International film business degree celebrates 10th anniversary – and launches new alumni networks
Alumni from around the world have paid tribute to a decade of success for a postgraduate programme that is launching careers in the global film industry.
At a celebratory event for the University’s MA in International Film Business, alumni dialled in to congratulate this year’s cohort of graduates – the tenth since the degree’s foundation – and pay tribute to the legacy of the programme.
The degree, delivered jointly by the Department of Communications, Drama and Film and the world-renowned London Film School, has produced almost 400 graduates, many of whom are now working across the film and creative industries in more than 30 countries worldwide.
And following the event last week, which was orchestrated in conjunction with the Alumni Engagement team, graduates have been invited to join new networking hubs that will cover both geographic locations and specific skills.
“When the University of Exeter started the MA in International Film Business in partnership with the London Film School, it was our ambition to offer an innovative industry-facing programme to train the next generation of film executives across the value chain,” said Will Higbee, Professor of Film Studies. “Ten years later, and with more than 350 graduates from the programme working across the globe, we are thrilled to see our alumni producing award-winning films, launching new film festivals and innovative start-ups, as well as making their mark in international sales and distribution.
Having received their degrees as part of the University’s winter graduation ceremonies on the Streatham Campus, the Class of 2024 were invited to Thornlea for a reception and the chance to meet some of their predecessors. Alumni from countries including the United States of America, China, India, Switzerland and the Dominican Republic all attended online to congratulate the cohort and share some of their own perspectives – and opportunities.
Several of the alumni offered to help coordinate the new networking hubs, while several others shared contact details directly and expressed an interest in collaborating on forthcoming projects.
The networks – and the degree itself – are important contributors to the University’s commitment to supporting the creative industries.
“It’s been a real privilege to work with our cohorts as the program lead,” said Jezz Vernon. “Each year we share our experience and knowledge, but also learn a great deal from our students too – arriving each September with new culture, knowledge, creativity and inspiration. Ten years into the program, with so many success stories and accomplishments emerging, there really is no greater pleasure than seeing our alumni making their mark in the film industry.”
The programme launched in 2014 to help students navigate the contemporary and future media landscape, including emerging digital strategies and new funding models. With modules on international finance and world cinema, and a field trip to an A-list festival and international film market, such as Cannes or Berlin, the course prepares students for careers in programming, exhibition, and distribution.
One of the unique elements is the collaboration with the London Film School, which is one of the world’s leading conservatoires of filmmaking.
“We are very proud to be involved with Exeter as our partners on this wonderful journey as it enters its second decade,” said Chris Auty, Director and CEO of the LFS. “This 10th anniversary marks a real milestone in the two worlds we live in: the worlds of academic achievement, and of cinematic enterprise. From its relatively humble starting point, the MAIFB course has carved out a strong reputational niche for itself and created a loyal and well-connected body of alumni spread across the world.
“As the London Film School prepares for its seventieth birthday, we salute our Exeter partners and colleagues who – with us – will be carrying the MAIFB torch into its second successful decade!”
