Our program balances film studies and film production within a liberal arts major. We currently have 35-40 film majors, but many more students take our courses. Some choose the Film Major, some double-major in Film and another discipline, and some create their own Independent Major. Many courses in film or related media studies are offered outside the department, which also may be counted toward the major. For a full listing of current film courses and film major requirements, see Film Major Requirements.
Prospective students interested in applying to Cornell to study film should apply for admission into the College of Arts & Sciences. There are no portfolio requirements, and students do not actually claim majors until their sophomore year. See admissions information for more details.
A considerable resource in film education at Cornell is the extraordinary film exhibition program of Cornell Cinema.
Film Studies
Like other concentrations in the department, Cornell's film program is structured in a focused but flexible manner. A proliferation of film classes in this department-as well as in the areas of Africana studies, anthropology, Asian studies, comparative literature, English, German studies, history, psychology, romance studies, and women's studies-makes the film program an interdisciplinary field, allowing for specialization according to students' interests. The Department of Theatre, Film & Dance offers numerous classes about the history and theory of various periods and genres of film, as well as an intense sequence of film and videomaking. The course of study introduces the student to the vast field of professional film, while examining the many uses of the medium-theatrical or documentary filmmaking, film as an avenue for personal expression, and film within the larger context of visual and cultural studies-to name only a few.
Film Production
We offer beginning-level courses in 16mm filmmaking and digital video production, which emphasize creativity, developing original ideas, and practicing essential techniques of the craft. Students may choose to work in any genre of filmmaking: experimental, narrative, documentary, animation, etc. At the intermediate level of filmmaking, students learn sync-sound techniques for their original productions in narrative or documentary; increase their skills in video and audio editing and mixing on Final Cut Pro, ProTools and optionally on Avid systems. In the advanced class, students develop a single project for the semester. All classes have public screenings of final projects at the end of each semester at Cornell Cinema, and the advanced class in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. In addition we offer a screenwriting course, a summer animation class, and several courses in theatre which are highly recommended for film production students such as: Directing I and II, playwriting courses, and an acting sequence.
Attention! Gear-Oriented people: For a summary of the equipment we have, click here.
Film Exhibition: Cornell Cinema, Pentangle, Student Films & Guest Filmmakers
Students are exposed to an immense sampling of films through Cornell Cinema, a unique program of the department. Cornell Cinema has been cited by The Village Voice as one of the nation's top campus film exhibition programs, offering Cornell and the surrounding communities a wide range of literally hundreds of screenings and services typically found only in large metropolitan areas. The Pentangle Film Series screens a wide array of film classics annually, and Cornell Cinema sponsors guest filmmakers for campus visits, who often conduct workshops. Screenings of works made by students in the department's film and video production courses are wildly popular events each semester.
Filmmaking Clubs:
Among the many student activities at Cornell is the long-standing Cornell Film Club (formerly IFMAC. The club's members receive funding for equipment and projects from the Student Activities Finance Commission (SAFC), and organize screenings of members' work. For more information about The Cornell Film Club contact Gabriel Long gb18@cornell.edu
Study Abroad:
Students proficient in French may choose to spend the junior year at the Paris Center for Film and Critical Studies, of which Cornell is an active consortium member. Full Cornell credit is given for this work, which complements the film courses available on campus. The Cornell film major offers several avenues of study, which further emphasizes the department's goal of an individualized education.