FT3FF-Film Programming and Film Festivals

Module Provider: Film, Theatre and TV
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Lucia Nagib
Email: l.nagib@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is a team-taught module, drawing both on representatives from the industry and on strength across the university. Through a dynamic combination of seminars, workshops and group projects, the module will equip students with advanced knowledge of modes of programming arthouse, alternative and experimental venues, as well as organising film festivals. Film festivals work as an effective (and sometimes unfair) filter of the kind of world cinema distributed to commercial and alternative venues around the world. Winners of Cannes, Venice and Berlin will almost certainly find worldwide distribution, as opposed to thousands of other films, which will run through minor festival circuits in the hope of accessing smaller or niche venues and audiences. Film festivals (such as Sundance, Rotterdam and others) are also closely connected with funding systems for independent filmmakers, who will format their projects with a view to satisfying their requirements. Understanding how both film festivals and film programming work is hence key to understanding the kind of world cinema we watch.

Aims:

The aims of this module are:

• To equip students advanced knowledge of programming arthouse, alternative and experimental venues;


• To equip students with in-depth knowledge of the workings of film festivals, be they major, minor, competitive, non-competitive, thematic, genre-oriented or experimental;


• To offer a critical insight into the filtering process promoted by the pool of world festivals;


• To offer a critical understanding of the consequences of the funding practices promoted by film festivals;


• Through practical projects, to equip students with fundamental skills for becoming film programmers;


• Through practical projects, to equip students with fundamental skills for becoming film-festival organisers.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will:

• Have an in-depth understanding of the programming structure of arthouse, alternative and experimental venues;


• Have an in-depth knowledge of the workings of film festivals, be they major, minor, competitive, non-competitive, thematic, genre-oriented or experimental;


• Have a comprehensive understanding of the filtering process promoted by the pool of world festivals;


• Have a critical understanding of the consequences the funding practices promoted by film festivals;


• Be able to develop curatorial projects for arthouse venues;


• Be able to develop curatorial projects for film festivals.

Additional outcomes:

• The module will serve as a useful complement to other modules taught in FTT and to the Creative Enterprise modules taught in HBS and Law;


• It will provide students with critical view of the mainstream and alternative markets for world cinema;


• It will enable them to understand the degree of interdependence that can be ascribed to film festivals and commercial/non-commercial film venues;


• It will provide them with the necessary skills for finding employment in the sector.

Outline content:

Weekly topics may include, but are not restricted to:

• The history, geography and dynamics of film festivals;


• The history and international development of the arthouse and alternative circuits;


• Film festival strategies for filmmakers;


•  Independent film curation and distribution;


• Programming for Boutique film festivals and cinemas;


• The relation between film curation and film criticism;


• DIY Cinema exhibition;


• Group project: preparing a portfolio for a season in the FTT Cinema or a Reading venue.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This is a team-taught module drawing on academic and industry-based expertise. There will be a combination of theoretical, historical and practical seminars and workshops addressing the main issues in the history, geography and development of film programming and festivals worldwide. Students will be active participants throughout, being the main drive in the conception and execution of the group project and written portfolio.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		18
Practicals classes and workshops		2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		30
Wider reading (directed)		30
Exam revision/preparation		30
Advance preparation for classes		20
Preparation for tutorials		20
Preparation for presentations		10
Completion of formative assessment tasks		20
Essay preparation		20
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	40
Portfolio	60

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• a Written Case Study (40%) and


• a Portfolio (60%)

Formative assessment methods:

Group Screening Project.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Non-compulsory visits to a film festival and an arthouse cinema will incur expenses with travel, accommodation and subsistence. This will be kept to a minimum.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023