Film at Trinity College Dublin

Why do films affect us the way they do? Why did the introduction of sound change film forever? What do we mean by ‘independent cinema’? What is a digital story world? These and many more are the questions that Film Studies asks students to consider in small-group lectures and seminars. In addition, over the course of your degree you’ll be encouraged to respond creatively to critical issues via projects, presentations, short films and video essays, as well as to develop your screenwriting skills to see if you have a fresh vision to share with the world around you.

Do you enjoy…

• Watching and analysing a wide range of films from around the world?
• Formulating opinions and arguments about film and media culture?
• Expressing your ideas critically and creatively in words and images?

Film: The course for you?

If you dream of becoming the new darling of Hollywood, and of immersing yourself in every aspect of film production, then this is not the course for you! Film at Trinity is built on strong academic and intellectual foundations – core courses include the history of Hollywood filmmaking, introduction to Non-Western cinemas, aspects of European cinemas, Irish cinema and theories of the digital image. As well as conventional essays, you will work in groups to create video essays, podcasts, and digital portfolios. You will be assessed on class debates and on other projects such as programming film seasons. You will also be introduced to basic screenwriting and filmmaking, using the format of the writers’ room, and exploring the potential of the smartphone to create mini-dramas. You will study documentary theory and follow this up by making a short documentary film. In third and fourth year, you will build on the fundamentals you have learnt through more advanced options, while always maintaining a balance between critical learning and practical outputs. In your final year, you will complete a supervised capstone project.

Film at Trinity

Performing Arts at Trinity is ranked in the top fifty subjects worldwide in the QS Rankings 2019, reflecting the quality of our teaching and learning. Film students are encouraged to collaborate with other students in the School through shared learning modules and facilities. Equally, students of Film are heavily engaged in DU Film Society and in the student-run film journal, Trinity Film Review. Our students regularly attend film festivals, including the Berlin Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, and organise screenings and film events.

Pathways

The pathways available are Single Honors, Major with Minor and Joint Honors.

Public events: In Conversation

Our ‘In Conversation’ series of public talks offers students the opportunity to attend talks by leading practitioners. Participants to date include: Lenny Abrahamson, John Butler and Emer Reynolds. All talks are podcast and available on our website.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

In 2019, Film formed an Industry Advisory Panel. The members of this panel are: Lenny Abrahamson, Aoife Duffin, Gavin Fitzgerald, Paddy Breathnach, Alan Gilsenan, Ed Guiney, Neasa Hardiman, Katie Holly, Lucy Kennedy, Helena Korner, Claire McGirr, Niall McKay, Maeve O'Boyle, Marian Quinn, Ken Wardrop. The panel is available to offer career advice to students and to give talks on careers in the industry. Not all students may wish to enter the film industry (and our graduates will all take further training before being industry-ready), and many have gone on to careers in writing, journalism, marketing, as well as to advanced study.