MA Film Studies
Postgraduate degree in film theory, film history, cinema aesthetics, documentary and screen media analysis.
About MA Film Studies
MA Film Studies is a two-year postgraduate programme that offers rigorous academic study of cinema as an art form, cultural text and social medium. The programme covers film theory and criticism, world and Indian cinema history, film aesthetics, documentary and experimental film, genre studies, postcolonial cinema, feminist film theory, new media and digital cinema.
Who Should Apply
Graduates from English, Sociology, History, Media Studies, Fine Arts or any humanities background who are deeply passionate about cinema as an art form and cultural medium should apply. The programme is ideal for aspiring film critics, academics, film festival programmers, cultural journalists and documentary researchers.
What Will You Learn
You will study formative film theory (Eisenstein, Bazin, Metz), psychoanalytic and feminist film theory (Mulvey, Doane), cultural studies and film, Indian cinema from the silent era through the parallel cinema movement to contemporary Bollywood and regional cinema, world cinema, documentary history and aesthetics, animation and new media theory, and conduct a major research dissertation.
Admission Process
Jadavpur University's Department of Film Studies is the premier destination in India for academic film studies. The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Kolkata offers a practice-theory integrated programme. JNU's Centre for Arts and Aesthetics includes film within its broader programme.
Frequently Asked Questions About MA Film Studies
Q. What is the difference between MA Film Studies and a degree from FTII Pune or SRFTI? FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata are practical filmmaking institutions where students learn direction, cinematography, editing and screenwriting by making films. MA Film Studies is an academic programme focused on film theory, criticism, history and research.
Q. What career opportunities exist for MA Film Studies graduates in India? Film critics and reviewers, film festival programming (IFFI Goa, MAMI Mumbai, IFFK), documentary research and scriptwriting, cinema education, OTT platform content acquisition and curation, film archiving (National Film Archive of India), and academic research are the primary career pathways.
Q. Is there a demand for film studies academics in Indian universities? Yes, many universities have introduced Film Studies, Media Studies and Visual Culture courses in their humanities departments. UGC NET in Visual Arts or Mass Communication qualifies graduates for assistant professor positions.
Q. How does MA Film Studies connect to the OTT industry? India's OTT boom has created demand for professionals who can assess scripts, curate content libraries, write critical analyses and advise on acquisition of world cinema content.
Eligibility Criteria
BA in relevant subject min 50%; CUET PG or university entrance
How GyanSanchaar Helps You
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A Note from GyanSanchaar
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