The reluctant scholar who now picks Luxembourg's movies

What happens when you stop doubting and start doing? Sarah Bamberg's trajectory from banking to becoming an executive officer at the Film Fund Luxembourg reveals how embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected success. 

Having once believed she lacked the ability for university studies, Sarah now analyses scripts, selects projects for funding, and shapes Luxembourg's cultural landscape. Her story challenges our assumptions about linear career paths and highlights the value of calculated risk-taking.

"The pain of regret is greater than the pain of failure," Sarah shares, explaining how this philosophy guided her from initial self-doubt through her bachelor's in French literature, a cross-border master's degree, and eventually an MBA—all while taking on increasing responsibilities at the Film Fund.

As part of the selection committee, Sarah evaluates the artistic and technical quality of film projects, meeting with directors and producers from Luxembourg and beyond. Her literature background unexpectedly prepared her for script analysis, while her administrative skills help navigate the complex world of film funding and production.

For those hesitant to pursue their ambitions, Sarah's advice resonates: break large goals into manageable steps, seek support from others, and don't be afraid to try something new. Whether you're considering university studies, changing careers, or contributing to cultural development, her journey demonstrates that it's never too late to discover and develop your talents.

Explore Luxembourg's vibrant cultural scene through the eyes of someone who helps make it possible. Listen now to gain insights about balancing professional growth with personal wellbeing, and discover how cultural institutions like the Film Fund nurture creative expression in surprising ways.

Interested in signing up for the Bachelor en Cultures Européennes?

Visit the website : bce.uni.lu

If you have any specific questions regarding this Bachelor, please contact: bce.office@uni.lu

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Transcript

Introducing alumni stories podcast

Masti Shaswar 0:02

Hello and welcome to Alumni Stories, a podcast brought to you by the University of Luxembourg. I'm your host, Masti. Let me give you an idea of what Alumni Stories is all about. Whether you've studied here before, or you're curious and consider pursuing your studies at the University of Luxembourg, or just want to listen to interesting people, whatever it might be, you're at the right place. I know it sounds forward, but let me break it down for you. Every episode will star a former student who finished their degrees and has set a foot into the working world, or, as I like to call it, the grown-up life. We'll get a glimpse of each individual, their personal ups and downs, their survival strategies, the recipe to balance uni and life, and much more. So if you're like me, someone who's been looking for the right study program but hasn't been able to find the right fit yet, call this your lucky day, because this podcast is made for you. So, without any further ado, let's dive into today's episode.

Meeting Sarah Bamberg, Film Fund Executive

Masti Shaswar 1:04

Today's guest on Alumni Stories has an eye for the art of storytelling. Reading several scripts every week is one of the many things that are part of her job. From doubting herself to even take on studying at the university, to finishing an MBA, a postgraduate degree, whilst being an executive officer at the Film Funds here in Luxembourg takes a lot of dedication. Let's find out what the Film Funds are for, how to stop doubting and start doing, and how we can learn from our failures. Please welcome Sarah Bamberg.

Masti Shaswar 1:42

Hi, Sarah, welcome to the podcast.

Sarah Bamberg 1:45

Hi Masti, thanks for the invitation. It's a pleasure to be here.

Masti Shaswar 1:47

Yeah, it's a pleasure to have you here!

Masti Shaswar 1:49

So, I have to ask you - first things first - who are you and what do you do?

Sarah Bamberg 1:57

Well, my name is Sarah Bamberg, I'm Executive Officer at the Film Fund Luxembourg. I am also a member of the selection committee there and of other small commissions of different funding schemes.

Masti Shaswar 2:10

Please explain your job to us, because what do you do at a film fund? Please tell us about it.

Sarah Bamberg 2:16

The Film Fund Luxembourg has the mission to promote and develop the audiovisual sector. It means that we have to analyze the different projects that are submitted at the Fund. We pick the different ones we think is best for the industry so that different authors, directors, technicians, work on a project, and that afterwards you get a nice movie or series - or whatever format like XR projects. And afterwards, we promote them so that they can be seen in Luxembourg but also all over the world. So after we analyze the project, we have to accompany, to support them throughout the process. They begin with script writing support, then they get development support and then, in best case, also production support. Once they are finished, they also need to be promoted so we also have a promotion support.

