Film Criticism Masterclass with Victor Fraga and Ahmed Shawky

Step into the shoes and understand the mindset of a film critic. Grasp the aims, the pitfalls, and the myths associated with a trade often misunderstood.
The Criticism Masterclass is a one- to two-hour event taking place during the Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event 2026. It offers industry professionals of all sorts - producers, filmmakers, script writers, programmers, PR agents, journalists, etc - the opportunity to gain insight into the practice of film critics, the fundamentals of film criticism, and more.
Film criticism is a singular trade, one must function in tandem and yet independently from filmmaking. Film reviews should be fun and exciting to write, and readers should find the literature engaging and inspirational, not merely functional and descriptive.
Your lecturer will bust old myths, misconceptions and prejudices, and you will acquire knowledge into good industry practice and journalistic standards. You will comprehend why film critics seek to be bold and innovative - never gratuitous and perfidious - in their writing. Audacity is at the heart of film reviews. Just like film, film criticism is a creative trade.
This information will help filmmakers, producers, PR agents, and other key industry players to engage more productively with critics, and to set their expectations when promoting their latest work.