Learn filmmaking with Mani
Since 2007 Mani Nickpour has taught filmmaking to beginners and professionals: directing, camera work, editing and compositing. His courses are practical from the first hour. You learn by making your own films.

About Mani as a teacher
Mani is an Amsterdam-based filmmaker and film educator. He teaches at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he gives the course Making Short Documentaries, and at Open Studio Amsterdam. From 2007 to 2014 he taught at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, and he works as a trainer and editor at AT5, Amsterdam’s city television station.
As a director he wrote, shot and edited his own feature films, AHRIMAN: Death Before Dying and Dream Machine. That is what he brings to class: how films are really made, on a small crew and a real budget, from the first idea to the final grade.
His courses connect students across countries. Assignments and finished films from Amsterdam are exchanged with his students in Tokyo, building a creative bridge between the Netherlands and Japan.
No experience is needed. A smartphone is enough to start.
Current courses
Making Short Documentaries
Ten Thursday evenings at Griffioen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Develop your own ideas, film with a camera or smartphone, edit in DaVinci Resolve and finish at least three short documentaries. Taught in Dutch and English.
Open Studio Amsterdam
Filmmaking classes as part of Open Studio Amsterdam’s education programme.
Film Workshop Tokyo
Four Saturdays in Tokyo to make your first short documentary, from idea to final edit. A smartphone is enough. Films are exchanged with the students in Amsterdam.
Film Workshop Gran Canaria
Five mornings of filming and editing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: framing, camera, light, sound, editing and colour grading. You leave with a finished short film.



Questions about a course, or a workshop for your group?
Mani also gives workshops for schools, companies and organisations.
[email protected]