CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Master Real-Time Cinematic Storytelling in Unreal Engine

Applications are now open for the Unreal Engine: Storytelling & Cinematic Creation training programme, an intensive 10-week online residency designed for CG artists, filmmakers, animators, and creative professionals who want to master narrative-driven cinematic production in Unreal Engine.

Unlike traditional technical training, this training places storytelling, editorial pacing, and cinematic composition from day one. Through 20 in-depth online sessions created by Unreal Engine Authorized Instructor art director and multimedia artist, Dejan Ilić participants will develop an original cinematic project, progressing from an initial “grey-box” concept to a high-fidelity cinematic masterpiece.

By treating the Unreal Engine as a living film set, participants will explore the intersection of digital humans, atmospheric lighting, and virtual cinematography to create work that resonates on a human level.

Programme Objectives:

• Narrative Primacy: Transition from asset-focused workflows to story-driven production
• Pipeline Mastery: Integrate MetaHuman Creator, Quixel Megascans, and professional render pipelines into a cohesive creative process.
• Cinematic Literacy: Develop a deep understanding of virtual lenses, camera psychology, and editorial timing.
• Performance Nuance: Move beyond raw data to create character performances with emotional weight and realistic presence.

Learning outcomes:

• By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
• Build complex narrative environments through spatial storytelling and modular layouts
• Direct virtual cameras with a deep understanding of lenses, sensor physics, and cinematic language.
• Design and manage Master Sequences in Unreal Engine Sequencer.
• Implement high-fidelity MetaHumans and refine performance capture into expressive character work.
• Execute professional-grade look-development, material refinement to dramatic cinematic lighting.
• Produce high-quality renders using the Movie Render Queue for professional delivery.

What Participants Will Create

Each participant will develop:

• An Original Cinematic – a fully rendered, post-produced narrative sequence (30–90 seconds).
• A Pre-viz Edit – a complete “block-out” version demonstrating pacing, composition, and story structure.
• A Production Portfolio – a technical breakdown of character pipelines, lighting setups, workflows, and optimisation strategies.

Who should apply?

The Unreal Engine: Storytelling & Cinematic Creation is designed for professionals who want to bring narrative expertise into a real-time production environment and gain the technical autonomy needed to execute ambitious creative visions.

• Directors and Cinematographers who want to reclaim their "eye" inside the engine and work without a translator.
• Art Directors and Creative Supervisors who need to bridge the gap between a high-concept vision and real-time execution.
• Established 3D Artists and Animators transitioning from the slow wait of traditional rendering to the intuitive flow of real-time cinematography.
• Film and Animation Professionals who want to master a "Director’s Pipeline" to build more evocative, human-centric digital worlds.
• Game Industry Storytellers focused on high-fidelity cinematic production and the nuances of digital human performance.
• Educators and Academic Leaders who want to modernize their teaching with a focus on narrative-driven technical mastery.

Requirements

• Computer/laptop setup up with Unreal Engine version 5.7 or 5.8.
• Recommended 3D background
• Bonus: Prior MetaHuman or Unreal Engine familiarity

Format

• Duration: 10 weeks, starting in August
• Format: Online
• Sessions: 20 intensive workshop sessions + weekly feedback sessions with the mentor
• Language: English

Mentor Dejan Ilić

Dejan Ilić is an art director, multimedia artist, and **Unreal Engine Authorized Instructor from Serbia with more than 20 years of experience in visual communication and applied arts. He currently works as an Art Director for Sony Interactive Entertainment, while developing projects across digital media, performance, and immersive technologies. His international collaborations and exhibitions span Serbia, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Portugal, and the United States, with presentations in Tokyo, Hiroshima, New York, Los Angeles, and Bangkok. Alongside his professional practice, he has worked as an educator and co-founded initiatives focused on experimental digital art and Serbian-Japanese cultural exchange.

Check Dejan’s portfolio here

Participation fee: 185 € + VAT (24%)

APPLY HERE until 10 July 2026

Join an international cohort of artists and storytellers and discover how to create emotionally engaging cinematic experiences through the power of real-time storytelling!