Free and low-cost learning resources from around the world — courses, channels, script libraries, software, templates and sound libraries — organised by subject.
StudioBinder · Directing · Beginner
No-cost video lessons on visual storytelling, directing, cinematography, TV writing and taking a project from pre-production to screen.
Movie School Free · Directing · All levels
Free online courses on screenwriting, directing, cinematography, documentary filmmaking, editing, production and cinema studies.
Blackmagic Design · Editing & post-production · All levels
Official video lessons, project files and PDF training books on editing, colour, Fairlight audio, Fusion and visual effects.
Blender Studio · Editing & post-production · All levels
Courses, documentation and production lessons for animation, rigging and shading with Blender. Some content may need a subscription.
WITNESS · Documentary · All levels
A free guide to filming human rights abuses responsibly, including ethical guidelines, safety and how to capture, store and share footage.
WITNESS · Documentary · All levels
Free guides and checklists on ethical filming, archiving video and sharing sensitive footage safely. Resources are free to download, use and remix.
StudioBinder · Producing & production management · Intermediate
A downloadable budget spreadsheet with top sheet, above-the-line, below-the-line and production expense sheets for shorts and features.
Film Resource Africa · Film business & distribution · All levels
A directory of film funds, grants, labs and festivals across Africa, with who may apply and deadlines.
No Film School · Directing · All levels
Articles, tutorials and videos on directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, gear and the film business.
StudioBinder · Producing & production management · All levels
Practical guides on shot types, lighting, screenplay format, storyboards, scheduling and film terms.
Khan Academy & Pixar · Film studies · Beginner
Free lessons from Pixar artists on storytelling, character, animation and the creative process.
The Film Foundation · Film studies · Beginner
A free film-education programme with lessons and clips on film language and history.
Filmmaker IQ · Cinematography & lighting · All levels
Explanations of film techniques, cameras, lenses, sound and the history of cinema technology.
Wolfcrow · Cinematography & lighting · All levels
Long, detailed articles and guides on cameras, lenses, lighting, colour and post-production.
Film Riot · In-camera basics · Beginner
Hands-on low-budget filmmaking tutorials covering camera, lighting, sound and effects.
Lessons from the Screenplay · Screenwriting · All levels
Video essays analysing how great screenplays are structured and how scenes work.
John August & Craig Mazin · Screenwriting · All levels
A long-running podcast about screenwriting and the film business, with episode transcripts.
BBC Writersroom · Screenwriting · All levels
Free-to-read professional scripts from BBC television and radio productions, for studying format and structure.
IMSDb · Screenwriting · All levels
A large online collection of film scripts to read and study. Scripts remain the property of their owners — read, do not copy.
Simply Scripts · Screenwriting · All levels
A free archive of movie and television scripts for study.
Trelby · Screenwriting · Beginner
Free, open-source screenwriting software that handles screenplay formatting.
Fountain · Screenwriting · Beginner
A simple plain-text format for writing screenplays in any text editor, supported by many free apps.
WriterDuet · Screenwriting · Beginner
Online screenwriting software with real-time collaboration; free and paid plans.
Celtx · Producing & production management · Beginner
Online tools for scripts, storyboards, breakdowns, schedules and budgets; free and paid plans.
Blackmagic Design · Editing & post-production · All levels
Professional editing, colour, audio and effects in one application, with a free version.
Shotcut · Editing & post-production · Beginner
Free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux.
KDE · Editing & post-production · Beginner
Free, open-source multi-track video editor.
OpenShot · Editing & post-production · Beginner
A simple free video editor, good for first-time editors.
Blender Foundation · Editing & post-production · All levels
Free 3D, animation, visual-effects and video-editing software.
Audacity · Sound · Beginner
Free, open-source audio recorder and editor for cleaning and mixing dialogue.
Freesound · Sound · All levels
A collaborative database of sound effects and ambiences; each sound has its own licence, so check before using and give credit where asked.
Free Music Archive · Sound · All levels
Music with open licences. Check the licence of each track for how it can be used in films.
Internet Archive · Film studies · All levels
Films, newsreels and video, including public-domain and openly licensed material. Always check the licence of the item.
Pexels · Editing & post-production · All levels
Free stock video clips for b-roll. Read the licence for what is allowed.
Backstage · Acting · All levels
Articles on auditions, self-tapes, on-camera technique and the acting business.
ASC · Cinematography & lighting · Intermediate
Articles and interviews with professional cinematographers about lighting, lenses and camera craft.
Sweetwater · Sound · Beginner
Free articles explaining microphones, recording, mixing and audio terms in plain language.
Doc Society · Documentary · Intermediate
Documentary funding, toolkits and resources for independent filmmakers.
Sundance Institute · Film business & distribution · All levels
Online community with articles and classes for independent filmmakers; some content free, some paid.
Durban FilmMart · Film business & distribution · Advanced
Africa’s co-production market and training programmes (such as Talents Durban) for emerging film professionals.
Docubox · Documentary · Intermediate
Funding, labs and training for East African documentary and short-fiction filmmakers.
UCC · Film business & distribution · All levels
Home of the Content Development Support Programme and the Uganda Film Festival. See also our Opportunities page.
Creative Commons · Film business & distribution · Beginner
Understand the open licences used on music, photos and footage so you can use and credit them correctly.
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