Carleton University’s Film Studies Program is fantastic for academically inclined students with a passion for the media arts. When I started at Carleton, I’d already done another degree and had worked for a couple of years. I returned to school because I was looking to explore something that really interested me. The program offered a perfect mix of cultural theory and film history.  I loved it. On a practical level, I was able to hone my writing skills and improve my critical thinking. The program not only gives you a chance to study cinema but also art, philosophy, literature, politics and drama. It really ties the arts together for students.  The program also offers an excellent practicum program that allows students to get some real-life experience working in Ottawa’s film community. Now that I work as a film festival organizer, I enjoy working with interns from the program and we often end up hiring them. Almost all our staff are Carleton Film Studies graduates!
Kelly Neall
B.A. Honours in Film Studies, 1994
Managing Director, The Ottawa International Animation Festival

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The program provided an extensive and exhaustive examination of the the fundamental theories of the discipline as well as a collaborative approach to investigating burgeoning concepts. The faculty was extremely supportive and encouraging when it came to allowing students to furthering their individual academic interests, no matter how varied or unique. The result was an experience that was challenging, enriching and best of all, enjoyable. My experience in the program has been instrumental for my success not only in my academic career but in the professional sphere as well. I was given a profound advantage when entering the world of corporate communications, possessing refined critical facilities which I developed while in the program.
Angie Chiang
Master of Arts, Film Studies 2004

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I came to the Film Studies program at Carleton University for two reasons: to escape first year journalism, and to watch as many movies as I could while I figured out what to do with my life. Instead, I figured out what to do with my life because I saw so many movies. I wanted to write about film, culture, media and politics, and to engage with the world through its most powerful and popular forms of communication. The program gave me not only the will but the equipment and the passion to do this, and in the process provided me with a solid multi-disciplinary foundation that I’ve managed to stand pretty firmly on ever since. Studying film at Carleton installed some kind of bug in my brain that’s been buzzing ever since. More than anything, I learned that Hitchcock was wrong. It’s never only a movie.
Geoff Pevere
Bachelor of Arts with Highest Honours in Film Studies, 1983

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I entered Carleton University’s film studies MA program looking for meaningful ways of situating my own personal interests within a broader spectrum of scholarship on film as a cultural form.  The program provides a focused and in-depth examination of critical approaches to cinema with an interdisciplinary outlook that allowed me to work freely with scholarship from various academic fields.  In my two years in the program I was exposed to the work of classical and contemporary theorists.  I developed a keen understanding of the ways in which these critical approaches can be grouped and understood in relation to one another and in respect to a broader range of film theory.  Further, I acquired valuable skills of analyzing these works, orally and in written form, which I hope will lend me a voice in my upcoming years as a doctoral student.
Jake Dole
Master of Arts, Film Studies

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I came to the M.A. program in Films Studies after two degrees in literature and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a lot of guidance regarding the landmark texts of film theory and the tools of defining film as a technologic medium.  A variety of well-planned and interesting courses introduced me to many unknown films and theories of cinema, opening a whole new way of understanding the apparently simple act of film viewing. National cinemas ranging from British to Asian and African, film genres from documentary to melodrama, filmmakers like Almodovar or Kubrick, these were only a few among the wide-ranging courses, which explored the diversity and depth of cinema. I found it very important to know about fascinating films outside the habitual Hollywood fare. Every film was accompanied by related cinema or cultural theories developing our critical thought and the ability to relate film to other cultural phenomena.
The opportunity to work as a TA in the department was a welcome experience not only in economic terms but also as an important step towards a teaching career.
Besides the program’s wealth of films and theories I also found a lot of support from faculty members whose open door policy was very surprising. (“Can I really come in when I need to?” whispered the incredulous part of me educated in Romania and Japan where professors’ time is sacred.) The openness and good will of the professors and of the staff members added human warmth to the rigorous learning process.
Bianca Otilia Briciu
PhD Candidate, Cultural Mediations,
M.A. Film Studies, M.A. Gender Studies, B.A. Literature

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A contract instructor who pursued his MA in Film Studies at Carleton told me that apart from having kids, getting his MA was the hardest thing he had ever done.  I’m not sure if getting my MA was harder than getting through my kids’ teenage years, but overall, I’d have to agree with him. It was a lot of work, but it was also incredibly thrilling. I was constantly being urged to think for myself and challenge the prevailing orthodoxy.
Even though my thesis topic—examining Buddhism in cinematic depictions of Tibetan culture—was atypical for Film Studies, no one in the faculty discouraged me from pursuing it.
Not only do the professors encourage students to explore areas of personal interest, they also generously provide the support that guarantees success—and frankly, nothing feels better than success.
Standing on the stage at convocation, waiting for the hood to be draped over me, I had to fight the urge to shout at the top of my lungs “I did it! I really did it!” I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Mona Harnden Simpson
Film Studies Honours B.A. 2009, Film Studies M.A. 2011

