MDST 333 Cinema in the Cities: Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

Whether the well-known Sundance Film Festival, well-respected Cannes Film Festival or less-appreciated LUNAFEST, film festivals are celebrations of film and public relations devices fostering broader respect and wider dissemination of films of all genres and modes of production. By attending a local film festival (often the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival) or several smaller film festivals students will gain an appreciation of the film festival experience and understand how festivals rely on film criticism to cultivate broader film appreciation, stimulate fan culture, emphasize auteur acculturation and contribute to social change. As students view films at the festival they will also develop acuity as film critics and hone their skills in creating film reviews in a variety of forms.

Special information

Lab fee: When arranged with the film festival(s), a lab fee covering discounted student admission will appear in e-services. Registered students will be advised as to how to reserve their tickets. Prerequisite: 200-level writing course or the equivalent. Strong writing skills are critical to student success in this course. If attending screenings or events in-person, students will need to make arrangements for their own transportation and parking.