What Do Cannes and Tribeca Film Festival Have In Common?
Tania Romero
What does Cannes - an international film festival in France who’ve seen filmmakers from Luis Buñuel and Federico Fellini to Terrence Malick & David Lynch and Tribeca (TFF) - a prominent film festival held in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, showcasing a diverse selection of independent films since 2002 have in common?
…….Our two newest faculty members at the Austin School of Film!
This summer, Austin School of Film will host a special edition of our 10-week Documentary Filmmaking course with Nicaraguan filmmaker, teacher, and scholar - Tania Romero. Tania has worked on several impressive film projects and her name adorns films such as feature documentary “Ya Basta” which made its debut at SXSW International Film Festival in 2007 and “Even with their nails” a documentary about women filmmakers in Nicaragua was screened at Cannes, Cine Las Americas, and won an Icaro Award in Guatemala. Further, her film “Quinceanera” (2015) won a San Francisco Film Award of Merit, was an official selection at the Official Latino Short Film Festival and was screened at the Mexic Arte Museum. She was a script supervisor for the Cannes Film Festival selected shorts “Sarathi” (2010), “Clay” (2012) and assistant director for “A Perfect Cocktail” (2013).
Tania holds a degree in Psychology with a Film Studies minor and Masters degrees in Media Studies and Philosophy (Visual Arts). Her methodoloy of teaching film production and more specifically documentary filmmaking is thoughtful and empowering with over a decade of experience teaching students the filmmaking craft. We are beyond thrilled to have Tania begin her journey with us at the Austin School of Film next month! Tania is a seasoned and accomplished documentary filmmaker and educator in Texas so we have no doubt that our community is going to truly be immersed & inspired in our summer Documentary Filmmaking course with us!
APPLICATION IS CLOSED
This course is: In-Person, Limited to 6 Students, and Application-Based
This 8-week immersive course is designed for emerging filmmakers eager to refine their documentary storytelling skills while producing a 2-3 minute mini-documentary on a topic of their choice. The course blends hands-on filmmaking, conceptual analysis, and historical context, equipping students to become better filmmakers, storytellers, and critical viewers of documentary media.
Through a mix of readings, lectures, screenings, hands-on labs, and production assignments, students will develop, produce, and complete a short-form documentary film. The curriculum is structured into two key phases:
Weeks 1-4: Development – Research, story structuring, pre-production planning
Weeks 4-6: Production – Filming, interviewing, fieldwork, and refining narrative techniques
Week 6-8: Post-Production Pipeline Begins
Students must already have experience with camera operation, lighting, sound, and editing, as this course focuses on the art of unscripted storytelling rather than technical fundamentals. (Applicants will be required to demonstrate proficiency as part of the application process.)
Each student will also participate in two additional in-class technical training labs during the 8-week timeframe with the instructor to deepen their craft. The course will culminate in a curated screening (Film & Friends) produced by Austin School of Film in Spring 2026.
Enrollment Details:
Limited to 6 students – Application required
$25 deposit required with application (refundable or applied toward tuition)
Access to equipment and production resources provided by Austin School of Film including Cinemaker Studios is included in your tuition.
This intensive, application-based public course is open to ANYONE ANYWHERE, provided they meet the outlined criteria. It is led by Todd Wiseman, an award-winning video producer and documentary storyteller with over a decade of experience. Formerly the Senior Editor for Video and Multimedia at The Texas Tribune, Todd has directed and produced documentaries on topics ranging from humanitarian crises at the Texas-Mexico border to investigative reports on police violence. His work has been recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has received Edward R. Murrow Awards and a Lone Star Emmy.
Application Details
Timeline:
Applications Open: August 25, 2025
Applications Close: November 1, 2025
Notification Date: November 15, 2025
Student Orientation: December 2025 TBA — VIRTUAL ORIENTATION
Class Schedule:
Dates: January 15 - March 5, 2026 (Thursdays) plus two technical labs
Time: 6:30-9:30pm
Location: multiple locations operated by Austin School of Film
Tuition:
Cost: $750.00
Payment: Tuition is payable in 3 installments or in full once applicants are notified of acceptance.
Application Fee: A $25 fee is required with the application, which will be applied towards tuition for accepted students. Those not accepted have the option to request a refund or donate to Austin School of Film.
Additional Resources:
3 months of CINEMAKER studio access ( $500 value)
Complimentary Gear rentals from Austin School of Film’s inventory for both on-site and off-site projects ($1,000+ value)
Two in-class technical labs for advanced skill refinement.
Participate in a Spring 2026 Artist Talk & Film Screening
HOW TO APPLY:
Click on the "Apply" button.
Fill out the application form. We recommend doing this on a computer for ease of use.
After completing the application, it will be added to your 'Cart'.
Proceed to checkout and pay the $25 application fee.
Upon successful application and registration, you will receive an automatic confirmation email.
All notifications regarding your application will come from classes@austinfilmschool.org.
Eligibility Criteria:
The Documentary Storytelling Intensive is accessible to anyone, regardless of location, provided they meet the following criteria:
Experience: Applicants should have basic skills in camera operation, lighting, sound, and editing.
Application: Complete the application form and submit a $25 fee by the deadline. This fee is refundable for those not accepted or can be applied towards tuition for those admitted.
Availability: Must be available to attend all course sessions.
Priority Consideration: Priority consideration will be granted to applicants from communities historically underrepresented in the film industry, those who cannot access “traditional” educational opportunities, and individuals with community or generational ties to Texas.
Age: Applicants must be 18 years or older.
For any questions, contact us at classes@austinfilmschool.org
But where does Tribeca fit in?
Carleton Ranney
Austin School of Film is excited to announce the return of Screenwriting II: The Feature with a new faculty member! This course is designed to offer students a chance to write a complete feature-length screenplay and will be led by indie filmmaker & screenwriter, Carleton Ranney who has over a decade of experience in the film industry as both a Director and writer. Carleton’s feature directorial & writing debut Jackrabbit - an American scifi film that made it’s premiere at Tribeca Film Festival. A born & raised Austinite, at 17 he was named a “Movie Maker to Watch” by the Austin Chronicle and Movie Maker Magazine.
His debut feature film, JACKRABBIT - a cyberpunk American scifi film set in a a dystopian city, was a participant in the 2014 IFP Narrative Labs. The film’s world premiere was held the following spring at the 2015 TRIBECA Film Festival. JACKRABBIT was picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures and released in March of 2016. It can be streamed on Amazon Prime currently and previously Netflix. Carleton, an accomplished filmmaker who has been through just about every stage of major production from pre-to-distrbution will bring his screenwriting expertise to the table for Austin School of Film students. The class is limited to six due to the scope of content and class material. So start thinking: what’s your story?