Her Film School is an 8-week, live cohort-based program designed specifically for female filmmakers who want to build a sustainable business. From solo freelancer to confident creative entrepreneur — with a mentor in your corner and a roadmap that actually works.
We worked with
My story
I had the filmmaking skills. I knew how to shoot, edit and deliver good work. But behind the scenes, I was quietly drowning. I was saying yes to everything, terrified to raise my rates, and constantly wondering when the next project would come. I felt like I was always almost breaking through, but no matter how hard I tried, the finish line kept moving.
Unclear positioning
I had the skills, but I didn’t know how to show clients why I was the right choice. I hoped my work would speak for itself, but it wasn’t landing the way I imagined.
Strategy paralysis
I bounced between strategies, chasing every new piece of advice I found online. I wanted to do it all – travel, create, and have a steady stream of clients, but I couldn’t stick with one path long enough to see results.
Undercharging
I priced myself too low, not just out of fear but because I didn’t know what was possible. I didn’t know the baseline, what others were charging, or how to talk about money. It felt like a guessing game and I guessed wrong more than once.
Burnout
I was a wannabe agency while doing everything myself behind the scenes. I spent too much energy second-guessing my decisions and hoping the next project will be “it”.
Isolation
I had no one to turn to when I hit roadblocks, except my parents. Trial and error became my default strategy – and I made mistakes that could’ve been avoided with the right support.
Comparison trap
Scrolling through others' perfect projects on social media made me feel like I was falling behind. The gap between what I saw online and my actual day-to-day work life was discouraging.
My story
When I started out, I had the creative fire – and the ambition to match it. I wanted to make beautiful videos, work with brands, tell stories that mattered and somehow get paid doing it. But no one gave me the manual for how to make that work as a business.
I wasn’t lost – I was eager. I knew how to film and edit. But when it came to pitching, positioning, and pricing? I was piecing it together from the internet, watching tutorials at midnight and trying to find the key to it all once and for all. All of that led me to take even more action – but with no real structure or feedback, it was all trial and error.
What finally changed was experience – the hard kind. Saying yes to the wrong projects. Signing contracts I didn’t fully understand. Realizing that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success, but strategy, boundaries and knowing how to communicate your value does.
So I didn’t throw out the advice. I refined it. I stopped trying to follow every trend and started filtering everything through what I knew to be true about myself. I started building a system that reflected my strengths, my voice and the kind of work I actually wanted to do.
That’s when things shifted. I stopped chasing and clients started coming to me. Not because I was the loudest – but because they could clearly see how I can be valuable to them. I started leading creative projects I cared about, charging properly for them and building a business I could actually be proud of.
I created this program because nothing like it existed.
The business side of filmmaking always felt like a mystery – or worse, a boys’ club. Everything out there was either too basic, too bro-y, or too out of touch with the actual challenges we face as women.
So I built what I wish I had: a place where female filmmakers get the full-stack skillset they need to run a real business – without the burnout, confusion, or second-guessing.
Today, I run a six-figure production company, work with globally recognized brands and mentor other women to do the same – but I didn’t get here by luck. I got here by learning how to position myself, pitch with confidence and build a system that supports my creativity instead of draining it.
And that’s exactly what I’ll teach you inside Her Film School.
Introducing Her Film School
The highest-paid filmmakers solve problems beyond just creating visuals. Her Film School is focused on giving you the full stack of skillsets to take control of your career. A structured, step-by-step program that teaches you how to position yourself, attract the right clients and build a profitable filmmaking business with real support along the way.
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With all of this: you control your career, not the other way around.
What’s inside
Each part of Her Film School is designed to help you overcome the challenges most female filmmakers face and build a business that feels aligned, strategic and fully yours.
