Film Programming and Curating MA

A first of its kind, this MA Film Programming and Curating allows you to explore the diverse ways in which films are conceptualised, selected and presented to an audience. Studying in the heart of London, one of the world’s leading media hubs, this MA takes full advantage of its location to help you build professional networks and immerse yourself in numerous film events and screenings.

Why choose this course?


• It is designed for those eager to learn about and/or work in film programming and curating, including cultural programming, exhibiting screen media archives, distribution and exhibition services.



• Taught by leading academic researchers and practitioners, this course gives you the opportunity to network and learn from a diverse range of expert guest speakers, film programmers and archivists, and through workshops and site visits.



• It offers you a guaranteed placement at a cultural institution or film centre around London and beyond.



• With its unique practice-led research approach, this course encourages you to apply the latest theoretical thinking to professional practice.



What you will learn

The course encourages independence of intellectual thought and spirit, offering you a historical, intellectual and conceptual understanding of film programming, curatorial practice and moving image culture.

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It is taught during the day in the Birkbeck Cinema (including screenings), and includes site visits across London, including to the British Film Institute (BFI) and Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).

You will learn through lectures, seminars, Q&A sessions and practice-based workshops, alongside guest lectures and a 20-day work experience placement. You will also have the opportunity to attend various film and cultural events around London, including the London Film Festival, and will have access to the exciting programme of free film screenings curated by the Birkbeck Institute of the Moving Image.

Highlights


• The award-winning Birkbeck Cinema is central to the course, where most of our classes take place. The cinema is equipped with 35mm and state-of-the-art DVD projection, which offers you an opportunity to experiment with programming and watch films in the best possible conditions. Birkbeck is within easy reach of cinemas and galleries, as well as facilities such as the British Film Institute and the British Library.



• You will receive accreditation, sponsored by Birkbeck, to the BFI London International Film Festival.



• On this course you will also have the opportunity to participate in professional programming initiatives with organisations as diverse as the Korean Cultural Centre UK.



• The Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) runs a busy, intellectually stimulating programme of events, including conferences, screenings and film-related events of all kinds, which students on this course are more than welcome to attend. You will have the opportunity to participate in and attend the Essay Film Festival, jointly run by BIMI and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, with free admission to events hosted at Birkbeck.



• Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.



• We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.



Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in the creative arts, academic, media and cultural institutions. Graduates from this MA Film Programming and Curating have gone on to progress their studies at PhD level or to work for:


- film festivals


- film cultural organisations


- film archives


- film collectives


- local independent cinemas


- film artists


- founders of film organisations


- freelance film curators


- film marketing organisations.