Film Studies

Applications Open - 10th November 2025

Applications Close - 31st January 2026

Entry Requirements - For entry into year 12 to begin A Level and/or vocational courses, students must meet the minimum requirements in English and Mathematics (grade 4), however most courses require significantly higher grades in certain other GCSE subjects to access them.

How to Apply -

• Internal students – apply via Applicaa (school have emailed all students a link)
• External Students – apply using Applicaa from the Trinity School website under Sixth Form - Apply here

Students are required to study a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 subjects.

Film is one of the main cultural innovations of the 20th century and a major art form of the last one hundred years. Studying A Level Film Studies will ignite a passion for film, building upon the knowledge and understanding of film that you have developed since childhood. It will encourage an enthusiasm and excitement for exploring what is a powerful and culturally significant medium, inspiring a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective. Production is a crucial part of the course, giving you the opportunity to put into practise the filmmaking ideas you have studied, producing high quality short films and screenplays.

Skills Acquired

• Understanding of the significance of film and film practice in national, global and historical contexts
• The ability to explore how films generate meanings and responses
• The ability to evaluate the different ways in which spectators respond to film
• Practical film-making skills such as how to operate a camera and edit footage
• Effective research and communication skills
• Critical thinking
• The ability to project manage, organise your time effectively, and work to deadlines.

Students Suited To The Course

Film Studies is suitable for those who have a lively interest in all types of film and the cinema experience. Furthermore, a desire to explore how a film is mediated and produced, through practical production and ideology. You will have a keen interest in practical film making and a creative flair for visual storytelling. Working collaboratively with others and engaging in on-going research and wider reading throughout the course, you will need to have organisational skills. Discussion and debate will be a key element of the course, so you should enjoy expressing your opinions and justifying them through references to film theory and the film texts studied. A significant proportion of the course will be assessed through analytical essays, thus a strong foundation in English skills will be beneficial.

What Other Subjects It Combines Well With
Film Studies works well alongside subjects such as English Literature, Art and Design, Photography and History amongst others.

Co-curricular
Film club

Core study areas across all components
1. The key elements of film form
2. Meaning and response
3. The contexts of film

Component 1: Variety in film and filmmaking
What is assessed?
Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990
Section B: American film since 2005
Section C: British film since 1995

Component 2: Global filmmaking perspectives
What is assessed?
Section A: Global Film
Section B: Documentary Film
Section C: Film Movements - Silent Cinema
Section D: Film Movements - Experimental Film

Component 3: Production Non-exam assessment
What is assessed?
The component assesses one production and its evaluative analysis

Component 1 Assessment

• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 40 marks for each individual section, total marks for Component 1 is 120 marks
• 35% of A-Level

Component 2 Assessment

• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 20 marks for each individual section, total marks for Component 2 is 75 marks
• 35% of A-Level

Component 3 Assessment

• 30% of A-Level
• Assessed by teachers
• Moderated by Eduqas
  
  
  
  

GCSE grade 5 in English.

Film studies can help with the analytical skills required in a range of professions. Students of this subject may choose to follow a course in a similar area at degree level leading to career paths in filmmaking, working within digital media and animation. Within film, TV and video industries, potential job roles include film/video/television editor, camera operator, photographer, art director, TV or film producer or production assistant, runner, location/props manager or programme researcher. In addition, some business areas, such as advertising, marketing and communications, can also utilise the creative and analytical abilities of Film Studies students. The research and communication skills you develop and the ability to project manage and organise your time effectively will make you attractive to employers in a wide variety of fields.