Program Overview

Program Overview

The Film & Media program is a 3-week summer school course based in the Department of Film and Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham. This program provides an introduction to studying and experiencing film and media culture in the United Kingdom.

Duration and Course Type

• Duration: 21 July - 8 August 2025
• Course Type: Summer School, Undergraduate

Program Description

The program will be taught by academic staff and PhD researchers in the Department of Film and Creative Writing, covering a broad range of areas from horror cinema to animation to independent filmmaking. Teaching will be a combination of lectures, seminars, and a group filmmaking project to be completed under the guidance of a dedicated mentor. Students will be introduced to the basics of film production, develop their knowledge of film theory, and work with specialists who possess creative, technical, and academic expertise in film and media.

Program Components

• Film Screenings: Critical textual analysis and discussion of film aesthetics, production processes, and viewing contexts.
• Tours: Tours may include the BBC Centre, independent cinemas, and the Warner Bros. Studio.
• Storytelling: Exploration of different theoretical constructs and consideration of the ways in which stories utilise particular tactics and techniques.
• Ethical Filmmaking: Introduction to important ethical issues generated by filmmaking, using key examples from film, television, and social media.
• Post-Truth, Absurdity, and the Memeplex: Study and analysis of film and media within the contemporary context of ‘post-truth’.
• Genre: Evolution of quality/complex TV and consideration of the functions of genre in film and television.
• Place, Space, Location, Representation: Introduction to ideas related to film and place from local, national, and global perspectives.
• Filmmaking Workshops: Sessions focusing on screenwriting, pre-production, lighting, acting, directing, sound, and editing.
• Sweded Film Production: Production of short films in groups, putting into practice the ideas, theories, and practical techniques learned.

Admission Criteria

To be accepted onto the Film & Media program, applicants must:

• Be aged 18 years or over at the start date of the program.
• Be studying an undergraduate program at a university outside the UK or be registered as an international student at a UK university.
• Be of good academic standing (based on a translated transcript, verified by the university).
• Meet the program's entry requirements.

Assessment Methods

At the end of the program, students will be invited to showcase their work in a state-of-the-art screening room on campus. There will be a formal assessment consisting of:

• An individually completed 500-word reflection on the practice of filmmaking.
• Assessment of the filmmaking project itself. A pass requires a minimum of 40% in combination with a minimum attendance.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the program, students should be able to:

• Identify key elements of film form and style to perform a close analysis of a shot.
• Apply theoretical knowledge to the practical aspects of film production.
• Develop practical skills with film equipment and filmmaking techniques.
• Evidence learning in creative ways with a group filmmaking project.