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I have greatly enjoyed my experience studying with the Carleton Film Studies department. The program has offered me the opportunity to study a wide variety of topics both within formal classes and independently. The resources available for independent research at Carleton are numerous; the program has so much to offer to its students in terms of helpful faculty and administration and in print and media holdings.
Jennifer Huzera
M.A. Film Studies, 2010

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The Film Studies BA at Carleton offers many opportunities. Students are well-supported by the extremely helpful and approachable faculty, who seem to always have time to meet and chat with their students, despite how productive they are. The program offers students the chance to build a well-developed theoretical base to their studies, which has enabled me to confidently pursue graduate studies. Additionally, the program also offers first-hand experience in a film environment through the Practicum program. 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.
Alyssa Beaton
Fourth-year Honours B.A. in Film Studies

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Studying Film at Carleton University turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made in my life in Canada. My initial purpose was just to get a better understanding of film discourse and train my filmic eyes as much as possible as a passionate film viewer. But later on I realized that this was just the start. As I became more familiar with film theory and literature, I began to understand how important and significant cinema is in defining and reflecting on life itself as a cultural text. That strengthened my enthusiasm and love towards the film world. After working as a journalist for several years, going back to school helped me appreciate even more the never ending process of learning, this time with a different perspective and life experience. Also, the interdisciplinary nature of the program has given me the skills to make deeper film analysis with which I can pursue more profound connections between art and everyday life. Of course the program’s carefully planned structure and professors’ unbelievably generous guidance have also fostered and rejuvenated my enthusiasm in learning to a great degree.
Kumru Bilici
Fourth-year Honours B.A. in Film Studies

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My experience in the Film Studies graduate program has provided me with a strong understanding of the history of the medium as well as the major theories of film scholarship within an enjoyable and supportive environment.  Coming from a background in history rather than film studies, I initially had some worries about adjusting to a new field of study as I entered into graduate studies.  However, the wide range of approaches that each student brings to the subject is welcomed and fostered by the faculty.  The professors are extremely helpful and generous with their time, energy, and wisdom, creating a very positive and pleasurable academic experience.  Throughout the two-year thesis stream of the program, I had the opportunity to develop abilities in film analysis and critical inquiry, as well as, sharpen my skills in scholarly writing and research; skills which are highly valuable whether pursuing further academic studies or entering into the workforce.  The passion for film that is evident throughout the department creates a climate in the Film Studies program that encourages students to feel a sense of belonging in the program and to know that their work is valued and worthwhile. 
Maximillian Poelzer
MA Film Studies, 2012

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The Film Studies program is a good choice whether you are interested in filmmaking, film theory, or both. Granted, it is certainly not a film production program – you will not receive hands-on training in cinematography, editing or set design–, but the many available courses will still provide you with essential knowledge to good filmmaking. For example, the Introduction to Film Studies course (FILM 1000) teaches the basics of good craftsmanship by explaining in detail all its aspects in their complex interrelation, so students acquire a strong sense of how the assembling of different particularly arranged shots –in terms of the position of the objects within the frame, the choice of lens, lighting, location, costume, and so on– via editing conveys meaning whether in the form of a narrative, an idea, or a feeling. The program also teaches the medium’s social, political, and cultural relevance in great detail so aspiring filmmakers can learn how to address issues of general interest through their work. In terms of acquiring the filmmaking skills to go along with this knowledge, the Independent Filmmakers Cooperative of Ottawa (IFCO) and SAW Video offer great workshops off-campus all year long as well as opportunities for exhibiting your films.
For those more interested in film theory, the program’s core courses teach an almost endless variety of analytic approaches –you can focus on the film industry and/or technology, for example– and theoretical frameworks –you can use knowledge from other fields such as political economy and communication studies–. The core courses also tell a history of film theory beginning with the work of fiction writers, academics, and filmmakers in the early 20th century –from Virginia Woolf to Sergei Eisenstein– to more recent contributions from distinguished film scholars such as David Bordwell and Tom Gunning. The courses also address the diversity of modes of film practice –documentary and experimental film– and the global character of film production. Guided by a group of distinguished professors and a dedicated staff, those students who wish to continue learning film theory at the Master’s level will be very well prepared by the end of the program.
Julio Valdés
M.A. Film Studies, 2010

