Film Distribution and Marketing, Postgraduate Taught - MA - 2022/23 entry

Taught by an industry experienced team, including Oscar-nominated producer, Lee Thomas, and film industry expert, Eugenio Triana, you'll develop the strategic skills needed to apply new and emergent models of film financing and market and engage audiences in a competitive, fast changing global entertainment business.

This Masters course examines old and new business models spanning all aspects of the film development cycle.

The course embraces advances in technology, digital communication channels and opportunities to monetise content across a variety of platforms outside traditional cinema.

During the course, you will receive intensive tuition from industry professionals before working to create and deploy strategies for projects around development and pitching, financing and pitching to investors, and distribution and marketing campaigns - all under the guidance of mentors.

As well as this, you'll get to work on real film projects ranging from low- to no-budget esoteric art house through to more commercially ambitious genres and across all stages of a film's life cycle – from development to production to distribution. During the course previous students have worked with companies including New Yorker Films, New Wave Films, Kaleidoscope Films and the Taiwan Film Institute.

Additionally, Film Futures students will study in BCUs new £260 million City Campus facilities. 

Bachelor Degree from a recognised university with a minimum grade of 60% / Good / 2.5 / C+

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing your employability skills

This course is specifically designed to prepare market-ready, entrepreneurial graduates able to meet the challenges of the new film distribution and funding environment, with the intention that students will play a key role in production teams of the future in emerging roles.

The course's strong emphasis on commercial awareness, market awareness and technological innovation in the sector also provides students with the opportunity to pursue careers in a wide variety of positions and company types.

Before their course is officially finished, Birmingham City University’s Film Distribution and Marketing students are already going on to greater things in the UK film industry. Gaining places at some of the top companies in production, distribution and marketing, the 2016/17 graduate class are maintaining the stellar history of employment for the Film Distribution and Marketing Masters. 

Employment

Joseph Hewitt – Executive Assistant, Hanway Films

In July, Joseph joined Hanway Films as executive assistant after having interned for the company at the Cannes Film Festival. His masters by practice was completed while employed at the company, which consisted of mapping out a business plan for a new online distribution company.

Hanway Films is the premier sales agent and producer in the UK film industry. Their catalogue includes titles such as “The Last Emperor”, “Nowhere Boy”, “Seven Psychopaths” and “An Education”.

Upcoming projects include “Mary Shelley” (starring Elle Fanning) and the psychological thriller “The Wolf Hour” (starring Naomi Watts). 

Annika Ranin – Investment Assistant, The Fyzz Facility

Annika Ranin is currently finishing her masters as a part time student in the distance-learning version of the Film Distribution and Marketing MA. This summer, she joined The Fyzz Facility, one of the largest film financing and production companies in the industry with offices both in London and Los Angeles.

The Fyzz Facility’s recent projects include Martin Campbell’s “The Foreigner” (starring Jackie Chan) and Taylor Sheridan’s “Wind River” (starring Jeremy Renner).

Cristina Martin – Sales and Marketing Assistant, Kaleidoscope Films

Cristina recently joined Kaleidoscope films after having interned for Sony Picture Classics and WestEnd Films during her time doing the course. This is the second time Kaleidoscope has hired a BCU student, after Caroline Lichnewsky of the 2014/15 graduate class.

Kaleidoscope Films is an independent UK distributor and sales agent that has been involved in projects such as Alice Lowe’s “Prevenge” and Bobcat Goldwaithe’s “Willow Creek”.

Sara Vonk – Sales and Acquisitions Assistant, Truffle Pictures

Sara joined Truffle Pictures this summer as she completed her masters by practice for BCU. She had previously interned at film production company FilmNaition (“Arrival”, “The Big Sick”) during the Cannes Film Festival.

A brand new company, London-base Truffle Pictures is currently involved in selling the rights to projects such as “The Hippopotamus” (based on the novel by Stephen Fry) and the drama “Mum’s List” (based on the memoir by St John Greene).

Konstantinos Palyvos – Acquisitions and Office Assistant, WestEnd Films

Having interned at IMG Films and Altitude Films, Konstantinos just joined WestEnd Films as their newest hire.

One of London’s most respected sales agents, WestEnd Films are currently in pre-production on Agnieszka Holland’s new project, “Gareth Jones” and the period horror film “The Banishing” from producers Robert Jones and Wayne Marc Godfrey.

Paid Internships

Natalie Featherstone – Communications/Publicity Intern at Think Jam

Natalie joined Think Jam in the fall having gained a place in the company’s competitive six-month internship programme. Since joining, she has worked in the campaigns for “Wonder Woman” and “Atomic Blonde”, and has already made her mark with ideas she pitched having been included in the final rollout.

Think Jam is the most successful film marketing agency in the UK. They have worked with clients such as Warner Brothers, HBO, 21^st Century Fox, Canal Plus and many others.

Chloe Vidal – TV Format and Sales Production, NBC/Universal

Chloe joined NBC/Universal’s TV sales division at their London offices in July on a one-year contract, as she was finishing her end of year dissertation. Previously, she had interned at UK sales agent The Little Co.

NBC/Universal is one of Hollywood’s six majors and one of the major media companies in the world.