University degrees: Postgraduate
Course length: 2 years full-time
This is a ground-breaking MA delivered in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI) to prepare students to build successful careers in film exhibition, programming, criticism or archival work.
This is a ground-breaking MA delivered in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI) to prepare students to build successful careers in film exhibition, programming, criticism or archival work.
“I wholeheartedly support courses like the NFTS Film Studies MA. Finding and developing talented individuals who can programme unforgettable content is priceless.” Efe Cakarel, Founder, MUBI
The course is delivered by film professionals in exhibition and distribution, festivals, archives and film criticism, alongside academics and film makers.
Students will learn about the practicalities of film exhibition, distribution and preservation in the changing digital landscape and study the practice of film criticism and comment, including reviewing and critical writing about films, filmmakers and the broader culture.
Students will attend film festivals and have the opportunity to curate or contribute to festivals, seasons, pop up screenings and other events.
All NFTS students can attend the School’s masterclasses programme, with recent guests including Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve), Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here, We Need to Talk About Kevin), Louis Theroux, and M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Glass).
The course gives students a theoretical, historical and critical understanding of film, which they will apply practically in film curating and programming, and related fields, including film criticism.
The course provides a detailed understanding of the concepts, contexts and critical thought that have shaped the production and reception of film as a basis for engagement with rapidly changing contemporary film and moving image culture. Students gain a thorough understanding of the process by which a film moves from a creative idea to an audience experience. They will explore the history, theory and critical contexts of film and look at a variety of critical writing.
A rigorous academic framework is combined with real world applications enabling each student to develop their own skills, knowledge and understanding to provide a strong basis for a career in film and media.
With all the resources of the NFTS available to them, students benefit from working alongside a new generation of filmmakers, encouraging creative dialogue between makers and curators/critics.
The course is run by Sandra Hebron, Head of Screen Arts. Senior Tutor is Lindsey Moore, and Visiting Tutor is Jonathan Romney.
Academic Tutors include: Professor Ian Christie, Dr. Lucy Reynolds, Professor Annette Kuhn, Dr. Maria Delgado and So Mayer.
Contributing industry professionals include: Clare Binns (Co-Managing Director, Picturehouse Cinemas), Louisa Dent (Managing Director, Curzon Artificial Eye), Michael Hayden (Artistic Director, Cork Film Festival), Helen DeWitt (Curator), Nick James (Editor, Sight and Sound), Edward Lawrenson (writer, filmmaker and festival programmer), Tricia Tuttle (BFI Head of Festivals), Justin Johnson (Lead Programmer, BFI Southbank), Alex Hamilton (Former Managing Director EOne), Christelle Randall (Global Publicity Director, Way to Blue), Herb Shellenberger (Curator), Tony Rayns (Writer and festival programmer), Keith Shiri (Festival Programmer), Melissa Cogavin (Event cinema consultant); Nico Marzano (ICA Head of Cinemas).
