Newcastle University has embarked on an ambitious programme of growth in film practice under the name of Film@CultureLab. It’s led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dr Ian McDonald. Film@CultureLab is committed to developing a distinctive approach to non-fiction film practice pedagogy and research. This is rooted in an understanding of documentary film as a cinematic medium and filmmaking as a means of expression and of challenging, critiquing, and intervening in the social and historical world.
We offer practice-led, practice-based, or theoretical PhDs in Film Practice in the following areas:
most areas of documentary/non-fiction film practice (see supervisor profiles for specialisms)
creative documentary practices in the UK, India, South Asia, Africa
intersections between the documentary and sociological, anthropological, cultural studies
sports documentaries
feminist film practice
social linguistics, translation and documentary practice
documentary theory and practice in the USSR / Russia
theorising documentary as a critical and creative practice
history of the documentary and of documentary movements
studies of independent film production and exhibition
world cinema
Indian cinema
film festival studies
Film@CultureLab PhD scholars are based in Culture Lab. You’ll have access to the superb facilities in Culture Lab and join a vibrant community of practice-led PhD scholars in film practice. PhD students are encouraged to regularly present their work to each other as part of the Film Praxis Forum ‘Work-in-Progress’ Series held each year.
