Stephanie Solomons

As a FilmMA student I want to foster an atmosphere of unapologetic cineaste indulgence. I have a series of 'seasons', mirroring the BFI Southbank's fantastic film seasons, ready to go, using the academic timetable to build the society's cinematic viewing around. I want to run a screening event during freshers week where we show 'shorts of the greats' (The Big Shave, Un Chien Andalou, Doodlebug etc.) to direct an ethos in the society that all early works by great directors are rougher and simpler than their opus'. Then I'd plan the year roughly along these lines:

1. Term 1, weeks 1-5: New Hollywood Season (The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Midnight Cowboy etc.- essential viewing for young people, an audacious cinema!) 
2. Term 1, weeks 5-10 (after reading week): Screwball Comedy Season (His Girl Friday, Design for Living, Ball of Fire etc.- to show that old films are far from pretentious!)
3. Term 2, weeks 10-15: French New Wave Season (Breathless, Cleo from 5-7, The 400 Blows etc.- also essential viewing for young people, and for indie filmmakers!) 
4. Term 2, weeks 15-20: New Queer Cinema Season (My Own Private Idaho, Orlando, Mulholland Drive etc.- to shed light on an exuberant and recent genre of exceptional filmmaking)

Over the years, I have discovered some of my favourite films through FilmSoc (I.e. House, Paris is Burning) so I'd love to continue showing weird, left field and inspiring films to our members, to expand our understanding of the medium and to foster conversation and debate!