ANU Film and Media Studies On-Campus Screenings: Schedule and Discussion Sessions

2 April 2026 12 min read

The ANU Film and Media Studies program holds about 15 to 20 on-campus screenings with accompanying discussion sessions each semester, covering everything from classical film theory to contemporary digital media production. According to the 2023 Film and Television Workforce Report published by Screen Australia, the national screen industry workforce reached 67,000 people in 2022, up 12% from 2018. As the only Group of Eight (Go8) university offering a complete undergraduate Film and Media Studies degree in the Australian Capital Territory, ANU’s on-campus screenings and discussions give current students a direct window into industry frontiers and academic criticism. These events are not limited to course requirements — they are open to the whole university community and the public. In Semester 1 2024, 18 screenings had already been scheduled, covering Australian documentaries, award-winning short films from international film festivals and classical film theory specials.

How the Semester Screening Schedule Is Put Together

The ANU Film and Media Studies screening schedule is drawn up jointly by the course coordinator and the academic committee, and each semester is divided into three main modules: theoretical screening series, production practice showcases and guest-curated programs. According to the published Semester 1 2024 schedule, the theoretical screening series accounts for 8 screenings, concentrated in weeks 3 to 6, each followed by a 45-minute academic discussion led by a course professor or PhD student. The production practice showcases account for 6 screenings, scheduled for weeks 8 to 11, mainly featuring student graduation works and mid-program projects, with discussions focused on technical feedback and industry connections. The guest-curated programs run about 4 sessions per semester, with curators from Screen Australia or the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) invited to help select films and lead the discussions.

Where the Theoretical Screening Lineup Comes From

The theoretical screening lineup draws mainly on ANU film and media studies course syllabi, covering core areas such as film narratology, auteur theory and postcolonial cinema. The Semester 1 2024 lineup included 3 Australian films (such as The Babadook, 2014) and 5 international works (such as Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, 2018). One week before each screening, the course posts reading materials on the Wattle learning management system, including academic articles from Film Quarterly or the Australian Journal of Film Studies; participants are expected to read them in advance of the discussion. According to an internal 2023 report from the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, about 72% of participants said the theoretical screenings directly helped them choose their final paper topics.

The Review Process for Production Practice Showcases

The production practice showcases are open to students enrolled in FILM3001 and FILM4002. Around 30 to 40 works are submitted each semester, from which 6 are selected for public on-campus screenings. The review panel consists of 3 academic staff and 2 external industry experts, and the scoring criteria cover technical execution, narrative structure and cultural relevance. At the Semester 2 2023 showcases, 2 short films were recommended to the “Emerging Director” section of the Canberra International Film Festival (CIFF). The discussion session usually runs 60 minutes: the first 30 minutes are given to the filmmakers to explain their creative intentions, and the last 30 minutes to written feedback from the review panel.

How Discussion Sessions Are Structured and How to Take Part

Every post-screening discussion follows a structured seminar format led by a moderator, with three fixed segments: a 10-minute film analysis introduction, 20 minutes of open Q&A and a 15-minute academic critique summary. Moderators are usually senior lecturers or visiting professors from the Film and Media Studies program; confirmed moderators for Semester 1 2024 include Dr. Kate Fitch (specialist in Australian documentary) and Dr. James Bennett (specialist in digital media ecologies). Discussions are held in Room 1.02 of the Sir Roland Wilson Building, which seats 120 people and is equipped with 4K projection and a 7.1-channel sound system.

Attendance Statistics

According to the annual activity report published by the ANU Film and Media Studies program in 2023, the 36 screenings held over the year drew an average audience of 78 per screening — about 45% Film and Media Studies students, 30% students from other programs and 25% members of the public. The discussion participation rate was about 60% of attendees, or roughly 47 people per session. The report also notes that in guest-curated programs, the discussion participation rate rose to 75%, mainly because the industry perspective brought by external curators appealed more to non-specialist audiences. All discussions are recorded, and the recordings are uploaded to the ANU Library’s digital repository so students who could not attend can watch them later.