Sarah Bamberg 3:16

And then, we also go to different festivals and markets to promote them, and to talk about the industry, and then to facilitate the networking process of all those actors, producers and directors. They really get to mingle and find new projects to work together. A film - and that is what's so fascinating about it - and audiovisual piecework is a mixture of very, very different people. So you have to write your script, then you have to - if you get supported - also to organize a shooting. A shooting has so many people, like 50 persons. So you really need to organize everything so that, on one day, you know that this person's gonna make this, this and this.

Masti Shaswar 4:11

Yeah.

Sarah Bamberg 4:12

From the production side, it's really a lot of work just to organize it. And then you need the talent of the different technicians to take the sound, to have a DOP, to have an actor to get into the scene. And it's what's so passionate about it.

Masti Shaswar 4:30

The thing is you mentioned quite a lot of things here so we have so many layers, and probably a lot of people that work at the Fund. But what are you exactly doing? Are you in charge of everything?

Sarah Bamberg 4:43

No, no, no, no, no - we have a lot of great people there.

Sarah Bamberg 4:48

I'm part of the management team so, on the everyday basis, it's a lot of administrative work: write some notes for the ministries, defend our budget, or maybe optimize our workflows, or be present in meetings to help. Like, if a production company has a problem, I can be in a meeting and then help them to facilitate or whatever situation. It's also about managing the urgencies on an everyday basis. And that is the administrative part that you just do when you have a great team on your side and everyone has the will and the passion to work in a direction for the industry. And then also, as part of the selection committee, I have the privilege to also read the different projects that come to the Fund; so I'm really in contact with this artistic part. This mixture of administrative work and that more creative side - even if I'm not t he creative part - but reading all those projects is a nice mixture that I really, really enjoy.

Sarah Bamberg 6:07

And I feel very fortunate to work at the Film Fund, in this position.

From self-doubt to university studies

Masti Shaswar 6:12

You work at the Film Fund yes, so how did you manage to get there? What is your way to accomplish that position? To be so thrilled about your job? Probably took a lot of steps to get there.

Sarah Bamberg 6:24

Yeah well, after finishing high school, I immediately wanted to get to work because I didn't feel that I had the abilities to go to university.

Masti Shaswar 6:37

Why would you think that?

Sarah Bamberg 6:39

I don't know, I had this idea that I'm not capable of going to university.

Masti Shaswar 6:45

That's so crazy because if you think of you now - and you've done so much in that time between high school and current date - it's crazy that you thought that way about yourself.

Sarah Bamberg 6:58

Yeah but it's also a process, you know. It's a thing of maturity and going through all these experiences I had. So yeah, I was more insecure. I'm still insecure but then those days, even more. So I worked. I worked for a bank for a year. After a few months, I realized that maybe I'm missing something because all my friends went to university. They were all talking about how great it is, that they learn so much every day. So, I said "maybe I miss something and maybe I should try it".

Masti Shaswar 7:39

After high school you went for the bank. Were you good with mathematics, how did you end up choosing a bank as your first workplace?

Sarah Bamberg 7:47

It was some coincidence. One of my teachers told me "yeah, I know that there's this person is looking for someone, so just go there" so really it was -

Masti Shaswar 7:58

There was not much behind.

Sarah Bamberg 7:59

Yes, it was more thing of coincidence. And after, I said "okay, so let's give it a try!". And then, I decided because I had a great teacher at high school, a French teacher, and he talked so - he really had this passion that I really liked about; so, I said "okay, let's give it a try and study French literature here at the university".

Masti Shaswar 8:24

And that's such a different field, right? You worked in the banking sector

Sarah Bamberg 8:29

Yeah.

Masti Shaswar 8:29

And then you went for French literature in a bachelor.

Sarah Bamberg 8:32

Yeah, because I liked reading.

Masti Shaswar 8:33

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 8:34

So that's how it came. And then also this French teacher who had such a big impact on how I liked high school and French literature. So I said "okay, it's a nice mixture, let's give it a try".

Masti Shaswar 8:47

How did you come across the University of Luxembourg? I think, at that time, it was still like kind of newish and how was that?

Sarah Bamberg 8:55

Well it was. One argument for the University of Luxembourg is that it has the proximity because

Masti Shaswar 9:03

For you it was probably near.

Sarah Bamberg 9:05

For me it was very near. And as I was a bit unsure, I said "okay, let's try something that is near". And the second argument, what spoke for the University of Luxembourg, is that you don't just have classes in one language like just in French, but also in German and in English. And also this polyglot aspect that we have in Luxembourg, in the society of Luxembourg.

