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Cinema — Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema
Fall admission only
Concordia’s Cinema programs are distinguished from many others by the fact that they are housed in the Faculty of Fine Arts and thus approach their subject matter primarily as a means of artistic expression. Consequently, a central aim of these programs is to prepare students to become filmmakers, film animators or film historians/critics who have a two fold awareness: the artistic and cultural potential of the medium, and its history and traditions.
Cinema programs are oriented towards art and culture. However, it should be noted that students are also educated in the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as in industry and commerce contexts. The programs attempt to strike a balance between the practical and the purely creative aspects of cinema, just as they seek to achieve a balance between social and aesthetic concerns.
Film Animation
Major in Film Animation — 60 credits
Minor in Film Animation — 30 credits
Designed to teach the full process of film animation including theory and practice, the program offers a thorough grounding in the art and technique of frame by frame filmmaking. Students are encouraged to develop their own creative potential and to select, from an ever widening range of animation methods, the style most suitable for their own personal expression. Students are also encouraged to complete elective courses in the Faculty of Fine Arts in order to develop their abilities in the areas of design, drawing, painting, theatre, computation arts, music/sound, photography, fibre and sculpture.
Sample courses include:
Animated filmmaking, 3D computer animation, Stop motion, Analytical drawing, Technical aspects of animated filmmaking, Character animation, From idea to storyboard, Sound for animated film, History of the animated film
Equipment and Costs
The following equipment is available at the appropriate stage of progress in film courses: HD editing equipment, lighting equipment, fluid head tripods, digital cameras for Stop Motion, animation stands, and a computer lab for Animation film projects. State-of-the-art digital recording and mixing in a Protools environment are provided for sound classes and third-year projects.
Students enrolled in Film Animation (and Film Production) program(s) must bear the cost of digital equipment and art material. Each Animation student is expected to own a consumer-level digital photo camera, a backup device and a medium-to-powerful personal computer compatible with the animation lab which is equipped with Apple computers. Animation students must pay a small laboratory fee. Other specialized fees may apply.
Admission Requirements
Film Animation (BFA - Major/Minor) requirements: Minimum cut-off averages, admission statistics and program requirements.
Film Production
Specialization in Film Production — 66 credits
The specialization is offered only at the third year level. Students in the major may apply to transfer to the specialization in their third year. It is strongly recommended that students in the specialization have, or acquire, knowledge of French.
Major in Film Production — 54 credits
Intended for students with a mature outlook, who possess knowledge of visual arts culture and an ability to articulate their ideas about film as an independent art form. This program provides students with multiple perspectives on the aesthetics of cinema. It offers comprehensive knowledge of the mechanics involved in producing moving images. Film is viewed as a method of artistic expression and students are encouraged to explore the various cinematic techniques which will give shape to their ideas. The program includes composite filmmaking courses, technical aspects classes, as well as seminars that explore the process and artistic practice of filmmaking. All genres are explored and supported.
Sample courses include:
Filmmaking: documentary, experimental, fiction Image, Sound, Montage, Acting and directing for the screen, Writing for film, Introduction to producing
Equipment and Costs
Students in Film Production are responsible for financing their own film and video projects. Equipment resources are provided by the School and other University departments, and crews are drawn from among classmates. Material costs and production-related expenses are the student’s responsibility. These costs will vary depending on the medium and the nature of the projects, but Production students should expect to pay at least $1,000 to $3,000 a year during their undergraduate program.
Admission Requirements
Film Production (BFA - Specialization/Major) requirements: Minimum cut-off averages, admission statistics and program requirements.
Film Studies
Specialization in Film Studies — 66 credits
Admission to the specialization is not offered in the first year. Students in the major may apply to transfer to the specialization after completing specific first year courses.
Major in Film Studies — 48 credits
Major in Art History and Film Studies — 60 credits
Minor in Film Studies — 24 credits
Our Film Studies courses explore the history of cinema in its global breadth, from documentary and experimental cinemas, to narrative feature films. Course screenings include not only the masterpieces of art cinema but many lesser-known titles from our vast collection. The curriculum also follows cinema into the 21st century as it evolves into a variety of media and exhibition contexts. Students learn to analyze films and media in order to develop a better understanding of their aesthetics and their relation to society.
Sample courses include:
Film aesthetics, History of film to 1959, Studies in film directors, Le cinéma québécois, Experimental film, Women and film, Aspects of national cinemas, Studies in film genres
Admission Requirements
Minimum cut-off averages, admission statistics and program requirements.
See the BFA degree description for information on the core and elective requirements. For a complete list of courses: Undergraduate Calendar
Undergraduate admissions guidelines: For information on international admission, required documents, proof of language proficiency, the university admissions timetable, selection and notification process.
