Europe through Cinema

02.09.2025 – 11.09.2025

Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Spain

Event summary

Hey future filmmakers! Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! “Europe through Cinema” is more than just a project; it’s your chance to dive into the world of European film, unleash your creativity, and connect with young people from across the continent.

“Europe through Cinema” aims to totally transform the way you see and interact with cinema. Forget boring lectures; we’re talking hands-on experience! This project is designed to empower you with practical skills in audiovisual creation. You’ll get to learn everything from crafting scripts, mastering the art of filming, and bringing it all together with editing techniques. Everyone will have the chance to try out different roles in the filmmaking process, discovering new talents and passions along the way.

The ultimate goal? You and your international team will create your very own short film! This is your chance to tell your stories, express your artistic vision, and critically reflect on the media you consume. We believe in learning by doing, encouraging teamwork, and boosting your creative confidence.

So, if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, collaborate with awesome people, and make some movie magic, what are you waiting for?

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission Erasmus+ programme. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

International Youth Exchange

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Where you'll be staying

Venue & Location

Get ready to be inspired! Our project will take place at “El Nido de las Mariposas,” a cozy rural haven located in Fresnedillas de la Oliva, just 50 km from the vibrant capital of Spain, Madrid. “El Nido de las Mariposas” is nestled in a stunning mountain area within the Sierra Oeste region. It offers a perfect escape into nature, with plenty of green surroundings to spark your creativity. The house itself includes:

Space for up to 30 people with 9 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms.
A dedicated meeting room for our workshops and brainstorming sessions.
Fantastic indoor facilities.
Outdoor fun with a garden and BBQ area.
For some friendly competition: table football and ping pong!
Yes, there’s Internet access.
The surrounding area is perfect for activities like hiking.

To keep your creative engines running, delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served at our venue every day, and don’t worry, we’ve got vegetarian options covered too! We truly believe that this is the perfect place to thoroughly enjoy the company of new-found friends, soak in big healthy doses of clean fresh air, and dive headfirst into all the exciting activities we have planned. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a unique and picturesque part of Spain.

Discover non-formal learning!

What can you expect?

The Program

This isn’t your average workshop; it’s an immersive, hands-on experience based on non-formal education. We’ll start with icebreakers and team-building to get everyone comfortable. Each day will be packed with engaging, learn-by-doing sessions. You’ll dive into storytelling and scriptwriting, then get behind the camera to shoot scenes. You’ll also learn the basics of video editing, including Adobe Premiere or Davinci Resolve to piece together your film. Finally, you’ll work in international teams to produce a short, three-minute film from concept to final cut.

The networking: Connect & Collaborate!

Imagine spending a week with 28 other creative, energetic young people (plus facilitators!) in a beautiful Spanish setting. Whether you’re a seasoned film enthusiast or just starting out, you’ll make amazing connections. Youth Exchanges like this are famous for building friendships and professional networks that last long after the project ends. This is your chance to meet like-minded individuals, share ideas, and maybe even find collaborators for future projects!

The unexpected!

So, what is a Youth Exchange? It’s an adventure where young people from different countries come together to learn, share, and grow outside of formal classrooms. Expect the unexpected in the best way possible! It’s about discovering new perspectives, challenging yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone, and surprising yourself with what you can achieve. It’s about spontaneous laughter, late-night talks, creative breakthroughs you didn’t see coming, and the magic of intercultural understanding. Every participant brings their unique energy and ideas, shaping the experience for everyone. Be open to new experiences, contribute your talents, and get ready to be amazed by the collective creativity!

Have fun while developing yourself!

Social program

It’s not all work and no play! We’ve got a fantastic social program lined up to help you unwind, bond, and experience different cultures:

Cultural Nights: Each national group (Estonian, Greek, Spanish, Swedish) will host an evening to share their culture, traditions, food, and music. Get ready to taste, learn, and dance!
“Madrid de Cine” Treasure Hunt: The Spanish team will organize a fun activity where you’ll explore cinematic locations in Madrid, hunting for film scenes and recreating them!
“Los Goya Erasmus+” Awards Gala: To celebrate all your hard work, we’ll end the project with a bang! A spectacular closing ceremony where we’ll showcase your short films and every participant will be honored with a symbolic award.