Masti Shaswar 9:30

It's really multiculty.

Sarah Bamberg 9:32

Yeah and this multicultural aspect in a university is something that I was then also looking for, when I was thinking about choosing a university. And yes, it was really that, and also knowing that the university is quite small compared to other big universities, which means that you have also a different contact to the professors.

Masti Shaswar 10:00

What a very strategic way of going to university: you're like "okay, this and this is the pro here, this is the con here', which is quite nice at that young age you were probably. How old were you when you started, may I ask?

Sarah Bamberg 10:12

I think I was 19 or 20.

Masti Shaswar 10:16

That's like you're just starting to really make sense of everything for yourself. And well, that's the best idea: you have French literature, you have German literature, you have English literature, you had everything you were asking for, you could read all day!

Sarah Bamberg 10:29

Yes.

Masti Shaswar 10:31

How did it feel like? Because you didn't have the confidence before, you mentioned. Were you able to build it up when you started the bachelor? How did things go for you?

Sarah Bamberg 10:43

I think the first weeks were interesting, because you had some courses that you have to do and then you have to make some choices: do you want to do a bit German literature or English literature, and so that was the big step. So what am I gonna take now? Right now, it is such a big choice or just so many possibilities! So what am I going to choose? That was one step. And then after, I think it takes a month still, you can try different courses, and you have to make your decision.

Sarah Bamberg 11:17

After one month I have my decisions. Then you go into the courses and everything went well. And then you have in January- F ebruary, the first exams. And I remember, for my first exam, I was so nervous, it was horrible. After I finished, everything went quite well but I had so many emotions there. When I got out of the class, of the exam room, I had to take the train and at the train station, I just began crying. It was so overwhelming and the next two exams were quite the same. Then, you get used to it when you have two or three weeks exams, so -

Masti Shaswar 12:11

You get used to the client.

Sarah Bamberg 12:12

Yeah, so after two to three days, it was okay. And when I got my results, I was happy and after that, I really felt a bit more confident.

Masti Shaswar 12:22

Yeah.

Sarah Bamberg 12:23

It went easier for the next time. But still, I will never forget that moment at the train station, and that's also part of the process, you know. So that's how you grow, which is fine.

Masti Shaswar 12:36

Yeah, it's true. And I'm just thinking - I'm still kind of stuck on that - from bank to university, you had a sheer amount of other work you had to do. You had to really prepare in terms of learning, and I think in the bank it was probably a little different. So how did you cope with the process of: how do I learn properly? How do I get used to this kind of everyday structure I have at uni? How did you do it?

Sarah Bamberg 13:06

I think I have the chance that I have some easy learning. So when I read something a few times, I remember them for a short period, so it works very well for the exams - but maybe after the exam I forget everything [laughs]. So that's the advantage, I really have that easy learning.

Masti Shaswar 13:24

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 13:24

So that's why. Which means that I had a chance that I could have good time at university between the exams and two weeks before the exams, I really started learning. So that's how it went out for me.

Masti Shaswar 13:41

So actually you're predestined to go for university with that skill. You really underestimated yourself there!

Sarah Bamberg 13:50

Probably yeah.

Masti Shaswar 13:51

So you said you had enough time for your social life and social activities: the balance gi ven because of your skill. And did you still have friends from high school at the uni when you started, because you started a little later than them?

Sarah Bamberg 14:09

I lost my high school friends between university because I had that year, yes. And also, in some way, I lost a bit my high school friends because most of them went outside of Luxembourg. There was a big geographical distance.

Masti Shaswar 14:28

Which a lot of people back then especially used to do. I think it wasn't so popular studying here at the university. Were you able to connect to new people and find new friendships? Maybe friendships that lasted until today?

Sarah Bamberg 14:43

Yes, yes, quite easily. You are a smaller class so you get to know everybody quite quickly and new friendships arise.

Cross-Border Master's and career evolution

Sarah Bamberg 14:55

At my second year of the bachelor, with friends, we decided to join the Student Circle at University of Luxembourg. And then you connect even more with people, and you get to know very different people from the other courses. We were very lucky at that time, we were at Walferdange and we had some location just for the Student Circle. We had a small bar there and two or three rooms where we had some kind of lounge. So every morning we got there, we drank a coffee together. For lunch, we also took out the couches, we sat outside.

