todayscarolinian:

By Reyster Mae Perez

College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) – After successfully implementing the first university-based Cinema Program in Visayas last year, the University of San Carlos Department of Fine Arts takes on another pioneering achievement in the field of Philippine cinema as it opens the first (and currently the only) Master of Fine Arts degree in Cinema Studies June of the incoming academic year.

“The carrying out of the course is a crucial step towards producing a generation of Filipino Film Professors,” said Misha Anissimov, acting USC Film Program Coordinator, during the official press launching of the program April 26, at the CAFA Theatre. “We’d like to emphasize the importance of scholarly research, apart from the usual workshop offerings for aspiring filmmakers.”

The course is largely directed at Mass Communications graduates and cinephiles who have potential as future film scholars and critics. To be led by Fullbright scholar from the New York University Dr. Paul Douglas Grant, other members of the faculty will include esteemed Cebuano filmmakers Diem Judilla and Remton Zuasola.

Aside from the Bachelor of Fine Arts – Major in Cinema and MFA-Cinema Studies programs, the curriculum will also offer one-year courses under Certificate in Film Studies and Certificate in Screenwriting this semester. The courses will involve subjects on Film Curation; Screenplay; Cebuano, Philippine and World Film History; Film Research, Thesis and Criticism; and Film Theory among others.