8 x Live Lessons
Expert-led calls covering branding, storytelling, content creation, marketing, pitching, pricing, and scaling
3 x Live Guest Expert Lessons
Live sessions from top female industry professionals on storytelling and content creation
3 x Live Q&A Sessions
Ask Aya directly and get tailored insights and learn from the questions and experiences of others in the group
Lifetime Access to Recordings
All live call sessions will be recorded so you can watch them on-demand
Direct Mentorship & Support
Monday-Friday chat access to Aya throughout the program
Personalized 1:1 Strategic Coaching
1:1 call with Aya after the cohort to discuss any questions you may have + plan your strategy moving forward
Access to The Her Film School Community
Network with like-minded women in filmmaking, exchange feedback, and grow in a space built for honest connection and creative support
Bonus: 70+ pre-recorded course lessons
Filmmaking fundamentals, the creative process, business strategy, project breakdowns and more
Curriculum
This cohort is structured to give you a clear, step-by-step system for building a profitable filmmaking business – helping you attract high-value clients, turn one-off gigs into long-term partners, raise your rates with confidence, and create consistent income doing work you’re proud of.
Calendar
Cohort 3 begins on April 7th, 2026 and will be at 4PM UK time 🇬🇧 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Mentors
Aya Karadzhova
Creative Entrepreneur Founder of Her Film School
I built my career from the ground up as a solo female filmmaker — no connections, no roadmap, just a deep love for storytelling and a drive to figure it out. Today, I run a full-time production company, work with global brands, and mentor female creatives who want to turn their skills into a real, sustainable business. I’m here to help you do the same — with structure, clarity, and real support.
Giulia Gartner
Filmmaker, Photographer
I grew up surrounded by the wild beauty of the Dolomites, where creativity wasn’t something you scheduled — it was something you lived. My work is rooted in emotion and movement — showing, not telling. From film photography to directing, I follow curiosity wherever it leads, even if it means cold floors, flat tires, or chasing light across continents. I believe that visual storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have — and I’ll help you shape yours.
Alice Greenfield
DOP, Photographer
Alice is co-founder of Adrift Visuals and an award-winning filmmaker from the UK. Her career began on set as a camera trainee, but she quickly carved her path into producing cinematic short-form work for global brands. With Sony naming her an official creator in 2022, her focus has only deepened — pushing visual storytelling that’s bold, intentional, and built to leave an impact.
Julie Valentina
Travel Filmmaker
Julie Valentina is a travel filmmaker, content creator, and community builder. Her content focuses on lifestyle, cinematic travel storytelling and creative aesthetics.
Pricing Plans
FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLAN
$525 ×4
Enroll in Her Film School for 4x monthly
Everything you see on this page.
16 x live sessions with examples, walkthroughs and Q&As
The HFS Workbook
Lifetime access to the HFS private community
Digital Resources Pack
Lifetime access to all future cohort lessons
BONUS:
70+ pre-recorded lessons
1 x In-Person Networking Event Pass
1 x 1:1 Call
Monday to Friday chat support during the program
HER FILM SCHOOL COHORT
$2,000
The one and done
Everything you see on this page.
16 x live sessions with examples, walkthroughs and Q&As
The HFS Workbook
Lifetime access to the HFS private community
Digital Resources Pack
Lifetime access to all future cohort lessons
BONUS:
70+ pre-recorded lessons
1 x In-Person Networking Event Pass
1 x 1:1 Call
Monday to Friday chat support during the program
Testimonials
If you're anything like me, you don't make decisions lightly – especially when it comes to investing in yourself.
So let's take the emotion out of it for a second.
Think about where you are right now: the projects you're doing, the rates you're charging, the way your business actually feels behind the scenes.
Now ask yourself: if nothing changes… will it finally click? Or will you still be stuck in the same cycle of burnout, low rates, and figuring it all out alone?
This program isn't about hype. It's about finally putting real structure behind the creative career you've been trying to build for years.
I'm not here to fix you. You don't need fixing.
What you need is to transform uncertainty into strategy and potential into profit.
You've already taken the first step by being here. The path forward is clear.