for Business from the Italian Tech Academy and in Digital Journalism from the Columbia University School of Journalism, Elettra bridges the worlds of filmmaking and artificial intelligence. She is in the Creative Partner Program of leading AI platforms, including Runway, Seedance, ElevenLabs Impact, Pika, CapCut, InVideo, and Daisy. Her independent films, including Radical Landscapes and Dancing Free, have been widely recognized at international film festivals. Her AI films have received multiple awards, including Mamma Robot and Desert Cathedral, and her upcoming work, Alma Robot, was created in Patagonia under the mentorship of Paolo Sorrentino. Elettra has taught AI and filmmaking at institutions and festivals including NABA, SUPSI, LAC Lugano, the Locarno Film Festival, and the Cyprus Film Festival. She brings a dynamic, hands-on teaching style to the course, emphasizing creativity, experimentation, and collaboration in AI-driven filmmaking.

Libertad Gills

Libertad Gills is a filmmaker, critic, and researcher specializing in film aesthetics and analysis, experimental cinema, and the afterlife and reappropriation of archival images in contemporary film. She is Lecturer in Videographic Criticism at the University of Leeds and holds a Ph.D. in Art, Literature and Culture from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Prior to Leeds, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Future of Cinema & the Audiovisual Arts at the Università della Svizzera italiana where she collaborated with the Locarno Film Festival on pioneering research projects at the intersection of film and technology. Her experimental films have been showcased at festivals worldwide, reflecting her commitment to exploring bold, innovative cinematic expressions. Libertad combines rigorous academic expertise with a passion for experimental film form, encouraging students to critically engage with the transformative potential of AI in cinema.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND SCHEDULE

Students must register for this program as two separate classes:

Visual and Communication Arts (VCA): workshops focused on AI tools, practical applications, and cinematic storytelling led by Elettra Fiumi.
Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies (CLCS): theory, criticism, and film studies with a focus on ethical and cultural implications of AI in cinema, taught by Libertad Gills.

This approach reflects the course’s integration of practical and theoretical components.

SCHEDULE

Summer Session 1: June 2 - June 25, 2026

Course	Title	Faculty	Day	Time
VCA 205	AI & Cinema Practice	Fiumi	MTWT	11:30 - 14:05
CLCS 207	AI, Cinema, and Philosophy	Gills	MTWT	14:30 - 17:05

This program is ideal for students, filmmakers, content creators, and professionals eager to explore AI’s role in visual storytelling. Learn to harness powerful AI tools, engage with creative and ethical challenges, and collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of cinema and content creation.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

By the end of this program, you will:

Understand the full AI content pipeline — from concept and scripting through image generation, video synthesis, voice, and music.
Be confident across multiple AI platforms, with working knowledge of tools for image, video, audio, and text generation. Tools change often, so the focus will be on the approach that can be transversal.
Think critically about AI and creativity, drawing on film theory, ethics, and cultural analysis to evaluate the technology’s impact on storytelling and society.
Apply your skills beyond cinema — the same tools and techniques work for social media content, marketing campaigns, branded videos, and digital communication.
Collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment, working alongside students and professionals from different backgrounds and creative disciplines.

Join us this summer to gain hands-on experience and insight into the future of film and visual media!

APPLY NOW