Masti Shaswar 15:41

And that night you had a cocktail.

Sarah Bamberg 15:42

Yeah, exactly. It was really a good time.

Masti Shaswar 15:45

Oh nice, I love to hear that. I think you're the first person to tell me about the Student Circle. I've never heard of that before, actually.

Sarah Bamberg 15:55

So, is there no Student Circle anymore?

Masti Shaswar 15:57

No, I'm pretty sure there is, but you're the first one to really share that experience.

Sarah Bamberg 16:01

Well, that was a really nice experience. I was treasurer there and a friend of mine was also, at a certain point, President of the Student Circle. The advantage of it is that you get to know people, not just from the other courses, but also from the different academic years. So we get to know the people of the French Literature Bachelor, but who were a year in front of us.

Masti Shaswar 16:32

So you were so at advantage for all your classes too.

Sarah Bamberg 16:34

Exactly, it also helped a bit to get to know what's going to come next year, and we could also help those who will come after us. So it was a really nice mix. And you had another contact also with -

Masti Shaswar 16:47

Probably like people from other faculties?

Sarah Bamberg 16:50

Yeah exactly, so that was also nice. We had some parties sometimes, so it was really nice to get to know new people.

Masti Shaswar 16:57

You did your bachelor's and everything went well because of your skill, of course. And then you decided to go for the master's.

Sarah Bamberg 17:05

Yeah.

Masti Shaswar 17:06

Why did you decide to stay here?

Sarah Bamberg 17:08

Because there was a three- national master at the university

Masti Shaswar 17:14

The cross-border one.

Sarah Bamberg 17:17

The cross-border master, yes. I knew after the bachelor that I wouldn't continue with French literature because I think I'm not the personality to be a French teacher. So I decided -

Masti Shaswar 17:32

Oh wait, that's a good point you made there. What did you think during your bachelor's? Did you want to become a teacher?

Sarah Bamberg 17:39

Yes, at the beginning I was just thinking that.

Masti Shaswar 17:41

Oh wow, how did that idea come?

Sarah Bamberg 17:43

Well, because I like reading.

Masti Shaswar 17:48

And

Sarah Bamberg 17:49

Exa ctly, it was for me a way to go. Then I realized I like literature and I like the culture, but I'm maybe not the personality to be a teacher. So I said "let's stick to the cultural aspect of it and let's go to work in the culture here in Luxembourg".

Masti Shaswar 18:12

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 18:13

I wanted to have this connection with Luxembourg because I know I want to stay here. But I also want to discover other universities and go outside of the country. That's why the three- national master was very interesting. The first year was in Metz and the second year in Saarbrücken, and then you had a few courses here in Luxembourg. The advantage of it is that you could also focus on the courses you want to take; you could focus on maybe more cultural aspects or more political aspects. I decided to go then for the cultural aspects, and that was also a nice experience.

Masti Shaswar 18:56

When you say you chose this specific one, it makes sense due to the languages and the things you also did in the Bachelor. But how did you go from "I'm not going for the teaching" to "I want to contribute to the cultural aspects here in Luxembourg'? What made you think that?

Sarah Bamberg 19:14

Because I think culture in general aspect is so important, and literature is part of it. I decided to work for it and to be part of the cultural society and cultural offer that we have in Luxembourg. Since Luxembourg was European capital of culture in '95, the cultural offer here really increased in a very interesting way. I really liked to go to theater at the time and to read books. I wanted to participate to this nice offer and to this important part of our everyday lives. I said to myself " "let' hat's why I then!" said to myself okay, let's go in that direction.

Masti Shaswar 20:10

That's a beautiful way to say that. Were you able to contribute to the Luxembourgish culture?

Sarah Bamberg 20:15

That's a good question. I try by helping technicians or producers in the everyday life. I hope that I contribute to it, I hope so.

Masti Shaswar 20:29

Before being in your current position, did you think of contributing to the Luxembourgish culture? W as that something you had in mind before and that you now know is possible?

Sarah Bamberg 20:41

When I talk about contributing to the cultural office, having a job here where you're passionate about and where your everyday life is there to contribute to this offer that we have and to help people in this sector, that's what I mean by it.

Masti Shaswar 21:05

Maybe everybody has like a different definition of it, so that would have been a good thing to know your definition of culture. For you, it is being passionate in what you do and try to help the others in your community with it.

