Film Studies at the Berlin Film Festival
Key Information
Information
Application Deadline: 24/10/24 at 9:00 am
Opportunity type: Academic-led trips
Faculty: Computing, Engineering and Media
Ref: 10008941
Dates
Departure Date: 16/02/25
Return Date: 22/02/25
Costs
£450: the estimated cost for flights and accommodation (excluding the DMU Global bursary). Students will also be required to pay for: in-country travel (£25), Festival pass (approximately £95), food and drink, visa (if applicable)
Funding
DMU Global Bursary: £200
Booking
Accommodation: Hostel accommodation will be booked by DMU, with students in shared rooms
Travel: Flights will be booked by DMU
Contact
General Enquiries: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk
Trip Lead: Laraine Porter - lporter@dmu.ac.uk
How to pay
Payment details: Students will be required to pay £250 as a contribution towards the cost of travel and accommodation after being offered a place on the trip. The DMU Global bursary will be deducted directly from the overall cost of the booking.
Carbon Levy
Student contribution: To offset the carbon emissions from the flight for this trip there is a £3 Carbon Levy for this trip which has been added to the total cost. Information about how this Levy will be used can be found here.
Eligibility
Level 4, 5 and 6 students from Leicester Media School and students on MA in International Film Production are eligible to participate on this opportunity. There is a maximum of 30 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommended to check the eligibility criteria before applying.
About
Trip description
Students will be able to attend screenings, workshops and masterclasses as part of the Berlin Film Festival which runs between 16 to 22 February 2025 in cinemas and venues around Berlin. This trip is offered in conjunction with two academic Block modules Film3101 and Film3102 which cover the study and practice of film festivals but is open to all Leicester Media School students.
Students will have the opportunity to purchase delegate passes in advance which will give them free access hundreds of film screenings and events as part of a self-guided itinerary which to reflect their own study paths and cinematic tastes etc.
Students will learn about the history and development of the festival from the early 1950s and the impact of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ways in which the festival relates to the history of Europe in the latter half of the 20th Century and beyond. The Berlinale is now one of the world’s most important film festivals and screens a range of world cinema which may not otherwise be available in the UK.
The Berlinale, now in its 75th year, is one of the biggest film festivals in the world and hosts the European Film Market which students will have the opportunity to visit and witness how films are bought and sold for international distribution. The Festival is very student-friendly and offers world premieres of new films alongside archive and classic cinema strands. It attracts directors and film professionals from around the world and many do masterclasses and introduce their films. Students will also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and to get a very good sense of the kinds of jobs and roles that the industry supports.
The estimated total cost for flights, accommodation and transfers for this trip to Berlin is £450. Students will be expected to pay the remaining amount after the £200 DMU Global bursary is deducted from the total.
Why take part?
This is a unique opportunity to take part in one of the worlds foremost film festivals where students will be able to attend red carpet world premieres, film masterclasses and witness talks from film directors and producers. It offers opportunities for networking with industry professionals and to learn about the history and development of the Berlinale and its location in one of the worlds most vibrant and historically fascinating cities.
Learning objectives
Students will experience first hand how a major international film festival functions in terms of programming, policy and delivery which relates directly to a range of Film and Media Studies modules at levels 4-6. They will witness a range of world cinema screenings, and gain an understanding of the significance of Berlin as a location for the festival, including its centrality for European film production from the 1910s onwards.
Students will gain experience of managing their own itineraries as delegates of the festival, they will learn to navigate a film festival programme which involves multiple programme strands, themes and venues with around 400 different screenings and events. They will gain experience of Berlin’s rich cultural and political heritage and learn about the significance of its history in the post-War period.
Cultural activities
Cultural activities are largely centred around the Berlinale Festival which has films and events running from early morning to late into the evening, from archive and restored films to the latest red-carpet releases with film stars and directors in attendance. The Festival is centred around the Potsdamer Platz, but screenings are held in cinemas across the city including in the former East Berlin.
In addition to attendance at Festival events, students will be encouraged to explore key sites in Berlin and to understand how the history of film festival and the history of Berlin itself, are intertwined. Places of significance include the Film Museum (as part of the delegate festival pass), the Holocaust Memorial, Museum Quarter, Alexanderplatz, The Tiergarten and Zoo areas and the Berlin DDR Museum.