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Cinema Studies Introduction to Film II (Fresko) 01:175:202:01: 11281MW 3:50-5:10PM; T 5:40-8:40PMThe discipline of film studies has a rich and varied history, and as film study moves into a digital age it continues to evolve as a body of knowledge. This course introduces students to conceptual questions that have been foundational to the field: What are the fundamental properties that define film as a medium? What are the cinema’s psychological, affective, and social effects? How do we...

Summer 2025 Cult Films in American Culture (Nigrin)01:175:266:E6:00100This online lecture-discussion course focuses on the “cult” film from its origins in the 1920s to its evolution in American culture. Close analyses of cult films will be paired with readings by J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum, Sigmund Freud, and others. According to Freud, for example, social organization for the primordial horde came about because of the incest taboo and the law of exogamy. Several of the films to be...

The Department of French and the Program in Cinema Studies are deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Alan L. Williams, our beloved colleague of many years, on August 16, 2023. A Memorial Service, in the form of a traditional Sukhavati ceremony, was held on August 26. Here are some words, however insufficient, to honor Alan’s memory and unique legacy. Alan Williams received his B.A. and M.A. in French from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1969 and 1971; followed by a Ph.D. in...

Congratulations to Stephanie Man, Oakley Mastej, and Priyanka Sarkhel, who have won the 2021 Cinema Studies Essay Award! Oakley Mastej Priyanka Sarkhel Stephanie Man

Congratulations to the Cinema Studies Class of 2020! This group completed their journey during an unforgettable and challenging year, showing dedication, adaptability, and genuine passion for the art of film. Their hard work reflects a deep appreciation for storytelling and a strong commitment to creative expression. As they step forward into new opportunities—whether in film, media, or beyond—they carry with them the skills, perspective, and resilience that will serve them well. Well done,...

Congratulations to Will Pagdatoon on his receipt of the prestigious Henry Rutgers Scholar Award for his Senior Honors thesis, “Gazing Upon Varda’s Cinécriture: Rewriting Patriarchal Cinema Towards a Feminist Cinema.” Will graduated this May from the School of Arts and Sciences as a Cinema Studies major. Working with Professor Sandy Flitterman-Lewis in the English Department as well as the Program in Cinema Studies, Will’s thesis examined the work of filmmaker Agnès Varda (1928-2019). Varda was...

Congratulations to our wonderful Cinema Studies graduates! Pictured on the left are CS majors Hager Selym and Estefany Mendez-Recio. Below is CS major Martha Ugwu. Also graduating: Majors: Dayna Hagewood, Fran Magen and Xinyue Wang; Minors: Delaney Alton, Sarina Bhutani, John DeJesus, Catherine Gural, Ellen Lee, Felix Ortiz-Cruz, and Marisa Tamini. We are very proud of you, and wish you great success and happiness in your professional and personal endeavors!

Congratulations to our 2019 Essay Award Winners! Christiane Fischer (L) won the Graduate award for her essay on the aesthetics of touch in Wong Kar-Wai, and Jessica Fitzner (r) won the Undergraduate award for her paper on women's desire and representation in Petzold's film Phoenix.

DEADLINE: Monday April 1, 2019 The Cinema Studies Program is delighted to continue our program in support of graduate and undergraduate student research in the discipline (including scholarly media projects such as film restoration or film essays), and undergraduate filmmaking projects. Applications may be submitted by graduate students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Cinema Studies and who are still eligible for SGS funding, and by undergraduate students who are declared Majors or Minors in...

Four of our CS majors braved the pouring rain on May 13 to march with Cinema Studies in the SAS Convocation: l to r: Elorm Ocansey, Tom Evans, Dan Bacsik, and Dak Johnson. Congratulations to the Cinema Studies Class of 2018! This cohort brought creativity, curiosity, and dedication to every frame they studied and every story they crafted. Their time in the program was marked by collaboration, exploration, and a genuine passion for understanding the art and impact of film. As they moved forward into...

The Cinema Studies Program held its Awards Lunch on April 26, 2018. We honored two faculty members who are retiring, Professors John Belton and Richard Koszarski. CS students and faculty will miss you!We also celebrated the tenuring and promotion to Associate Professor of Rhiannon Welch, and presented the Undergraduate Essay Award to Dayna Hagewood and Gabrielle Woods, and the Graduate Essay Award to Chiara Degli Esposti. Several other graduating senior majors were present: Chelsea Lebron,...

Cinema Studies is pleased to announce that Professor Meheli Sen has been awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor. Congratulations!

Cuban Filmmaking Today December 1, 2017, 4 PM, AB-1180 Please join us for a screening of five short films by young directors working in the new context of independent filmmaking in Cuba. Cuban producer Jesús Hernández Bach will be present for a discussion of these films, which deploy a rich variety of techniques to represent a diversity of life experiences on the island. Free and open to the public. All films will be subtitled and our conversation will also be in English. Co-sponsors:...

Congratulations to our 2017 award winners: Rudrani Gangopadhyay (Graduate Essay Award) and Adam Maric-Cleaver (Undergraduate Essay Award).

This year’s recipients have demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication to the art of filmmaking. Their work showcases powerful storytelling, innovative technique, and a deep passion for cinema that inspires our entire community. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to seeing the remarkable contributions they will continue to make in the world of film. Pictured above: Janine Wahrendorf (Graduate Essay Award) and Glenn Edridge (Scholarly Media Project Award). Pictured...

Students pursuing the major may choose between two options: History and Theory, and Production and Criticism. More information is available here. Email the Program Director, Professor Susan Martin-Márquez, cinemastudies@sas.rutgers.edu, if you have any questions.