Sarah Bamberg 21:19

Yeah, in theater, in cinema, in literature. So that was the idea behind it.

Masti Shaswar 21:24

Okay, so to help with the process of developing.

Sarah Bamberg 21:28

Yes.

Masti Shaswar 21:32

And, in the selection committee, what exactly do you do there? Do you just select projects?

Sarah Bamberg 21:39

We analyze the projects on their artistic quality and also technical quality. We have to assess the story, the quality of dialogues, whether the connection between the different persons is functioning. That's everything that you analyze.

Sarah Bamberg 22:01

We are fortunate at the selection committee: we see each other for five days - most of the time it is five days - then, the producers, writers and directors, come to the Fund and we talk for 30 minutes about the different projects.

Balancing MBA and film selection committee

Sarah Bamberg 22:18

That is also very nice because you get to know the people behind it. Most of the time, for the projects from Luxembourg, we know w riters and directors. We also have minority co-productions, which means that directors from other countries come to Luxembourg to work with our technicians.

Masti Shaswar 22:43

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 22:43

The Film Fund makes the financial contribution so they can take those technicians from here. And then, you get to know those directors, and also the co-producers of the project. That is really nice to see that human aspect behind every paper that you read.

Masti Shaswar 23:04

Looking into the future with AI and everything that is happening, I think the human interaction is a very beautiful and important part we must cherish.

Masti Shaswar 23:14

And how many people are in that committee? Just out

Masti Shaswar 23:18

Okay, and h ow do you get chosen to be part of that committee?

Sarah Bamberg 23:22

There are two persons from the Film Fund and three external experts -

Masti Shaswar 23:26

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 23:27

And they are chosen based on their experience.

Masti Shaswar 23:31

Would you say that the master kind of prepared you for this kind of job?

Sarah Bamberg 23:37

Yes and I think the bachelor too. You read that much so you are used to read stories. I think the master and the bachelor helped me to assess the projects, because you have also to analyze books and write dissertations about everything, so it helps. And then I also did a WeiterBildung

Masti Shaswar 24:03

So, further education -

Sarah Bamberg 24:07

For how to assess a script and to give a constructive and respectful feedback. That is so important. People work sometimes for years on their projects, so it's important to give a feedback that helps them.

Masti Shaswar 24:28

What are the aspects you guys are looking for when somebody's coming with an idea and script?

Sarah Bamberg 24:36

Well, one of them is whether it is an original and interesting story. A lso, for the Film Fund, it also important to have this production part in mind so we assess whether it is feasible to produce with the the budget they have, or want to put in place.

Sarah Bamberg 25:01

So that is also something you have to think about. Also, we also look at whether there is a distributor, a sales agent, already on board. This is to be sure that the project will be seen afterwards.

Masti Shaswar 25:19

So you need a proper advertisement for it.

Masti Shaswar 25:19

Let's say, I had a great idea and I come to you but I have no other experience. Is it even possible to give you a project?

Sarah Bamberg 25:30

It depends, we have different schemes. We have schemes when you come with a production company, so it's our main support scheme. We also have some smaller schemes for script writing where you can participate to some workshops.

Masti Shaswar 25:44

Yeah.

Sarah Bamberg 25:45

And a smaller scheme for shorts, a carte blanche, so you get a smaller amount.

Masti Shaswar 25:52

Okay.

Sarah Bamberg 25:52

It helps you to produce something, even without production company. That is very useful to help new talents to come into our industry, to show what they can do with a smaller amount because, even then, you can see whether there is a talent or not. And then, they come from the carte blanche, they come to a bigger scheme which is called AFS, Aide Financière Sélective. I am in those different commissions. That's really nice to discover them from their first steps maybe, to then the carte blanche, and then the AFS. I see that nice evolution.

Masti Shaswar 26:35

It's like the teaching position but in a different sense. Like you have the children, then they become adolescents, and then they graduate. Then, in your case, they start with a pitch in their beginnings, and then you see how they grow, which is pretty cool.

Masti Shaswar 26:51

Let's see the academic side again. You did the master's. You said it prepared you for this kind of job, but I also saw that you did an MBA (Master of Business Administration). Why did you think of doing that?

