The Sound Documentary International Summer Programme

The Sound Documentary International Summer Programme is a new international programme aimed for young international professionals, offered by the Ecole nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière (ENS Louis-Lumière) and designed with the support of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the complicity of Radio France internationale (RFI). The first session of this programme held in English took place in 2021

Since the programme was launched, it has welcomed 74 young professionals from all over the world (Asia, Middle East, the Gulf, South America, Europe, Canada).

During seven weeks of intensive training, the participants – all recipients of a scholarship awarded by the French embassies – immerse themselves in the French radio ecosystem, a country that has pioneered the radio documentary genre. Under the supervision of a documentary producer / soundscape artist and a sound engineer, they learn the fundamentals of writing and recording a radio documentary. While trying their hand at various sound-writing processes, the participants learn about the techniques of interviewing and how to capture atmospheres, soundscape, stereophonic sound recording and audio editing. Finally, they are taught how to present a project to its intended audience in the sound industry (radios, etc.). The programme also includes meetings with professionals and visits to the sector’s key players: RFI, Radio France, Arte Radio, Festival Longueur d’onde, SCAM, French Institute.

The programme is structured around 3 components:

Theoretical and practical training in sound writing (from design to editing)
Production of a sound documentary in pairs (each pair will conceive and carry out its project from A to Z during the workshop)
Immersion in the French radio / podcast creation ecosystem (listening sessions, meetings with French authors and professionals in the sector, visits to key structures such as Radio France, etc.).

The educational component of the Programme is designed and led by authors and documentary makers Thomas Guillaud-Bataille, Charlotte Rouault, Mariannick Bellot, and Amandine Casadamont, accompanied by sound engineer Thibaut Haas.

The coordination of the programme is ensured by Pascaline Peretti, independant radio producer and cultural projects manager, and Valérie Fouques, head of international relations at the ENS Louis-Lumière.