Nehru Madan

This past fall semester, I studied film at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU), immersing myself in an intensive, hands-on curriculum that blended theory and practice across film production, acting, editing, cinematography, and screenwriting. This marked my first experience living abroad, offering an eye-opening perspective on both filmmaking and the world at large. I had the opportunity to work as a co-producer, editor, and assistant director on Night Shift, an original short film shot entirely on 16mm film. What I enjoyed most was the way the program pushed me to think like a complete filmmaker across every dimension of the craft. The experience reinforced my passion for storytelling and left me with a stronger creative voice and a global outlook on cinema.

Going abroad alone, I was naturally very nervous about the experience. However, I ended up learning about my ability to quickly adapt to unfamiliar situations and navigate complex social environments. I was surprised to find that my most memorable experience was spending five days solo-traveling across Europe. This was my first time traveling alone, and I made genuine friendships with fellow travelers that I may never cross paths with again. It taught me that some of the most meaningful experiences come from stepping into the unknown without a built-in safety net.

We’re currently in the festival submission process for Night Shift. We’ve already been shortlisted for the Hollywood Shorts Film Festival, and there are a handful of other festivals we’re still waiting to hear back from. I’ve added the experience to my portfolio / resume, and I’ve been sharing the project with my professional network to help stay in touch with the wider community.

This experience allowed me to think critically about what I want to do in my professional career and how I can incorporate what I learned into the broader film community, not just in the States, but globally as well. It also brought me real clarity about what I love most in the filmmaking process, watching a simple idea transform into a fully realized work of art, which has solidified my goal of pursuing a career as a producer after graduation. On a craft level, working with physical 16mm film was a rare and invaluable opportunity that most film students in the digital age never get to experience, and it deepened my appreciation for the artistic foundations of the medium.