This course will examine the role of film festivals in independent cinema and documentary film production and distribution. We will attend two different film festivals, including Emberlight and 41 North, to experience festival screenings, panels, and/or networking events. Students will research the history of major festivals like Cannes and Sundance, discuss how festivals cater to specific audiences, cultures, and genres, and do research that explores the impact of film festivals on production, distribution, and local communities. This research will account for the perspectives of film studies scholars, filmmakers, and festival developers as we explore how film festivals have expanded locally. We will examine who chooses the films, how they facilitate cultural exchange and the sharing of platforms and ideas and contribute to a communal experience for film lovers and people from all walks of life. The course will culminate in several projects, including a research paper that explores how course themes reinforce cultural exchange and a curated film festival project that shows how students would set up their own festival.
- Teacher: Andrew Burt