Master of Cinema Management

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to work in the film culture industry. It is not intended to train students in the art of becoming a practitioner; instead it will train students to work in one of the many film culture bodies in Australia. These include: the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI); Screen Sound (Canberra); film festival bodies; commercial mainstream exhibitors (Village, Buena Vista) art house exhibitors (Nova), Film Australia, the Australian Film Institute; an area of radio/newspaper journalism; the Australian Film Commission. Students study the structure of the film culture industry, the nature of feature film production, film festival cultures, arts management, marketing, publicity and new media. A key feature of the course is an industry work placement in which students learn relevant skills in the work place.

• develop an understanding of the nature of cinema management in its social, economic and cultural context;
• understand the nature of the various film culture bodies, their functions, structure and purpose;
• gain an appreciation of the cultural and social role played by film in the wider community as well as the history of the development of the film culture industry;
• appreciate the nature of film as an aesthetic form – its specific properties as well as the specific contributions of all those involved in the art form from the script-writer to director, producer and exhibitor; and
• develop skills in critical thinking and communication, research, public speaking, creative thinking and to understand the principles of efficient administration.

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time 200 point program

First 100 points:

• 4 compulsory subjects (50 points)
• 4 elective subjects (50 points)

• 4 compulsory subjects (50 points)
• 4 elective subjects (50 points)

Total 200 points - subjects are 12.5 points each, unless indicated otherwise.

100 point program

see the second 100 points above

Total 100 points - subjects are 12.5 points each, unless indicated otherwise.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.

200 point program

First 100 points

Compulsory subjects:

Elective subjects:

Compulsory subjects:

Elective subjects:

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria:

For the 200 point program
• an undergraduate degree with a major (100 credit points) in cinema studies or a cognate discipline with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) over the major, or equivalent.

For the 100 point program
• an honours degree in cinema studies or a cognate discipline with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) in the relevant subjects and at least two years of full time documented relevant work experience, or equivalent.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews or tests and may call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Admission process