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Program Details
The history and global culture of movies are examined in Carleton’s Film Studies program. Learn about film as an art form, as entertainment, a form of storytelling, and a documentary record of our time. Through a variety of approaches, you will study the history and aesthetics of film and other audio-visual media and discover the works of some of the world’s best filmmakers.
Areas of study include the films of Africa, Asia, Scandinavia, Europe, and North America; Indigenous filmmaking; documentary films; films genres; film theory; early film history; film technology; film festival curation; screenwriting; sound studies; queer and transgender cinema; video games; and digital media culture. You will also examine broader questions about audiovisual culture and hone your research and communication skills.
Capital Advantage
Ottawa’s lively film and media scene includes year-round film festivals, repertory cinemas, and artist-run film and video production centres. Our students can also access the resources available at National Capital Region institutions such as Library and Archives Canada, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa Art Gallery, and the Museum of History.
Work Experience
Students can apply for the practicum program in which they can get real-world experience working in film festival programming, exhibition or production work at institutions such as the Canadian Film Institute, the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Ottawa Film Festival, and the Digital Arts Resource Centre.
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Career Outcomes
Explore your passions, refine new skills and discover the career that’s right for you.
The Film Studies program can lead you to a variety of careers in fields such as film and multimedia production, museums and archival work, government, education and higher education, journalism, arts, and festivals.
Sample Careers
Sample Courses
FILM 1101 - Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to the study of film that emphasizes problems and methods of film analysis through the study of various types of films. Topics relating to the filmmaker, film genre, and film history are covered through a focus on questions of style and technique.
FILM 2607 - History of World Cinema II
Historical survey of world cinema primarily since 1945, examining the forms, structures and stylistic conventions of various periods and nations.
Visit the Undergraduate Calendar to view a comprehensive list of course offerings for this program and discover the exciting things Carleton students are learning in the classroom!
My personal experience with Ottawa’s One World Film Festival gave me the opportunity to work for the festival and connect with filmmakers, activists and several wonderful volunteers who made my time there something I will not soon forget. Beyond the academic merits of the program, Carleton Film Studies is warm and welcoming, hidden away on the edge of campus, offering a quiet and cozy environment. While I am eager to graduate, I will certainly miss coming to the place that has, over the recent years, become my second home.
