UEA takes over British Film Institute to celebrate half a century of film studies
By: Communications
A major new programme of public lectures and research is being launched to celebrate the 50th anniversary of film studies at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
From AI in screen heritage to the future of James Bond - the year-long Film50 project will explore how film and television history can be preserved, shared and rediscovered in a changing digital world.
It brings together filmmakers, researchers, archivists and audiences to mark 50 years since Film Studies was established at UEA.
A rare BFI Southbank takeover
A highlight of the celebrations will see UEA take over the British Film Institute's (BFI) Reuben Library in November, bringing discussions on film, television and archive collections to one of the UK's leading cultural venues.
The BFI played an important role in the development of Film Studies at UEA in 1976, when the University was among a small group of institutions selected to help establish the discipline in UK higher education.
Fifty years later, UEA will return to BFI Southbank with a season of public talks exploring the history, present and future of screen culture.
The free lectures will cover topics including the origins of film studies in Britain, the influence of UEA academic Charles Barr, the growth of feminist film studies, and the cultural impact of franchises such as Doctor Who and James Bond.
Prof Keith M. Johnston, Professor of Film and Television at UEA, said: "Film studies at UEA has always combined a passion for cinema with a commitment to understanding how film connects with society, culture, media and history.
"As we celebrate 50 years of the subject, Film50 provides an opportunity not only to reflect on that history, but also to ask what the future of film and television archives might look like.
"Working with archives, cultural organisations and audiences, we want to explore how film collections can remain relevant, accessible and meaningful in a rapidly changing world.
"From public talks at the BFI to archive projects and research into emerging technologies, Film50 is about ensuring film and television history remains accessible, discoverable and relevant for future generations."
The future of film archives
As part of the project, researchers will investigate how machine learning and artificial intelligence tools could help archives identify people, places and objects in historic footage, making vast collections easier to search.
Prof Johnston said: "Archives contain countless stories waiting to be rediscovered.
“New technologies could help researchers and audiences uncover material that might otherwise remain hidden, from local histories captured on amateur film to television programmes that document social and cultural change.
"The challenge is not simply preserving these collections, but making them easier to find, explore and share."
Supporting archives and audiences
Alongside its public programme, Film50 will develop new training resources for archive professionals and volunteers, helping organisations catalogue collections, improve public access and preserve material for future generations.
Researchers will work with archive partners in the UK and internationally to share expertise in preservation and cataloguing, while developing new ways for audiences to discover and explore collections online.
This project has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council's (AHRC) Impact Accelerator Account.
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