MA Film Programming and Curating at Birkbeck, University of London

A first of its kind, this MA Film Programming and Curating enables you to explore the many ways films are conceptualised, selected, and presented to audiences. Based in the heart of London — one of the world’s leading media hubs — the course takes full advantage of its location, offering opportunities for you to build professional networks and engage with film events and screenings that deepen your understanding of contemporary programming and curatorial practice.

Faculty: School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication  |  Duration: One year full-time, on campus; Two years part-time, on campus  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time  |  Intake: October 2027 | January 2028  |  Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

The course fosters independent intellectual thought and a creative spirit, providing you with a historical, theoretical, and conceptual understanding of film programming, curatorial practice, and moving image culture. The curriculum explores: theories of spectatorship, audiences and the changing conditions of film reception sites of exhibition and the architecture of the film experience, from local cinemas to international festivals the role of the archive, film canons and the curation of archival and alternative film collections the practicalities of programming films and engaging audiences approaches to curating diverse film forms and for specific exhibition contexts, such as film festivals. Compulsory modules include a 10,000-12,000-word final project (60 credits)..

Career pathways

Graduates can pursue career paths in the creative arts, academic, media and cultural institutions. Graduates from this MA Film Programming and Curating have gone on to progress their studies at PhD level or to work for: film cultural organisations, such as the BFI Southbank, film archives, such as Cinemateca Portuguesa, film collectives, such as Club de Femmes, film artists, such as Isaac Julien, founders of film organisations, such as Cine-Sister, freelance film curators, film marketing organisations, such as Dogwoof.

Official programme page