Film Studies, Programming and Curation

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 and which underpin our 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 practical and 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. The course includes devising and contributing to programming projects; writing film criticism and reviews; researching and producing video essays.

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.

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Course Leader

The course is run by Sandra Hebron. Sandra is a film curator who has worked in independent film since the late 1980s, with roles in exhibition, festivals, funding, production, education and training. She was Head of Festivals and Artistic Director of the BFI London Film Festival from 2002-2011, and prior to that was Cinemas Director at Manchester Cornerhouse.

She has also programmed and worked in an advisory capacity for a range of other UK and international festivals, including the Rome International Film Festival (2012-2014) and the Pinyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Film Festival (2017-2020). Other work includes writing and broadcasting about films and the wider culture for a range of outlets including the BBC, and hosting industry debates, masterclasses and Q&As with contemporary British and international filmmakers organisations such as BAFTA, The British Council, Curzon Cinemas and Studio Canal UK.

Current or Recent Tutors

Senior Tutor is Lindsey Moore, experienced film lecturer, currently also contributing to BA teaching at Central Saint Martins Art School; Visiting Tutor is Dr. Jonathan Romney, a film critic writing for publications including Sight & Sound, Screen International and Film Comment, who is also a curator and filmmaker. 

Academic Tutors include: Professor Ian Christie, Dr. Maria Delgado, Professor Will Higbee, Professor Annette Kuhn, So Mayer and Dr. Lucy Reynolds.

Contributing industry professionals include: Clare Binns (Co-Managing Director, Picturehouse Cinemas); Birds Eye View; Melissa Cogavin (Event cinema consultant); Louisa Dent (Managing Director, Curzon Artificial Eye); Helen DeWitt (Curator and lecturer); The Final Girls; June Givanni (Pan African Film Archive); Alex Hamilton (CEO Studio Canal UK); Sarah Harvey (Publicist); Michael Hayden (Festival and cinema programmer); Pamela Hutchinson (writer and broadcaster); Wendy Ide (Film critic, The Observer and Screen International); Nick James (Former editor, Sight and Sound); Justin Johnson (Lead Programmer, BFI Southbank); Sonali Joshi (distributor and curator); Nico Marzano (ICA Head of Cinemas); Tony Rayns (Writer and festival programmer); Herb Shellenberger (Curator, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival); Keith Shiri (Festival Programmer); Leigh Singer (critic and curator); Anna Smith (Girls on Film); Tricia Tuttle (BFI Head of Festivals); We Are Parable; Adam Woodward (Little White Lies).