Opening Hours Practical Info What is where? Apps Public Tours further language offers Accessibility FAQ Linksammlung

short film workshop "POV Buchenwald"

Participants develop creative and informative short films about the history of Buchenwald. In the process, they reflect on the medium-specific production cycle involved in creating historical content for social media - from the initial concept and story planning to film editing and final presentation.

Filmaufnahmen vom Lagertor mit Smartphone und Gimbal 2025. Foto: Franziska Bula
Filming at the camp gate with a smartphone and gimbal, 2025. Photo: Franziska Bula ©Gedenkstätte Buchenwald

This workshop is not available at short notice. We therefore ask that you inquire as early as possible.

The media education workshop "POV Buchenwald" (POV = point of view) is an in-depth seminar module designed for groups that wish to explore the history of the former concentration camp through the medium of film.

Working in small groups, participants develop their own short films - approximately two to three minutes in length - on topics of their own choosing. With professional guidance, they conduct research, create concepts, film, and edit their material.

Program Outline (4 hours):

  • Introduction to the program and to short films as a medium within the context of memorial sites - with a particular focus on social media
  • Brainstorming and storyboard development in small groups
  • Filming on-site at selected locations within the memorial
  • Video editing and post-production using mobile apps
  • Presentation and reflection on the short films created

Learning Objectives:

"POV Buchenwald" offers an accessible, hands-on approach to engaging with historical content that participants have already studied.

Working in small groups, participants define a specific focus, which they then develop conceptually for the intended format. They navigate the entire process of producing a narrative-driven short film, encountering both the possibilities and the challenges involved.

A key component is the critical examination of the short film as a medium.
Participants reflect on the production process based on their own experience. They discuss how history can be represented in short-form video, exploring the medium’s potential and its limitations. Finally, they consider the impact and reach of such content - especially within the context of social media.

In this way, the workshop fosters individual media literacy, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Note: There is no provision for the public release or publication of the videos created.

Organizational Details:

  • Group size: max. 12 participants (3 small groups)
  • Technical equipment: 1 smartphone per small group. Gimbals, microphones, and tablets equipped with editing software are provided.
  • Duration: 4 hours (including introduction, filming, editing, and presentation)
  • Requirements: Adherence to the memorial site’s rules of conduct and respectful behavior are mandatory.
var _paq = window._paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="https://matomo.buchenwald.de/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'matomo.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '1']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.async=true; g.src=u+'matomo.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })();