Introduction to a new Film Profession: Intimacy Coordination

Scenes involving nudity, physical intimacy, simulated sex or other forms of heightened vulnerability require a clear, respectful and professionally guided process. Intimacy coordination helps create a clearer and more protected working process for actors as well as directors, supporting both artistic intention and agreed boundaries. In many productions, such scenes have historically been approached without sufficient preparation, with unclear boundaries or improvised choreography. This can create uncertainty for actors and may lead to insufficiently protected working conditions. This workshop introduces students to the role and working methods of an intimacy coordinator in film production. It explores how intimacy coordination supports directors’ artistic visions while helping to create transparent communication, agreed boundaries and precise choreography for intimate scenes.

Kasia Szustow, certified intimacy coordinator and member of the European Intimacy Practitioners’ Guild, will lead the workshop. Her credits include Gentle Monster, Rosebush Pruning, The Assessment and Deutsches Haus, among others.

The workshop is divided into two parts:

Part I:

Introduction and Best Practices 10 December 2026, 10:00–13:00, Aula

The first part offers a general introduction to intimacy coordination, professional standards and best practices. This session is open to all interested students. The number of participants is not limited, but prior registration is required: m.polednova@khm.de

Part II:

Practical Workshop 10 December 2026, 14:00–17:00, Studio A

11 December 2026, 10:00–17:00, Studio A

The second part is a practical workshop and is limited to 16 participants. Students who wish to take part in the practical section are asked to submit a scene of their own by 10 November 2026.

The submitted scene should be 1–2 pages long and may involve intimacy, nudity, physical closeness or another form of heightened vulnerability: m.polednova@khm.de, pia.marais@khm.de

The workshop deals with sensitive subject matter.

All discussions and practical exercises will take place within a respectful working framework based on consent, confidentiality, agreed boundaries and the right to pause or step out of an exercise.