“The School for the Contemporary Arts gave me a far greater education in film by immersing me in interdisciplinary study with other artists. This approach gave me a far greater breadth to my education and made me a better filmmaker. It’s a great program.”

Andrew Currie (BFA Film, 1993)

“I think that one of the major strengths of the SFU film program is the freedom afforded to students – to make the kinds of films that they want to make – and to either focus on one particular aspect of filmmaking or experiment in a number of different areas.”

Ross Ferguson (BFA Film, 1995)

“In the four years of being in the film program, I gained some priceless experiences of camaraderie, lifelong collaborators, and a matured artistic vision.”

Eliza Lee (BFA Film, 1998)

“For me, the most important aspects of SFU’s film program are the priority the instructors place on telling great stories and the opportunities to develop a community of fellow filmmakers.”

Marilyn Kynaston (BFA Film, 1994)
FILM

The School for the Contemporary Arts is home to the most comprehensive and innovative film and video production program in Western Canada. A practical education in all aspects of production and post-production is fully integrated with historical and theoretical courses, which expand the student’s understanding of the critical issues involved in moving image and sound production. The program creates a stimulating and supportive atmosphere for emerging independent filmmakers, media artists, and documentarians, encouraging them to create committed and challenging work in all media.

Undergraduate programs in art and culture studies, dance, music, theatre, and visual art give film students an opportunity to enhance their film and video studies with valuable disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses from the other areas of the School. A student in Contemporary Arts benefits from being part of one of Canada’s outstanding universities. Simon Fraser University is highly rated nationally and internationally and is renowned for its spirit of innovation, its sense of exploration, and its bold educational initiatives.

The School offers three options in Film:

Major in Film (BFA)
Extended minor in Film
Minor in Film and Video Studies

To graduate with a BFA, major in Film, a student must have 74 credit hours for the major itself, plus the 30 credit Faculty of Arts Breadth requirement within the total of 120 credits required for the degree.

(Please refer to the SFU Calendar for full details.)

The extended minor in Film requires a minimum of 45 credit hours in film and related areas in contemporary arts.

A student interested in a minor in Film and Video Studies is required to complete a minimum of 29 credit hours in film and related areas in Contemporary Arts.

Beginning in uthe first year, film production courses emphasize the creation of original work as well as the acquisition of technical skills. History and theory courses familiarize students with the aesthetic and social issues surrounding contemporary media practices. Students augment their understanding of the components of film and video through interdisciplinary studies and projects. Directed studies are available to upper division students wishing to work independently.

Fundamentals of film
History and aesthetics of cinema
Techniques of film
Cinema in Canada
Studies in documentary film and video
Film sound
Screenwriting
Video production
Introduction to film theory
Film production seminar
Cinematography and lighting
Directing and acting for film and video
Techniques of video

The curriculum is enriched with courses from other areas of the School and through student screenings, performances, and interaction with visiting artists.

Hands on Experience

The film and video curriculum is structured so that students get involved in production in their first year. During a student’s career at SFU, they might easily work on 30 or 40 short films in just about every role from gopher, to gaffer, to production manager, to set decorator, to Director of Photography.

Vancouver Film Community

Film students at the School become part of the film community in Vancouver, a lively production centre with a thriving independent film and video culture. Vancouver has many repertory cinemas and artists’ co-ops that show documentaries and features from around the world. Film production in Vancouver is thriving and this gives students the opportunity to work in the film industry and learn new skills while completing their degree.

Praxis Centre for Screenwriters

The film program places special emphasis on writing for the screen and is home to the internationally celebrated Praxis Centre for Screenwriters, a national screenwriting workshop with invites promising Canadian writers to Vancouver to learn from the best in the business. An impressive number of Praxis scripts have won awards, including a Genie for Best Canadian Film. While Praxis is aimed at writers and filmmakers who’ve completed their basic education, film students at SFU are invited to become members. Students can use the script library and attend public events such as script readings, seminars and talks by eminent screenwriters. A number of SFU grads have submitted feature-length scripts and have gone on to become Praxis fellows.

The film area is proud of its graduates. They’re working today as independent film and video artists, writers, producers, directors, actors, sound and picture editors, cinematographers, teachers, and in almost any role you can imagine in the film and television industries. SFU grads have taken on responsibilities with festivals and government film agencies.

Each year they win prizes for their work and are invited to festivals and workshops in Canada and abroad and many become successful independents.