Want to see film and television with fresh eyes? Spend a year in Greece!

The English-language Film & Television Studies MA Program at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a highly intensive three-semester program, led by Professors Betty Kaklamanidou (Television Studies) and Eleftheria Thanouli (Cinema Studies) and faculty members of the School of Film. Each year, we offer an additional seminar presented by a world-renowned guest lecturer. Past guest lecturers have included: Thomas Elsaesser,  Robert A. Rosenstone, Diane Negra, Deborah Jermym, Stacey Abbott, and Yannis Tzioumakis.

Students of the program receive a thorough survey of classical and contemporary theoretical frameworks for analyzing film and television, as well as insight into the historical forces that have driven the evolution of media theory over the course of the last century.

Topics for discussion and exegesis include new media, digital ontology, historical cinema qua historiography, genre theory, politics and political representation, gender, posthumanism, contemporary production practices, celebrity, ageing, and stardom—just to name a few.

We place a special emphasis on issues of research and methodology, and encouraging innovative approaches to the shifting boundaries between film and television. Our goal is to help open-minded and hard-working students hone their literary and critical thinking skills, and help prepare themselves for higher-level academic pursuits and/or professional opportunities in other cultural sectors: digital media production/distribution companies, archival/restoration organizations, film festivals, private film foundations, museums, and so forth.

Perhaps more than anything, the Film & Television Studies MA Program offers you a chance to “step outside yourself” and engage with the new and unexpected perspectives brought by a diverse student body. Since its inception in 2020, our program has brought students from points as far-flung as Pakistan, China, Italy, Egypt, Australia, and the United States.

Thessaloniki itself is considered by many to be a perfect “university town” and is home to dozens of higher-education institutions and vocational schools. Late night cafés, tavernas, and clubs are found on every corner, lit by the legendary warmth and hospitality of the Greek people. Thessaloniki is not only the second-largest city in Greece, but also the main hub and cultural crossroads for the greater Balkans region and weaves together a rich cultural tapestry with 2,500 years of continuous history.

We are looking forward to meeting you in a vibrant learning environment, and welcoming you to this inspiring, beautiful place.

Betty Kaklamanidou, Chair