DC 493 Film Festivals
Summary
An introduction to film festivals and their role in independent cinema and the Hollywood studio system. The global proliferation of film festivals will be examined from the perspectives of both film studies scholars and film making professionals. Students will research the history of major festivals, develop festival strategies for student or independent films, and attend film festival screenings, panels, and/or networking events.
Texts
REQUIRED: Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook For Independent Filmmakers
By Christopher Holland
Grading
Class Participation: 20%
Film Festival Research Paper: 20%
Film Review: 20%
Film Festival Field Study Paper: 20%
Final Festival Strategy: 20%
Additional requirements for graduate students will be discussed at the start of the course.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to do the following:
1. Describe key historical developments in global film festivals
2. Analyze the impact of major global, national and local film festivals on independent cinema and the studio system
3. Deduce festival programming agendas
4. Create and implement festival submission strategies
5. Develop marketing and networking skills vis a vis festivals
Classroom Attendance, Policies, & Assignments
Attendance
Each student is expected to attend regularly for each full class period, regardless of whether the student has seen or owns the film to be screened. Each student will receive attendance/participation points. There are 20 points possible. One point is given for attending each class session (=10 pts.) Missing 3 or more classes will result in automatic failure in the course. The remaining 10 points can only be earned by regular participation in class discussions. Essentially one point can be earned per class period in which participation is encouraged. Every absence will be recorded regardless of reason for absence. No make-up work, such as tests or late assignments, will be allowed unless the student has made prior arrangement with the instructor before absence. If accepted, late assignments will be reduced three points per calendar day late. If a student is absent without prior notice of the instructor, the student will have a one-time option of writing a five-page (minimum) typewritten paper on the topic covered on the day missed. This paper will delete the missed class mark on his or her class record. Arriving late or leaving early, which is extremely disruptive, will also be counted as an absence.
Classroom Policies
All cell phones must be turned off during class sessions. Failure to do so will be considered an absence. Text messaging will not be tolerated and will be considered an absence. Any students engaged in non-class activities, such as reading Facebook accounts, will also be considered an absence.
Assignments
Film Festival Research Paper:
Choose an independent short or feature film that received distribution as a direct result of its screening at a particular festival. Write a 2-3 page research paper based on this film and the festival that led to its success. For the first part of the paper, write a brief history of the particular festival. For the second part of the paper, write a brief history of the films post-festival life, and the post-festival career trajectories of any of the films principals.
Film Review:
You will be required to attend a film screening at the Chicago International Film Festival, which runs from October 11 to October 25. Following the screening, write a 1-2 page research paper and review of the film, including its festival history, and possible future prospects. Obtaining some of this information may involve talking to the film?s producer/director/actor.
Film Festival Field Study Paper:
Write a 1-2 page reflection paper detailing your experiences at the film festival. Include details as to films seen, networking experiences, panel discussions, etc.
Final Festival Strategy:
Create a festival strategy document and presentation for a short film that you have access to (your own film would be ideal, but this film could be a friend?s or classmate?s if you don?t have one available).
Background & history of film festivals
Researching Festivals
Read Chapter 1
Discussion of Film Festival Research Papers
Guest Speaker: Mimi Plauche, Programming Director, Chicago Int?l Film Festival
Submitting to Fests
Read Chapter 2
Developing strategies after submission
Read Chapters 3 & 4
Attending Fests
Discussion of films seen at Chicago Int?l Film Fest
Film Review Due
Read Chapters 5 & 6
Reflections on students? Chicago Int?l Film Fest experiences
Field Study Paper Due
Workshop strategies
Final Presentations on Festival Strategies
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296