Film Studies
Understanding the world through film
For over 130 years, moving images have captivated audiences, told compelling stories, and shaped how we understand our world. Film has evolved from popular entertainment into a sophisticated medium that entertains, challenges, and enlightens—addressing social and political issues, expanding aesthetic possibilities, and exploring humanity's most pressing concerns.
Our Film Studies and Screen Production courses will help you understand how cinema works as a storytelling medium, cultural force, and artistic practice. Through critical analysis and hands-on experience, you’ll learn to decode visual narratives, examine cultural contexts, document reality, and expand creative boundaries. Whether your interests lie in classic cinema, contemporary media, or emerging digital forms, you'll develop the analytical and creative skills to engage meaningfully with the moving image in all its complexity.
Become a visual storyteller
As a Film Studies and Screen Production student, you’ll develop foundational skills in film analysis, history, and the social and cultural dimensions of cinema. From production techniques to reception theory, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the medium by studying Hollywood alongside national and international cinemas, while exploring the power and value of independent production.
Through your study of key theories and cinema histories, you'll attain a sophisticated understanding of film’s conceptual dimensions and its place in shaping human culture. You'll achieve fluency in the most powerful visual language of our time, equipped with both critical insight and practical expertise to craft compelling moving image narratives.
Learn from industry professionals
Beyond analysing films and studying cinema history and theory, you'll gain hands-on experience in screen production, project development, post-production, and screenwriting. Armed with camera, microphone, studio, and screen, you'll learn to craft your narrative in your own distinctive voice.
You’ll also have opportunities to interact with practitioners from across the cinema industry and become part of the Film Production Society, connecting you with independent student productions and the broader filmmaking community.
Create a valuable network
Our affiliations and internships with film and media organisations will equip you with real industry experience and valuable industry connections. We frequently collaborate with the Sydney Film Festival, Inner West Film Festival, the Vision Splendid Film Festival, the Persian Film Festival, the Ritz Cinema Randwick and many more organisations across Australia.
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts
In the Bachelor of Arts the film studies major covers a wide range of cinematic periods, movements, genres and styles, focusing on historical, theoretical and cross-cultural studies of film as well as practical courses in video production. You will specialise in our established research-led academic strengths, including film and critical theory, American independent cinema, comedy, film performance, documentary and a range of national and regional cinemas.
Our curriculum will teach you skills in critical analysis to help you understand the impact of technological, economic, cultural and aesthetic factors on film and the cinema industry. You will develop an understanding of how cinema has shaped contemporary life and culture and gain an international perspective on the place and history of film in global media culture.
Bachelor of Media: Screen production
Screen Production is one of five specialisations in the Bachelor of Media. You will develop a range of audio, visual, and digital production skills that will equip you with the tools and knowledge to remain at the leading edge of local and international media industries. Complement your Screen Production specialisation with a second major or a minor specialisation in Cinema Studies for a comprehensive study of moving image production, industry, theory, aesthetics and culture.
Cinema Studies
As a student of Cinema Studies you will explore how and why moving image culture continues to shape global media industries. In this specialisation of the Bachelor of Media you will study film and related media forms and develop an international perspective on the place and history of film in the global media landscape and Australian cinema culture. Cinema Studies is the ideal Media specialisation to combine with Screen Production.
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