In the summer of 2025, the Aurora Film Society launched a filmmaking workshop open to anyone aged 15 and up who wants to learn more about the process of making movies. Led by filmmaker and AFS board member Ramsey Miller, this unique learning opportunity gives participants lessons in the fundamentals that go into making movies, from shot composition to sound design to editing. Those who come to the workshop work on projects to hone their skills, with the goal of eventually creating their own short films.
At the same time, the workshop also explored the history of filmmaking as an art form, showing its development from the earliest forms of creative expression all the way to the modern day.
Another major element of the AFS Filmmaking Workshop is hearing from guest speakers with hands-on experience. Guest speakers for the 2026 workshop included an award-winning animator, an experienced sound engineer, and a professional photographer. These experts shared their knowledge and experiences as well as answered questions from participants.
We’ve been so excited to offer this program in addition to our regular screenings and events, and we’re looking forward to doing it all again next summer! The AFS Filmmaking Workshop is an expression of our mission to further the appreciation of film as an art form and an engine of empathy and expression. Keep your eyes on this page as well as our Facebook page for more information as we get closer to the next iteration of the workshop.