CSFF | Talk: From Script to Scream
How do writing, sound, lighting, production design, practical effects, casting, and performance come together to build suspense, dread, and unforgettable scares?
Join us for a unique masterclass exploring the craft behind horror filmmaking.
Through conversation and practical insights, screenwriter Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen, director Michael Panduro and writer and horror enthusiast Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld will unpack the creative decisions and collaborative processes that transform an idea on the page into a chilling cinematic experience.
Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen
Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen is a Danish screenwriter who graduated from the Super16 Screenwriting Programme in 2014. Since she has written numerous short and feature films that have screened at major international festivals, including Fantastic Fest, Sitges, Rotterdam, Toronto, San Sebastián and Berlinale.She has twice been nominated for the Danish Robert Awards, winning Best Screenplay in 2025. In recent years, Sissel has established herself as a significant voice in contemporary Danish genre cinema, with five feature films currently in production, including two horror films. Her previous work in the genre includes the feature Breeder and the acclaimed short films Skuld and Vokseværk, where psychological horror and bodily transformation play a central role.
Michael Panduro
Michael Panduro is a Danish filmmaker, screenwriter and Berlinale Talents and Kyoto Filmmaker’s Lab alumnus, with a degree in Film Studies from the University of Copenhagen. After nearly a decade directing award-winning music videos and commercials, he has become one of Denmark’s most distinctive voices in horror and genre filmmaking.His short film The Sunken Convent screened at more than 60 international festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Screamfest and Brussels Fantastic Film Festival, earning multiple awards. He later expanded his exploration of Hans Christian Andersen’s darker themes with the feature anthology Adorable Humans. Michael’s work combines visceral body horror, surreal imagery and emotionally grounded storytelling. He has also worked extensively as a programmer for CPH PIX, VOID Animation Festival and Blodig Weekend Horror Festival.
Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld
Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld is a Copenhagen-based writer, translator, editor and cultural critic whose work explores the intersections of literature, comics, cinema and popular culture. Holding a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies and Information Science, he has co-authored several academic publications on popular culture and gaming and regularly lectures on visual narrative.His engagement with horror spans criticism, research and curatorial practice. Dennis is co-host of the podcast Tracing Lovecraft, dedicated to the literature of H.P. Lovecraft, and he curated the complete Jewish Horror Festival programme at Cinemateket, examining the legacy of Jewish folklore within modern horror cinema. Since 2022, he has also introduced films and hosted discussions at Blodig Weekend Horror Festival.
In partnership with: Blodig Weekend