Sarah Bamberg 27:45

Because I had the feeling my academic way was more focused on the artistic part, but

Sarah Bamberg 27:44

When I was around five years at the Fund, I had some kind of day-to-day life where I was quite comfortable. Since I had free time in my evenings, I could do something else than just reading books so let's try an MBA. What is interesting about it is that it is completely long-distance learning. It was based in Fachhochschule Burgenland in Austria but I didn't have to go there. I am really free to organize myself completely. The only deadline that I have is to finish it in three years. But everything else, every exam, I can do it whenever I want.

Masti Shaswar 28:17

Which is great for your job position. But I feel like you have to be an organized person to do that.

Sarah Bamberg 28:26

Yeah, absolutely. It is about looking at your yearly agenda and really knowing that, for every selection committee, I have to read the month before. Every evening I read a project, so I have those five months

Masti Shaswar 28:39

Every evening?

Sarah Bamberg 28:40

Yes because you have a script that is most of the time 90, 100 pages. Then you read the letter of the director, of the author, of the producer. You look at the marketing strategy, the budget, everything.

Masti Shaswar 29:00

You did that while doing an

Sarah Bamberg 29:04

Yes but it was not planned like that. When I decided to do that MBA, my position was quite different because I was more like assistant to the management. Then, unfortunately, our deputy director was in a long-term sick leave. That's when I took over some of her tasks and that's how I got into the selection committee and other commissions. I'm doing also very different things at work. There was a big evolution from one day to the other. I had to put on side a bit the MBA to get in that new everyday life. When that was good, I really started again to really organize myself and see when I can do what.

Sarah Bamberg 29:56

Also, when I took some days off, it was just for learning. So it was quite tough. The six first months were especially very tough because I also participated in a producer's workshop, which was over a year. I had three weeks separated: one week in March, the second in June and the last in October. So I had a lot of things in the same year.

Sarah Bamberg 30:29

And I really learned how to manage that and this trash situation. The first eight months were really, really tough but since then, I know I can manage things that I was never thinking before that I was capable of doing. And that's something I would not want to miss anymore. It was tough but in a sense it was also great afterwards. To know what you can do if you organize yourself. If you have the support of your family and friends and knowing that you do it for a reason. You want to read those projects correctly, you want to do that MBA. When you have this focus and then when you do something to try to come in a flow, and then things become much easier.

Masti Shaswar 31:32

That's quite a lot of things you had to do. You're a settled person. You have your job, your friends, family, maybe a partner, like many layers again here. And still you kept track of everything. What is your best way to do that? You said you learned to organize that, but what are the ways that you learned that helped you so much?

Sarah Bamberg 31:59

A way to do it is to see the big picture and set yourself an agenda for you. That really helped me and then to put those different deadlines in it. And then to see when can I take some days off, when can I do that and that? And then really saying: every day, I do a little bit of it. I really fix myself to do one hour of that or one hour of that. Most of the time afterwards you do more than an hour.

The pain of regret vs. failure

Sarah Bamberg 32:31

But just the fact to start it is it's really important. It's also a matter of having the support really from my partner, for example. At home, he did a lot of things that I didn't have to do afterwards. That also helps. And I also have that support from the whole family, who says, "well, we won't see you, maybe for the next

Masti Shaswar 33:00

You have to sacrifice so much for these kind of things.

Sarah Bamberg 33:03

Yeah and that's why you never do something alone. It's all always together - as personally, as professionally, you're never alone. It's also a matter of will. If you really want to do something and you put it, you cut it in smaller piece, in pieces that you can reach. I think that makes things easier to really see the steps and not the big mountain before you.

Masti Shaswar 33:35

That's a good metaphor. Normally the main issue will have like that huge amount that piled up and you're like "oh my god, I will never get to the top of that". But if you just take it step by step, it might not even be as bad as you think it is.

Sarah Bamberg 33:52

Exactly.

Masti Shaswar 33:55

One thing that I also wondered about is - During your studies, did you do any kind of Erasmus or did you or did you stay here?

Sarah Bamberg 34:03

W e had to do an Erasmus.

Masti Shaswar 34:06

Right, it's obligatory.

Sarah Bamberg 34:07

It was obligatory and I did it in Metz.

Masti Shaswar 34:12

So you stayed nearby?

Sarah Bamberg 34:13

Yeah, nearby.

Masti Shaswar 34:14

Why didn't you want to get out of the zone here?

Sarah Bamberg 34:18

I t was for personal reasons and also financial reasons. It's easier to stay nearby.

