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Cinema Studies

Tell powerful stories. Refine your critical and technical abilities. Realize your vision. 

Programs Available

Faculty

News

Resources

Cinema Studies — A photo of students slating a shot
UTK Media Pool

FRAME YOUR EXPERIENCE 

The discipline of Cinema Studies encompasses film, television, and related narrative arts (e.g., video games). The School of Art offers an undergraduate major and minor in Cinema Studies. Students in the program produce their own films, videos, and animations, and study the cultural, historic, and aesthetic dimensions of motion pictures and television. Our Media Pool and facilities — including newly renovated spaces slated to open in January 2025 — equip our students with everything that they need for their next creative project. Graduates of our programs go on to secure successful careers in the film and television industry, top-ranked MFA and PhD programs, and other professional spheres.  

Request More Information

Programs in Cinema Studies

Bachelor of Arts

The School of Art offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies to students interested in the analysis and creation of moving images. Our curriculum allows students to choose a greater emphasis in cinema history and aesthetics or in production, though they complete coursework in both areas. Our faculty are Pulitzer Prize and Oscar nominees, prizewinners at major film festivals such as Sundance, and awardees of numerous university teaching awards. Undergraduate cinema studies students examine the history and aesthetics of movies while also undertaking their own productions. Explore the options below to learn more about our undergraduate programs. 

Degree Requirements

See Undergraduate Catalog for BA details

Offered Courses

  • ART 102 Non-Major Introduction to Art: Time  
  • ARTC 401 Experiments in Sequencing 
  • ARTC 439 Special Topics in Four-Dimensional Arts 
  • CNST 233 Animation I 
  • CNST 236 Introduction to Cinema and Video Art 
  • CNST 281 Introduction to Film Studies 
  • CNST 306 Shakespeare and Film 
  • CNST 312 Popular Culture and American Politics 
  • CNST 314 Food, Fiction, and Film in Modern Japan 
  • CNST 315 Asian Film 
  • CNST 320 Middle Eastern Film 
  • CNST 321 Japanese Graphic Novel/Anime 
  • CNST 323 German Film Survey 
  • CNST 325 Russian Film 
  • CNST 326 Brazilian Cinema 
  • CNST 333 Animation II 
  • CNST 334 Film and American Culture 
  • CNST 365 Writing the Screenplay 
  • CNST 366 Hollywood and the 20th Century 
  • CNST 400 Special Topics 
  • CNST 420 French Cinema 
  • CNST 422 Topics in Italian Cinema 
  • CNST 423 Themes and Genres in German Cinema 
  • CNST 431 The Business of Cinema 
  • CNST 425 Topics In Non-Fiction Filmmaking 
  • CNST 433 Animation III 
  • CNST 435 Narrative Filmmaking 
  • CNST 436 Video Art  
  • CNST 433 History of Film and Modern and Contemporary Art 
  • CNST 434 Film and Visual Culture in the Hispanic World 
  • CNST 465 Latin American Film and Culture 
  • CNST 469 Sexuality and Cinema 
  • CNST 482 Special Topics in Global Cinema 
  • CNST 489 Special Topics in Film 
  • CNST 495 Modern China in Film 
  • CNST 490 Internship 
  • CNST 491 Foreign Study 
  • CNST 492 Off-Campus Study 
  • CNST 493 Independent Study 

See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions

Minor

The School of Art offers a cinema studies minor for students pursuing other fields of study. Explore the options below to learn more about our minor program. 

Minor Requirements

See Undergraduate Catalog for minor details

Offered Courses

  • ART 102 Non-Major Introduction to Art: Time  
  • ARTC 401 Experiments in Sequencing 
  • ARTC 439 Special Topics in Four-Dimensional Arts 
  • CNST 233 Animation I 
  • CNST 236 Introduction to Cinema and Video Art 
  • CNST 281 Introduction to Film Studies 
  • CNST 306 Shakespeare and Film 
  • CNST 312 Popular Culture and American Politics 
  • CNST 314 Food, Fiction, and Film in Modern Japan 
  • CNST 315 Asian Film 
  • CNST 320 Middle Eastern Film 
  • CNST 321 Japanese Graphic Novel/Anime 
  • CNST 323 German Film Survey 
  • CNST 325 Russian Film 
  • CNST 326 Brazilian Cinema 
  • CNST 333 Animation II 
  • CNST 334 Film and American Culture 
  • CNST 365 Writing the Screenplay 
  • CNST 366 Hollywood and the 20th Century 
  • CNST 400 Special Topics 
  • CNST 420 French Cinema 
  • CNST 422 Topics in Italian Cinema 
  • CNST 423 Themes and Genres in German Cinema 
  • CNST 431 The Business of Cinema 
  • CNST 425 Topics In Non-Fiction Filmmaking 
  • CNST 433 Animation III 
  • CNST 435 Narrative Filmmaking 
  • CNST 436 Video Art  
  • CNST 433 History of Film and Modern and Contemporary Art 
  • CNST 434 Film and Visual Culture in the Hispanic World 
  • CNST 465 Latin American Film and Culture 
  • CNST 469 Sexuality and Cinema 
  • CNST 482 Special Topics in Global Cinema 
  • CNST 489 Special Topics in Film 
  • CNST 495 Modern China in Film 
  • CNST 490 Internship 
  • CNST 491 Foreign Study 
  • CNST 492 Off-Campus Study 
  • CNST 493 Independent Study  

