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2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

FILM5640M Film Programming for Venues and Streaming: Curation in the Digital Age

30 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Rachel Johnson
Email: r.johnson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module explores the practice and theory of film programming. What are the decisions that are made and the actions that are taken to bring films to audiences at theatres, film festivals and streaming platforms? How does the way in which films are presented impact an audience’s understanding and appreciation of the material? In an era when practically any film is available at the click of a button, what is the role of the film curator? How does the curator, in selecting, highlighting and contextualising material add value to the work? The module will encourage students to think about these questions, introducing them to the ways in which these issues have been explored by cultural theorists, film scholars and film professionals. The final part of the module will then challenge the students to apply what they have learnt to the curation of their own hypothetical film programmes, accompanied by programme notes and a critical commentary outlining their rationale.

Objectives

The aim of this modules is to:

1. introduce students to the core practical and intellectual issues related to film programming and curating for cinemas and festivals.
2. investigate historical and contemporary developments and innovations in film programming and exhibition.
3. introduce students to new research and scholarship in film studies related to film festivals and film exhibition.
4. teach students how to develop and curate their own stimulating, intellectually and thematically coherent research-based film programmes for cinemas and film festivals.
5. provide students with the practical skills required to curate a film programme.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:

1.demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the core practical and intellectual issues related to film programming and film exhibition.
2. demonstrate an understanding of a range of historical and contemporary innovations in cinema exhibition across the world, and ability to critically evaluate recent scholarship on the subject.
3. demonstrate their ability to curate a stimulating, intellectually and thematically coherent film programme with a clear rationale informed by research into film history and an awareness of the practical challenges of curation.
4. demonstrate practical skills in film curation such as: writing effective marketing copy for films and film programmes, using industry-specific film databases, and identifying film licenses and their cost.
5. demonstrate the ability to persuasively discuss the cultural, intellectual, artistic and economic significance of the phenomenon of film programming in specific contexts.

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module students will have gained:

Industry-specific communication skills: writing copy, pitching projects and self-reflexive report writing
Commercial awareness of film industry, particularly film programming and exhibition
Awareness of ethical considerations in film curation
Independent film programming skills

Syllabus

This module will introduce students to theories and practices of film programming in a variety of contexts, including venues such as cinemas, film festivals, pop-up screenings as well online platforms such as Mubi.

The module will begin by defining film programming and encouraging students to think about this phenomenon both as a profession that requires certain skills, knowledge and expertise, and as a creative act with important social, intellectual and cultural implications.

After establishing this understanding of film programming and the role of the film curator we will then move on to a discussion of the network of intermediaries involved in the process, including film producers, distributors, theatres, festivals and archives. Classes will offer students the knowledge and practical skills for working with such intermediaries – for example sourcing and negotiating film licenses.

Following classes on the pragmatics of film programming, the course will trace a series of case studies – examples of real-world film programmes – which reveal different aspects of and approaches to curation, such as: thematic and identity-based/activist film programming, in-person and online film festivals, and the production of paratexts as a crucial component of the programming process. These case studies will focus on exploring the unique challenges curators face when programming different kinds of material. Discussion will also centre on the importance of understanding audiences, as well as the role of cinephilia, and research and film historiography in the curation of film programmes.

These discussions of case studies will be grounded in engagement with film curators, venues, platforms and paratexts, with curators being invited to share their approaches to programming; film screenings being held in cinemas, festivals and pop-up venues where possible; and the opportunity to access the Special Collections’ archives of Leeds Film Society and Leeds International Film Festival catalogues.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Film Screenings	10	2.00	20.00
seminars	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			260.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Additional Film Viewing: 10 x 2 hours = 20 hours
Background reading and preparation for seminars = 60 hours
Background reading and preparation for formative presentations = 40 hours
Reading, drafting and writing up essay = 60 hours
Programme & Commentary Preparation: 80 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students' progress will be monitored on a regular basis via classroom participation, group discussions and presentations (formative), which will also allow for peer feedback. Students will be given formal feedback on their first assignment (1 x 2000 word essay = 50%). In the final week of term, students will present their curated film programme in a live pitching session. They will receive feedback from the module leader and their peers, which will support their completion of the second assignment (curated film programme and critical commentary).

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1000-word essay	40.00
Report	Outline of curated film programme and 2000-word critical commentary	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/10/2023

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