Masti Shaswar 34:26

Maybe it also helped with your French studies, after all.

Sarah Bamberg 34:28

Yeah, finally yes.

Masti Shaswar 34:32

All the experiences you gained in Saarbrücken and in Metz and even here, would you say they helped you? Especially with socializing with different people that come from those regions? I'm saying German people or French people, Luxembourgish people... Was it easier to you?

Sarah Bamberg 34:52

I think so, but I think it's also some part of our DNA in Luxembourg. You're in touch with so many different people. You're kind of used to it. It's even strange if you speak just maybe one language a day. You know, it's completely normal to switch from Luxembourgish to French, to German, in your everyday life.

Masti Shaswar 35:10

Yeah.

Sarah Bamberg 35:12

I think it comes quite naturally. Going abroad to those universities is something else, because you live there also for months or for a year.

Masti Shaswar 35:25

Was it a big difference?

Sarah Bamberg 35:27

I t was a difference - not such a big difference - because you are in your everyday life in another culture and you get to know other people. It's a nice experience.

Masti Shaswar 35:40

So it didn't feel like it wasn't necessarily not home. It felt similar to that?

Sarah Bamberg 35:47

Yeah, quite.

Masti Shaswar 35:49

Something you've mentioned as a motto is that being brave is something that you think is important or you learn that is important. But you mentioned especially the pain of regret is greater than the pain of failure. Now I'm wondering, have you ever regretted something?

Sarah Bamberg 36:23

I don't really think so. Even if you do something not that good, or if you think afterwards, "I should I really have done this, you learn so much out of it. I think it's a lesson. If I would regret something is something that I wouldn't have done when I had the chance to do it. That's why, for example, I also decided at a certain point to go to university and try it. When I think back about that time, I'm glad that I went to work after high school because I learned also to cherish how fortunate you are to be capable to go to university. That is also something important, or to realize that it's important to have a job that you are passionate about. That you go with pleasure to work every day, do what you want and have to do. So I think, even if it looks like some chaotic way, I'm happy that I did it that way because I really cherish and love my everyday life and work and personal life.

Sarah Bamberg 37:44

So yes, it's part of life and to fail is also part of the process. That's why, if we get chances to do something, I think we should go for it and take a calculated risk. Of course you won't do everything that is that you think or you have to do, but really evaluate and take a calculated risk.

Masti Shaswar 38:10

Would you say that there were times where you hit rock bottom but you still managed to get up? And how did you do that? Was it also the support system you had?

Sarah Bamberg 38:23

Yeah, absolutely. It's really a matter of support and to take the time to reflect things, go to the core of what you want to do, with the people on your side. If you're on the bottom of something, just take your time, think about it and then continue. I think stopping at a certain point is important, but we have to continue.

Masti Shaswar 38:55

What I would like to mention again is that you took your time as well after high school going for the bank position, realizing that's not it even a year after your friends, it didn't matter. Because you did it in your own pace. And I think, for most people, you get that sense of stress in a way that you might not be able to keep up with the surroundings. The approach you had is so important, to be able to say "I will just give it a try", even if you know. Okay, I'm not so secure as a person, and just be open towards everything that is coming your way. I think that is something we can all agree on. That is very important. And what is your advice for people that may also want to contribute to cultural aspects of Luxembourg and maybe are interested in the Film Fund as well? Do you have an advice for them?

Sarah Bamberg 39:54

Don't hesitate to contact the different institutions. Don't hesitate to contact different artists. There are a lot of great people who want to help so really, reach out for them. I'm sure you will get the help that you need.

Final advice and cultural contribution

Masti Shaswar 40:13

What can people take from our conversation?

Sarah Bamberg 40:16

It's okay to take time to get somewhere. And also, to be courageous. Just give it a try. Really give it a try, and if it's not perfect, it's completely fine. It will never be perfect, but try it! Because at a certain point, you will maybe regret it. So give it a try. And yeah, we have a great cultural sector in Luxembourg so go to theater, to cinema, to concerts. It's really worth it.

Masti Shaswar 41:04

I hope you enjoyed this episode of Alumni Stories. If you want to get in touch with our guest or interested in applying or need more details about a Bachelor of the European Culture study program here at the University of Luxembourg, check out the description of today's episode, where I've added all the information you'll need. That's all for now, but we'll be back soon, and I hope you will be too. Maybe even soon on campus.