Scandinavian and European Film: Festivals, Criticism, Society

What happens to a film once it leaves the cinema and enters public discourse? In this course, you will explore the cultural contexts in which European film is presented, discussed, and evaluated – from film festivals and criticism to other arenas of film culture. You will look into how the relationship between film and society is shaped by political, economic, and artistic conditions, and how these influence both production and reception.

The course is taught in English, delivered online, and is suitable for you who are pursuing a degree or just looking for a stand-alone course to help you understand the role of film in the public sphere.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

You will study how film festivals, criticism, and other cultural activities contribute to shaping European film culture. You will analyse how these forums operate, which societal institutions they interact with, and how they influence the distribution and status of film. Through lectures, seminars, film screenings, and discussions, you will gain both theoretical and practical understanding of film’s place in public discourse.

The teaching is conducted in English via Zoom and Canvas, and the assessment consists of a short essay presented at a seminar.

By the end of the course, you will have developed knowledge of how film festivals and film criticism function as cultural and societal institutions. You will be able to analyse their significance for European film and reflect on the artistic and political conditions that shape the role of film in society. The course provides insights valuable for further studies in film studies, cultural studies, or media analysis – and for those who wish to work with film culture in practice.

Entry requirements

General requirements and studies equivalent to Swedish Upper Secondary School courses History 1b or 1a1+1a2/History level 1b or level 1a2 and Social Studies 1b or 1a1+1a2/Social Studies level 1b or level 1a2

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 15,625
First payment: SEK 15,625

Convert currency – xe.com

Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.