Monday, 11 May 2009, 6pm, Birkbeck Cinema, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

What does ‘world cinema’ mean? How useful is the term to an understanding of different cinematic practices and cultures around the world? What does it mean to consider ‘world film’ as an academic discipline? How important is it to be specialised in the study of cultures and languages generating the films in focus?

Birkbeck speakers include: John Kraniauskas (Chair: CILAVS); Andrew Asibong (French); Joanne Leal (German); Nicola Liscutin (Japanese); Dorota Ostrowska (Film); Ian Conrich (Centre for New Zealand Studies)

Guest speaker: Professor Vilsoni Hereniko (Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Hawaii). Prof Hereniko is an award-winning playwright, filmmaker and author. His feature film The Land Has Eyes/Pear ta ma ‘on maf was premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and also invited to screen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.

This event was part of Birkbeck’s Arts Week.