How to get to the event?

Travel

We ask you to arrive at the venue in Fresnedillas de la Oliva on 2nd September 2025 and participate fully until the end of the project. Departure will be on 11th September 2025. More detailed travel information on how to reach “El Nido de las Mariposas” from Madrid will be provided to selected participants. We will cover your travel expenses up to a certain limit, based on the travel distance from your home to the venue. You will receive your reimbursement after the project, upon providing all necessary original tickets and invoices within one month after the event. If you’re economical, it’s possible to get your full travel expenses covered!

The travel reimbursement limits per country are:

Spain (0-99 km): 0€
Greece (2000-2999 km): up to 395€
Estonia (2000-2999 km): up to 395€
Sweden (2000-2999 km): up to 395€

Please keep all your original tickets, boarding passes, and invoices – they are essential for reimbursement!

Meet the people behind Youth Europa!

Organisers

Since every project that we are carrying out is based on our own interests and skills, you can expect us to be highly motivated and energetic. Our extensive experience makes us more flexible and helps us make meaningful adjustments to the program. Keep in mind that we’re always open to feedback and love it if you share your ideas and other input with us. Come and meet some of the awesome people behind Youth Europa and who knows, maybe you’ll join us one day!

Proof of participation

YouthPass Certificate

As a participant of this event, you will receive YouthPass – a certificate of non-formal education recognized all across Europe that allows you to describe what you have done and learned. On top of that, it can be a great way to stand out at a job interview or when applying to a university, not to mention the part where you get to show off to your friends:)

Send your application!

Deadline: 06.07.2025

Contact us

Ask us anything!

Frequently Asked Questions

How the heck is this so cheap?

This project is supported by Erasmus+ program. This enables us to keep the participation fee very low and even remove it for people who are in financial difficulties. We know it sounds too good to be true, feel free to check out the reviews:)

Not at all. We try to focus on non-formal learning methods. This means that all activities are interactive and you will usually work in groups.

What are the participation requirements?

Everyone who comes from the eligible countries and is 18 to 30 years old is welcome to apply. There are no prerequisites, we actually welcome people who have no prior experience at all. Also, this event is not political. We don’t care if you hold conservative or more liberal views. Just be friendly and cooperative, we’re all here to learn, make friends & have fun!

How do I sign up?

Click the “apply now” button below if the deadline has not passed. Fill the form and answer all the questions as sincerely as possible. We will get in touch with you if you have been selected. Make sure that @youtheuropa.org mails don’t go to your spam!:)

How are participants selected?

The participants are selected based on their motivation and interest in the topic. There is no catch, you just need to be sincere and honest in your application. Also, if you’re not selected in this project, it’s more likely that you get selected for the next ones.

How do I buy the tickets and plan my trip?

Questions such as this one will be answered by the organisers or your group leader. Don’t worry, we will help you find the best possible option!

What kind of travel cost will be covered?

We will cover your trip to and from the project destination. There are some limits that apply, this is based on your travel distance. These limits are mentioned in the information above. If you buy the tickets early enough, it’s common to get your travel 100% covered.

How & When do I get my travel reimbursement?

After the event, all participants will fill the reimbursement form where you will be asked to upload the travel cost documents (itinerary, boarding passes, invoices etc.). The reimbursement process usually takes between 1-2 months. Remember that we will help you on every step of the way.

Do I have to speak in front of a group or lead workshops?

Nope. You will not be forced to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. But it’s definitely a great place to step our of your comfort zone. This is going to be a journey in your personal development:)

I still have some questions

No problem, get in touch with us and we will do our best to provide you some answers. You can do so by heading over to the contact page.

Europe through Cinema