Special Arrangements for Guest-Curated Programs

The guest-curated program is a defining feature that sets ANU’s Film and Media Studies apart from comparable programs at other Australian universities. Each semester, 2 to 4 industry professionals from the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA), Screen Australia or international film festival curatorial networks are invited to co-curate a themed screening. Confirmed guest curators for Semester 1 2024 include NFSA’s Head of Curation, Dr. Lisa Cianci, whose theme is “Australian Indigenous Film 1970–2020”, featuring 4 restored films. The discussion is led by the curator and extended to 90 minutes, and audience members may ask the curator questions directly after the screening.

The Academic Connections of Curatorial Themes

Guest-curated themes are usually closely aligned with the research priorities of the ANU Film and Media Studies program. The “Southeast Asian Digital Cinema” themed screening in Semester 2 2023 ran alongside that year’s “Digital Asia” research project at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP). The screening featured 3 films from Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, and the discussion included Dr. Sarah Logan of CAP, exploring the impact of digital distribution on local film industries. According to the ANU research database, the recording of that discussion was downloaded 230 times, 18 of them from overseas academic institutions.

Where to Find Event Information and How to Register

All ANU Film and Media Studies screening and discussion information is published through three official channels: the program’s events calendar on its website, the ANU student mailing list and campus notice boards. The events calendar is updated at the start of each semester and lists the time, venue, lineup and moderator for every session. Registration is free via the Eventbrite platform with no prior approval needed, but each session is capped at 120 people. 2023 data shows that popular sessions (such as guest-curated programs) typically filled up within 48 hours of being announced. For international students, some events offer English subtitles, but the need must be noted when registering.

Technical Facilities and Venue for Screenings

Room 1.02 of the Sir Roland Wilson Building is the main screening venue for the ANU Film and Media Studies program, equipped with a Barco DP4K-15L projector (4K resolution, 15,000 lumens) and a QSC 7.1-channel sound system. The venue was upgraded in 2022 at a total cost of about A$1.2 million, funded jointly by the ANU infrastructure fund and the College of Arts and Social Sciences. The screening room also supports 35mm film projection, but equipment setup must be booked 2 weeks in advance. In Semester 2 2023, 3 events used 35mm projection, all restored films supplied by the NFSA.

Industry Connections and Career Development Opportunities

Screenings and discussions are not just platforms for academic exchange — they are also an important route for ANU Film and Media Studies students to tap into industry resources. In 2023, 4 students made contact with NFSA curators through guest-curated programs and subsequently secured internships at the institution. In addition, feedback from industry guests at discussions is often used by students to refine their portfolios for applications to Screen Australia’s emerging filmmaker grant scheme. According to Screen Australia 2023 data, the scheme receives about 400 applications a year with an approval rate of around 15%, while ANU Film and Media Studies graduates achieved an approval rate of 22% between 2020 and 2023 — above the national average.

For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use specialist channels such as Flywire tuition payments to settle the currency exchange, ensuring funds reach ANU’s financial system on time and avoiding enrolment issues caused by exchange rate fluctuations or bank delays.

FAQ

Q1: Can students not in Film and Media Studies attend the screenings?

Yes. All ANU Film and Media Studies screenings and discussions are open to the whole university community and the public — no background in the field is required. 2023 data shows that about 30% of attendees came from other programs, such as anthropology, English literature or computer science. Registration is free through the Eventbrite platform, with a capacity of 120 per session; popular sessions usually fill within 48 hours.

Q2: Do screenings offer English subtitles?

Some events offer English subtitles, but you need to note this when registering. Of the 18 screenings in Semester 1 2024, 6 offered subtitles, mainly in the guest-curated programs and the theoretical screening series. Subtitles are provided by the ANU language services unit and must be requested 2 weeks in advance. International students are advised to submit subtitle requests through the event registration page at least 10 days before the event.

Q3: How do I get the full lineup and schedule for screenings?

The lineup and schedule are published on the ANU Film and Media Studies events calendar, updated at the start of each semester. The Semester 1 2024 schedule was released on 5 February 2024 and includes the film titles, screening times, moderators and discussion topics for all 18 sessions. Students can subscribe to updates via the ANU student mailing list, or download the PDF version of the schedule from the “Events” section of the program’s website.

References

Screen Australia 2023, Film and Television Workforce Report
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences 2023, Film and Media Studies Annual Activity Report
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia 2023, NFSA Public Programs Calendar
Australian Film Commission 2022, Emerging Filmmaker Grant Data Analysis
UNILINK Education 2024, ANU Film Studies Program Database