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Carleton’s M.A. in Film Studies provided me a broad conceptual foundation for my pursuit of doctoral level work. The courses that were offered covered a wide scope of issues germane to the study of film, including national cinemas, film theory, new media technologies, as well as an emphasis on Canada’s cinematic culture. The program’s combination of coursework and a thesis requirement also helped me to establish essential skills in independent research, as well as the ability to transform research into an original contribution and skills which have aided me thus far in having three pieces accepted for publication.  The faculty is very willing to provide guidance when necessary, but also willing to allow you to pursue your work independently.  Overall, my experience with the Film Studies M.A. was a very positive one, and I would highly recommend it to hard-working and focused students who wish to extend their Film education beyond the undergraduate level.
Jeremy Maron
M.A. Film Studies, 2006

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Carleton’s film studies program has helped me develop a far greater appreciation for film as well as other art forms and media more generally. Cinema has the fortunate distinction of being situated at a crossroads of disciplines where one can reach out in numerous directions and study from very different angles. Perhaps my favourite feature of the program is the freedom it allows to develop personal research topics; the most rewarding example of this has been my work on an independent study—a year-long course in which I have had the opportunity to develop a research program and write an essay under the supervision of professor André Loiselle. In my other classes, I have never felt restricted when embarking on an assignment and am always pleased to find my instructors approachable, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Outside of classes, I have enjoyed working for the department as a projectionist where I get to meet new profs and encounter courses I otherwise would miss out on. Carleton has provided an enriching environment for me to thrive in while immersed in a field that allows for an excitingly broad range of study. I look forward to continuing on with my studies and applying my experiences to a writing career.
Frederick Blichert
Fourth-year Honours B.A. in Film Studies

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I would say that up until I had discovered Carleton University’s Film Studies Program; my university experience was that of a fish out of water so to speak.  I had originally attempted a more conventional route of studies, but soon discovered that neither Sociology, nor Psychology provided me with much fulfillment.  But once I discovered Film Studies at Carleton, I immediately realized that I had found my vocational calling!  You see, since I can remember, I’ve always loved films and cinema, and today in my position as the Executive Director of a thriving Ottawa based media artist-run centre; I feel as if Carleton University’s Film Studies Program has contributed to a perfect marriage! In my job and my own artistic filmmaking practice; I have been able to marry the theoretical training I gleaned through Carleton, with the hands-on technical filmmaking experience I’d long sought after, through IFCO.  I am thrilled about the strongly enriching relationship IFCO has, and continues to maintain with Carleton University’s Film Studies Program, and am extremely myself proud to be a Carleton Film Studies Alumnus.  I would encourage anyone who is interested in pursuing a serious career as either a film practitioner or film academic, to enrol in Carleton University’s Film Studies Program.
Patrice James
B.A. in Film Studies, 1998
Executive Director, the Independent Filmmakers Co-operative of Ottawa Inc. (IFCO)

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The program offers everything students need to broaden their knowledge of Film Studies: from a wide array of courses offered by faculty in the top of their field to the opportunity of hands-on experience in the educational field. The size of the department allows for a close-knit relationship between students and professors that allows for a more personal approach. Its great professionalism combined with great humanity and, why not, lots of fun. My experience with the program is something I will always treasure as it allowed me to get to where I am today.
José Sánchez-Mosquera
M.A. Film Studies, 2000

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When I was doing my undergrad in English and Film Studies at the University of Calgary, I was not sure which field I wanted to pursue at the M.A. level. But one professor was quite insistent that I look at Carleton’s M.A. in Film Studies, of which he was himself a graduate. I have never regretted this decision, and have stayed affiliated with the department through the completion of my Ph.D. in Cultural Mediations in 2011. When I speak to friends in other programs, I sometimes hear of departments where the faculty is full of productive scholars but have no time for students. I never had that problem with Carleton’s faculty, who all seem to balance their research and teaching interests and are never unavailable for talk and advice. In the years since my time in the M.A., Film Studies has added high-quality faculty members and the future appears bright.
Murray Leeder
M.A. Film Studies

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With its superlative resources and faculty, Carleton University offers the most dynamic and engaging graduate Film Studies program in Canada. It fostered my own passionate professional commitment to film scholarship, and the time I spent in the program ranks among the most rewarding experiences in my academic career.
Aaron Taylor
Assistant Professor in the Department of New Media, University of Lethbridge
M.A. Film Studies, 2000