FILM 3002 - Curation & Cinephilia: The Adelaide Film Festival

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

This course charts the development of international film festival cultures and their historical and contemporary role in art house and national cinemas. In the first part of the course, we will examine in detail the history of selected film festivals (such as Cannes, Venice, Sundance and Toronto) and demonstrate how the year-round festival circuit facilitates global flows of films across the world. Moving from the old to the new, from the national to the transnational, from the state-funded and controlled to the independent and the grass-roots, we shall explore how film festivals involve a number of timely concerns: cultural exchange, political economy, the communal experience of film screenings, and the construction of national identities. What happens at a film festival? What role does it play? Who chooses what a festival shows? Does it allow audiences to hear new voices in global cinema? Does it offer filmmakers a platform to share their stories? Or is it something akin to 'soft power'; a form of cultural diplomacy that can be expertly used to leverage one nation's agenda over another? In the second half of the course, we will go behind the scenes at Adelaide's celebrated biennial Adelaide Film Festival to investigate the processes behind the curation, exhibition and distribution of the films selected to appear at the Festival, and the logistical challenges at play during the planning phase. Spending time with Festival staff, students will gain first-hand real-world experience of arts curation and work- integrated learning. In collaboration with the Festival, students will also be given discounted tickets to films of their choice, and then research the origins of their selected films and investigate why they have been selected to appear in the Festival. With input from Festival staff, we will go on to consider the role of the Festival itself, and highlight how such an event can enrich the community in a local and international perspective.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code FILM 3002
    Course Curation & Cinephilia: The Adelaide Film Festival
    Coordinating Unit School of Humanities
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study, including at least 3 units of Level II FILM courses
    Course Description This course charts the development of international film festival cultures and their historical and contemporary role in art house and national cinemas. In the first part of the course, we will examine in detail the history of selected film festivals (such as Cannes, Venice, Sundance and Toronto) and demonstrate how the year-round festival circuit facilitates global flows of films across the world. Moving from the old to the new, from the national to the transnational, from the state-funded and controlled to the independent and the grass-roots, we shall explore how film festivals involve a number of timely concerns: cultural exchange, political economy, the communal experience of film screenings, and the construction of national identities.
    What happens at a film festival? What role does it play? Who chooses what a festival shows? Does it allow audiences to hear new voices in global cinema? Does it offer filmmakers a platform to share their stories? Or is it something akin to 'soft power'; a form of cultural diplomacy that can be expertly used to leverage one nation's agenda over another?
    In the second half of the course, we will go behind the scenes at Adelaide's celebrated biennial Adelaide Film Festival to investigate the processes behind the curation, exhibition and distribution of the films selected to appear at the Festival, and the logistical challenges at play during the planning phase. Spending time with Festival staff, students will gain first-hand real-world experience of arts curation and work- integrated learning. In collaboration with the Festival, students will also be given discounted tickets to films of their choice, and then research the origins of their selected films and investigate why they have been selected to appear in the Festival. With input from Festival staff, we will go on to consider the role of the Festival itself, and highlight how such an event can enrich the community in a local and international perspective.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Ben McCann

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1. contextualise the history and cultural imperatives of film festivals and how they operate within local and global environments
    2. evaluate the aims of selected case studies of local and international film festivals
    3. apply theoretical and critical skills to practical tasks in the running of a film festival
    4. explain the professional activities and issues involved in the running of a film festival
    5. discuss the importance of a film festival as cultural and civic event
    6. demonstrate a creative response to a series of films screened at a film festival
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 4, 5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All reading material will be provided through Canvas.
    All films will be screened in the allocated seminar class.
    Recommended Resources
    Marijke de Valck, Brendan Kredell, Skadi Loist (eds.) (2016), Film Festivals: History, Theory, Method, Practice, London: Routledge.

    Kenneth Turan (2002), Sundance to Sarajevo: Film Festivals and the World They Made, Los Angeles: University of California Press.
    Online Learning
    This course will use MyUni, Echo360 and other resources to be announced.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Workload - structured learning Total hours
    8 x 1 hour lectures 8
    8 x 2 hour seminars 16
    4 x 2 hour group consultations 8
    14 x 2 hour screenings at the Adelaide Film Festival 28
    TOTAL 60
    Workload - self-directed learning Total hours
    3 hours per week of reading 36
    2.5 hours research / lecture preparation per week 30
    2.5 hours assignment preparation per week 30
    TOTAL 96
    GRAND TOTAL 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    Classes will comprise a mixture of screenings, guest lectures, industry events, internships at the Adelaide Film Festival, mini-lectures, small group activities and writing workshops.  For the detailed work schedule, see the Course Booklet (available on MyUni to enrolled students).
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students are expected to read the texts set for the given weeks in advance and prepare their answers to any set questions, as required.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task Task type Weighting Course learning outcomes
    Research project Summative and formative 20% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Mini research essay Summative and formative 20% 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
    Film review Summative and formative 10% 6
    Reflective journal Summative and formative 50% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    n/a
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Description % weighting
    Research project Students will critically analyse the role and cultural significance of a chosen film festival (c.1000 words) 20%
    Mini research essay Students will write a 1000-word essay on a specific topic in the course 20%
    Film review Students will write a 500-word film review on a chosen film screened at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival 10%
    Reflective journal Students will develop a portfolio of bibliographic material, interviews, images and stills, and critical analysis on 4 chosen films screened at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival (c. 2000 words) 50%
    Submission
    All assignments will be submitted electronically on or before the due date.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.