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InternationalFilmProduction

International Film Production MA/PG Dip/PG Cert

Develop professional film production management skills while building up a rich portfolio. From recent graduates to established filmmakers seeking to further their career, this course is suitable for anyone with a passion for film production.

Overview

Watch our latest International Film Production student film showcase.

This course will underpin your learning with industry-led insight and expertise, mixing professional knowledge and skills with academic critical thinking about films, audiences and the film industry.

You will enhance your filmmaking skills while developing a range of core skills and expertise in business and production management. These include storytelling, lighting and production design, directing and post-production, pitching, budgeting and management.

Further your knowledge of key roles in the film industry and the production process by learning about screenwriting and digital film and audio capture. As your studies progress you will develop your own projects under the guidance of our expert staff, with modules covering pre-production and production, equipping you for your final dissertation or individual film project.

You will benefit from the expertise of research groups such as the Cinema and Television History Research Institute (CATHI) and the Institute of Creative Technologies. The specialist skills you will develop are ideal for opening up careers in film, TV and media.

Key features

  • Tailor your learning towards your career aspirations with your final semester project. Choose between writing a traditional dissertation or submitting an individual film project. This work is an opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge developed on the course and will form the basis of your professional portfolio.
  • Access our  Creative Technology Studios, equipped with industry-standard video, audio and radio production suites. These studios provide facilities for the acquisition, editing and distribution of video, audio and computer-generated materials, enabling a seamless mixed-media workflow. You will also have access to a range of specialist film production equipment through our audio-visual loans service.
  • DMU is home to the Cinema and Television History Research Institute (CATHI) which houses archives from a range of leading UK production companies. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, 100 per cent of CATHI’s research impact was judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
  • Enhance your learning and network with professionals at our guest lectures and workshops, featuring speakers from across the industry.
  • Meet like-minded people and get hands-on experience by joining our student societies, including our award-winning media society, Demon Media, and Film Debate, who meet weekly to screen movies and debate related topics.
  • Prepare for a career in industry or for future study. This MA, with its focus on individual research, provides ideal preparation for progression to a PhD.

Case study

Rebekah Whelan, graduate 

Having worked as scriptwriter and production designer for her final semester project, Rebekah went on to land a role with the BBC’s Art Department and has worked on several feature film productions. The MA film that Rebekah wrote the script for has since been selected by several film festivals, winning Best Drama Film at the Nexus Film Awards 2019. 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Duration: One year full time

Start date: September

Course code: P31371

Fees and funding:

2023/24 full-time tuition fees for UK students: £8,500.

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Duration: One year full-time

Start Date: September

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for EU and international students: £16,300

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant subject.

We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

 

As part of your application you will be required to:

  • provide a 250-word summary of the particular aspects of the industry or film production roles that you are interested in and why
  • provide a 400-word proposal outlining your plans for a film production of which you hope to develop on the course (or provide a portfolio or show reel of relevant work)

Further to the written application, there may also be a panel interview conducted with the course team, as part of the admissions process. 

Structure and assessment

Education 2030

We want to ensure you have the best learning experience possible and a supportive and nurturing learning community. That’s why we’re introducing a new block model for delivering the majority of our courses, known as Education 2030. This means a more simplified timetable where you will study one subject at a time instead of several at once. You will have more time to engage with your learning and get to know the teaching team and course mates. You will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, and have a better study-life balance to enjoy other important aspects of university life.

Read more about Education 2030
 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise

 

Blocks 1 and 2:

The first blocks involve developing core skills in storytelling, pitching, screenwriting, directing, producing, camerawork, sound recording and other filmmaking skills.

  • Developing and Selling Ideas
  • Filmmaking Research and Practice

Blocks 3 and 4:

During these blocks, you will finesse your skills through hands-on collaborative short filmmaking. You will still benefit from the guidance of industry-experienced tutors but will become more self-led, as you manage your own teams and projects.

  • Pre-Production
  • Production

Block 5 & 6:

Choose one of the below.

  • Film Dissertation Project
  • Major Film Project

 

See detailed module descriptions


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.


See pre-Education 2030 version of this course.

 

You will normally attend around 10-15 hours of timetabled taught sessions per week during term time. You can also expect to typically undertake a further 20 hours of independent study and assignments per week. 

 

DMU staff include: producer Rachel Carter, director/writer Rhys Davies, scriptwriting experts Chris Walker and Prof. Jason Lee, as well as industry historian Dr James Russell. DMU is also home to the Cinema and Television History centre (CATH) which houses production archives from a range of leading UK production companies. Visiting lecturers and workshops will feature speakers from across the industry.

 

Facilities and features

Placements

Facilities

At DMU you will have access to our multi-million pound Creative Technology Studios (CTS), which feature a host of industry-standard video, audio and radio production suites and two fully-equipped recording studios featuring analogue and digital recording systems and surround sound monitoring. The CTS studios provide facilities for the acquisition, editing and distribution of video, audio and computer-generated materials and files can be shared throughout the studios via a fast computer network, enabling a seamless mixed-media workflow. You will also have access to a range of specialist film production equipment through our audio-visual loans service.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Works

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DMU Global

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

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Graduate Careers

The course is structured around developing skills in production management, development and other skills related to the film production process. Graduates will leave with an enhanced awareness of the specialist skills required in the international film industry, and commensurate skills. These may lead to careers in the media as well as other opportunities.

 

Take your next steps

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