TEACHERS AND CURATORS
creative Lab
From Scriptwriting to Film Production
A two-year creative writing & filmmaking program in Helsinki / Espoo
Mikhail Durnenkov
Playwright • Screenwriter • Educator
One of the most acclaimed contemporary Russian-language playwrights working in Europe.
Mikhail’s plays have been translated into all major European languages and staged in more than 20 countries worldwide.
Winner of numerous theatre prizes and festivals.
Expertise:
dramatic structure
story development
character design
authorial style and voice
О КУРСЕ
Alexandra Dunaeva
Director • Theatre Pedagogue • Curator
A director working at the intersection of film, media, and contemporary art.
Participant in international labs, residencies, and festivals.
She guides students through the entire creative process — from concept to production.
Specialization:
directing and working with actors
documentary and hybrid storytelling forms
visual style development
teamwork and creative process management
The program is developed with the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland.
This recognition highlights the program’s contribution to creative education, integration, and cultural development in the Helsinki / Espoo region.
What You Will Learn
1. Scriptwriting
Instructors: Mikhail Durnenkov, Alexandra Dunaeva
A complete journey from idea to finished script:
development of ideas, concepts, and loglines
story structure and key dramatic models
creating compelling characters and building conflict
dialogue, pacing, and scene design
writing and polishing a short film script under mentorship
2. Production Lab
Instructors: Mikhail Durnenkov, Alexandra Dunaeva, Darina Rodionova
Practical filmmaking training in a real production environment:
directing fundamentals and visual storytelling tools
composition, lighting, and camera techniques
working with sound on set
introduction to editing and postproduction
teamwork, production roles, and on-set workflow
3. Visual Language & Film Studies - Cinema Talks
Instructor: Ksenia Peretrukhina
Understanding cinema as an artistic system:
visual language of film and principles of cinematic expression
space, image, and scenography
history of cinema and contemporary movements
analysis of short films and auteur cinema
shaping your own aesthetic and stylistic voice
Ksenia Peretrukhina
Theatre & Film Designer • Scenographer • CinemaTalks
A renowned theatre artist and a master of visual storytelling, active internationally across Europe.
Her artistic practice explores the relationship between space, image, and action.
Teaches:
visual language of theatre and cinema
film history and contemporary movements
visual dramaturgy and composition
working with space and environment as narrative tools
leads the film history course Cinema Talks
Irina Gavryukova
Program Creator • Founder • Educational Visionary
The creator and driving force behind the program.
Founder of the educational center InterLang–LinguaLink, which brings together professionals from diverse fields — arts, science, education, and culture — to build an enriching learning environment for children, youth, and families.
Her work is grounded in a research-based, interdisciplinary approach, integrating scientific knowledge, creative practice, and pedagogical innovation.
Irina’s mission is to develop meaningful, accessible, and artistically driven educational platforms where creativity, culture, and science interact to support personal and professional growth.