See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions

Non-Major Electives

The School of Art offers courses in cinema studies for non-art majors. Explore the option below to learn more about our non-major electives. 

Offered Courses

  • ARTN 102 Non-Major Introduction to Art: Time 
  • ARTN 233 Non-Major Animation 
  • ARTN 239 Non-Major Intro to Special Topics in Four-Dimensional

See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions

Faculty

headshot photo

Emily Bivens

Director of Graduate Studies, Professor
Area of Study: Time-Based Art, Cinema Studies

ebivens@utk.edu
Profile
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Flavia Brizio-Skov

Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

fbrizio@utk.edu
Profile
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Heather Coker Hawkins

Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art

hcokerha@utk.edu
Profile
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Paul Harrill

Co-Chair, Cinema Studies, Professor and Dee & Jimmy Haslam Chair in Cinema Studies
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art

pharrill@utk.edu
Profile
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Christine Holmlund

Professor Emerita
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

cholmlun@utk.edu
Profile
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Noriko Horiguchi

Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

njh@utk.edu
Profile
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John Kelley

Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art

jkelle49@utk.edu
Profile
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Xuefei Ma

Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

xma30@utk.edu
Profile
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Daniel Magilow

Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

dmagilow@utk.edu
Profile
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Chuck Maland

Professor Emeritus
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

cmaland@utk.edu
Profile
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Annachiara Mariani

Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

amariani@utk.edu
Profile
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Darcey Morris

Teaching Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

dmorris32@utk.edu
Profile
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Brittany Murray

Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

bmurra13@utk.edu
Profile
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Eleni Palis

Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

epalis@utk.edu
Profile
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Drew Paul

Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

wpaul2@utk.edu
Profile
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Euridice Silva

Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

esilva@utk.edu
Profile
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Maria Stehle

Co-Chair, Cinema Studies
Area of Study: Cinema Studies

mstehle@utk.edu
Profile
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Janelle VanderKelen

Director of Foundations + Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art

jvande24@utk.edu
Profile
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Chloe Wack

Teaching Assistant Professor

cwack@utk.edu
Profile

Cinema Studies News

  • Alumni Spotlight: Documentary Filmmaker Ronald LevyJune 27, 2025
  • Janelle VanderKelen Wins Creative Capital AwardJanuary 23, 2025
  • School of Art Faculty Receive Heart and Soul AwardsDecember 16, 2024
  • A woman dancing in a spotlight
    Multiple UTK Films Screening at Film Fest KnoxOctober 28, 2024
  • A group of people holding pieces of gray paper with the UT logo on them
    School of Art Holds 2024 Kimberly D. Iles Awards CeremonyOctober 8, 2024
  • Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Recipients
    Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – 2023November 9, 2023
More News

Resources

Facilities

Time-Based Art & Cinema Studies Facilities

The Media Pool

Articles

  • “How to research, write, revise, and publish an award-winning essay in a top film journal” by Chris Cagle
  • “How to Research Film Articles through the UT Library”
  • UTK Libraries – Cinema Studies Research Guide

Knoxville Film Resources

Visit Knoxville Film Office

Film Fest Knox  

Central Cinema

Regal Entertainment Group

Big Ears Festival

Tennessee Theater  

Knoxville Public Library Movie Collection

Internships and Workshops

Professional Organizations + Internships increasingly play a vital role in a students’ professional preparation during college. Their importance in helping a student secure work after college cannot be overstated. This is especially true in the world of film and video. Students in cinema studies programs are strongly encouraged to pursue internships in Knoxville, which has a thriving production community, and beyond. Please enroll in the Canvas site to read more about securing credit for Cinema Studies and Time-Based Arts internships at UT. 

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