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FIL-20035 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

FIL-20035 - Global Cinemas: Beyond Hollywood
Coordinator: Neil Archer Tel: +44 1782 7 33202
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

Global Cinemas expands the focus of your work and knowledge up to this point, looking towards an increasingly diverse horizon of filmmaking traditions and theories. The module identifies key movements and figures in international filmmaking, looking also at the role of film festivals, exhibition and streaming services in promoting contemporary cinemas. Encouraging you to draw critically on your own viewing of film, the module provides an invaluable platform for the longer research project you might undertake in your final year.

Aims
- Provide students with a strong grounding in key texts, concepts and discussions around the production, form and content of popular cinema at a 'global' level
- Identify the influence of film aesthetics beyond and between Hollywood and other international cinemas
- Expand students' existing understanding of the production, location and style of films internationally
- Focus on issues of national and trans-national identity as represented through film
- Provide knowledge of a wider range of non-English language cinemas

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify through critical analysis the different kinds of context for film production and film forms at a global level
: 1,2
Differentiate and offer examples of different aspects of film genre and film style, and their changing shape, across a variety of national contexts
: 1,2
Provide concrete examples of the relationship between contemporary national cultures and the films they produce
: 1,2
Recognise and critically reflect on the impact of economic contexts on the production and form of contemporary film
: 1,2
Undertake independent research into film cultures and forms, applying key ideas from film theory: 1,2

Study hours

12 x 1 hour lecture - 12 hours
8 x 1 hour film discussion - 8 hours
12 x 2 hour seminar - 24 hours
2 x 2 hour assessment workshop - 4 hours
Independent study:
Class preparation hours - 62 hours
Reflective Diary preparation - 80 hours
Essay preparation - 110 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Reflective Diary weighted 40%
Reflective Diary: Viewing Global Film
Students will produce a 2000-word reflective piece on their own film-viewing experience, in line with specific questions provided by the tutor. Students will be required to take a critical approach to their own viewing of two films (chosen by the student), identifying, for instance, the production and exhibition contexts of the films, and how these inform their aesthetics and content. Students are encouraged to take a comparative approach to their viewing, identifying the circumstances informing film production and style across different economic and national contexts. Supporting images (film stills; publicity images) should be used in support of the student's arguments, along with a consideration of where and how the films were viewed (eg. streaming services, cinemas, festivals).

2: Review weighted 60%
Critical Review
Students will complete a 3000-word critical review based on one of the films screened and discussed in the module, and another film of their choice. The review will respond to one of a set of questions provided by the tutor, corresponding to the key themes explored throughout the module as a whole. Students will be encouraged to draw on a range of materials in support of their discussion, including publicity images, statistical information, and media reception of their chosen films.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026