Starting in Zurich, Switzerland, then proceeding to the Locarno Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland, and finishing in Cannes, France, this program examines contemporary cinema and television by considering how film festivals help in producing and distributing media around the world. The highlight of our time is the Locarno Film Festival, set in the lovely lake region of southern Switzerland/northern Italy (near Lake Como and Milan). Perched between Cannes (in spring) and Venice (in fall), Locarno is the most important summer festival. We have a full festival pass and much of our work concerns the films/media at the festival. The class considers the relationship between national filmmaking and transnational festivals as well as that between Hollywood and independent/smaller productions. We examine a series of contemporary filmmakers who established themselves at film festivals (Wong, Haneke, Dolan et al.). Full program details.

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