The course is a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of film criticism using the examples of the Asian cinemas, to learn new skills and gain international friends and new industry contacts. This is the first educational activity of this kind available online to everyone – without age limits, and territorial restrictions, and completely free of charge. The cycle of webinars is the next part of the Asian Cinema Education project created by Five Flavours Asian Film Festival, in cooperation with Udine Far East Film Festival, CAMERA JAPAN Festival and the Helsinki Cine Aasia festival.
The course, which will be available from September on, is divided into three separate thematic parts, comprised of 40 webinars. The first part is devoted to the analysis and interpretation of Asian films and longer written forms. The second part, which will be made available in October, focuses on journalistic skills necessary for working at a film festival. The third, November part, is a fascinating journey through time, the story of journalism on Asian cinema.
All you need to do to register for the first course on film analysis and longer written forms is to fill in a form. Registered webinar participants will be able to improve their skills among other Asian film enthusiasts from all over the world, and their written assignments will be discussed by experienced film critics. Registration for further parts of the course will be held in the upcoming months. You can also watch the webinars without registering.
Courses
Film Criticism – Long Written Forms
Film Analysis, Essay and Review
There is a number of different aspects to film analysis and many forms of film criticism. Being a critic does not necessarily mean criticizing. It is all about connecting the dots: the cultural contexts, production background and contexts, or the author’s biography.
The course addresses film criticism from a variety of different perspectives, ranging from visual style, film style, production values, script reading, narrative or character perspectives, to political or socio-economic contexts. Participating in fifteen expert webinars is a unique chance to learn how to analyze and talk about a film without imposing a subjective interpretation, instead of providing the readers with tools allowing them to discover meanings on their own. It is also a collection of practical tips for aspiring film critics, from the structure of the text to pro tips on how to deal with a potential publisher. Active involvement in the course gives you the opportunity to consult your work and ideas with experienced critics and film festival organizers, ask your burning questions, and meet passionate Asian film lovers from around the world!
Course program:
- Film Analysis. Visual Style: Colors & Lighting - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Visual Style: Framing & Movement - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Production Values: Setting & Costumes - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Post-Production: Editing & Sound - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Political and Cultural Contexts - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Narrative - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Characters - Łukasz Mańkowski
- Film Analysis. Auteurs, Genres, and Japanese Cinema - Tom Mes
- Those Crazy Japanese – Avoiding Stereotypes in Writing about Films - Eija Niskanen
- The History of Stereotypes on Asian Characters in the Mainstream Hollywood Cinema - Jasper Sharp
- How to Write an Essay - Marcin Krasnowolski
- How to Write a Review - Panos Kotzathanasis
- Editing Skills: How to Interact with Your Editor-in-Chief. How to Interact with Your Writer. Two Perspectives - Panos Kotzathanasis
- Experts Comment on Participants’ Essays and Reviews. Part One - Łukasz Mańkowski (available from October 29)
- Experts Comment on Participants’ Essays and Reviews. Part Two - Panos Kotzathanasis (available from October 29)
Available from September 1
Registration August 1 – 20, 2021
Festival Skills – Short Written and Non-Written Forms
Communication and Audience Development
Festivals play an important role in the life cycle of a film but are equally important for film critics. New talents find an audience there, like-minded people from different places meet. Not only is it a place for film critics and journalists to broaden their horizons, but they often also work for festivals, e.g. with the press office or as editors.
The course focuses on a number of different aspects related to both these sides. We look at how to conduct interviews, how to cover a festival, the challenges of online film criticism. But as festivals can be a daunting place, especially on a first visit, we also go into the practical side of things. While working at a festival, the tasks that journalists take up can be very varied, from writing press releases, promotional texts, or texts for the website to introducing films and even making video essays. The course explores all these in detail and teaches how to find one’s audience both as a film critic and as the festival itself.
Course program:
- Short Film Descriptions for Promotional Purposes, Taglines - Nancy Fornoville
- Introducing Films to the Audience - Nancy Fornoville
- Managing Social Media Content - Nancy Fornoville
- Video essays - Nancy Fornoville
- Level up as a Film Critic. Tips for Beginners (FIPRESCI, Netpac) - Nancy Fornoville & Panos Kotzathanasis
- Audience Development - Nancy Fornoville & Panos Kotzathanasis
- How to Conduct an Interview - Marcin Krasnowolski
- How to Write an Effective Press Release - Nancy Fornoville
- How to Work as an Online Critic - Panos Kotzathanasis
- Q&A Sessions during the Festivals - Eija Niskanen
- Press Junkets – How to Act as the Organizer and How to Act as the Journalist - Eija Niskanen
- How to Cover the Festival - Eija Niskanen
- Writing for Festival Website: Film Descriptions, News, Headlines - Eija Niskanen
- Expert Comment on Participants’ Assignments. Part One - Nancy Fornoville (available from November 29)
- Expert Comment on Participants’ Assignments. Part Two - Eija Niskanen (available from November 29)
Available from October 1
Registration September 1 – 24, 2021
Journalism on Asian Cinema
Its history and contemporary challenges
The basic premise is to chart the evolution of both Asian cinema and critical appraisal of Asian cinema, looking at the films and the people who have taken Asian cinema to the world – and digging into how they have done so. The end result should provide attendees with both a solid grounding in the history of Asian cinema and the foundations needed to critically appraise Asian cinema. The course is hosted by Mathew Scott, Asia-based writer and editor, who initiated the Far East Film Festival Campus for young journalists in Udine, Italy, an educational programme and cultural exchange which each year hosts aspiring writers from Asia and from Europe.
Course program:
- Introductory Session
- The History of Asian Cinema (1900 to 1960): From the First Filmmakers in the Early 1900s and the First Films to Emergence of Major Studios
- The History of Asian Cinema (1960 to Now)
- When East Meets West: A look at the History of Film Criticism
- Movers and Shakers: A Deep Dive into a Selection of Films, Filmmakers and Critics from Asia
- Far East, Far Out: A Look at the Theme of "Exoticism"
- Festivals ... and Beyond: The Emergence of Festivals Across Asia
- Then and Now: How Retrospectives and Archives Are Preserving the History of Asian Cinema
- Talking Asian Cinema: How to Formulate Thoughts into Discussion and into Written Form.
- Course Summary: Expert Comment on Participants’ Assignments (available from December 29).
Available from November 1
Registration October 1 – 22, 2021
The course is open to everyone interested in talking and writing about Asian cinema – future film journalists, bloggers, critics, members of selection committees, festival organizers, and Asian cinema enthusiasts. We invite people of all ages who want to develop their interests, gain new skills and get to know Asian cinema.
To actively participate in the course, you need to fill in the registration form with the necessary data and write a short comment on a film of your choice. You can register for one, two or three parts of the course. Participating in each part will require a separate registration. The registered participants will be able to interact with the lecturers and their works will be assessed and commented on by the experts. You can also watch all the webinars without registering. All webinars are conducted in English only – this is the working language of the whole course.
International Jury and other learning opportunities
The skills gained during the course can be checked in practice when applying to the International People's Jury at the Five Flavours Film Festival. Open Call for the jury will take place in September 1-20.
We would like to remind all Asian cinema lovers about the lectures "Once upon a Time in Asia. A Journey through the Cinematographies of East and Southeast Asia".
The International Online Course in Journalism and Film Criticism "How to talk and write about Asian Cinema? is part of the Asian Cinema Education / Festival as a Form of Education project implemented with the support of the European Union within the Erasmus + programme.
