Film Character Development Workshop @ Good Company Books

Join award-winning filmmaker Lesia Diak for an interactive, hands-on workshop exploring the forces that shape characters from within! Who is this event for Designed for filmmakers, screenwriters, directors, film students, and emerging creatives, this workshop offers practical tools for discovering the hidden layers of your characters and opening new directions for your film project. What to expect Through writing exercises, group discussions, and feedback from Lesia, participants will explore their characters’ psychological complexity, inner contradictions, and urgent dilemmas. Together, we will test characters against impossible choices, personal loss, and forces beyond their control, in search of richer, more cinematic possibilities for your stories. What to bring Bring your fiction or documentary project at any stage of development. Leave with deeper insight into your characters, fresh perspectives, and new cinematic directions for your work. About your host Lesia Diak is a Ukrainian film director and producer whose films have earned recognition at international festivals. Her work explores human connection, inner conflict, and trauma through intimate, thought-provoking narratives. With a background in communication, she went on to complete the DocNomads International Documentary Film Directing Master’s Program in 2022, and later founded DramaFree, a production company dedicated to author-driven films. In 2024, Lesia premiered her debut feature-length documentary, Dad’s Lullaby, a Ukrainian-Romanian-Croatian co-production, at the Sarajevo Film Festival. As both director and lead producer, she balanced creative vision with production leadership to bring this deeply personal film to life. Dad’s Lullaby received several awards, including an Honorable Mention at DocLisboa 2024. Lesia currently divides her time between Lisbon and Kyiv, collaborating with co-producers from Portugal, France, Poland, the UK, and beyond. Her short fiction film Shattered Ice is in development, and her experimental documentary My Days Are Being Chopped is in post-production. By working across genres, she continues to refine her artistic voice and expand her creative practice. Tickets Space is limited. Your ticket includes hands-on guidance from your host, Lesia Diak, during the workshop, and one drink from the bar on the day of the event. The Venue Good Company Books is an independent English Bookstore in Lisbon. Born from our love of global literature and our Portuguese heritage, we are crafting a space for people of all backgrounds to gather and enjoy the best books, events, coffee, and wine. Find out more on our Instagram. How To Find Us By Metro: We're situated a 5-minute walk from the Campo Pequeno metro (Yellow line) and a 10-minute walk from the Alameda metro (Green & Red lines). By Bus: There are many convenient bus options 2 blocks away from us on Avenida República, with the closest stop to our store being Campo Pequeno-Av. Republica. By Bike: If you're using the Gira public bicycles, there is a docking station right across the street (#431 - Rua do Arco Cego / Av. Magalhães Lima). By Car: There is a paid parking lot across the street, between Rua Arco do Cego and Rua Dona Filipa de Vilhena. Street parking is also available around the neighborhood.