Newcastle University introduces new courses in film and media studies

Newcastle University, UK, has introduced new degree courses in film and media studies for passionate filmmakers.

The students get to learn and be trained directly by under award-winning directors and filmmakers.

Professor Charles Harvey, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences said: "Algorithms is a wonderful documentary which brings to life a world that most people know nothing about.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented filmmakers working at Newcastle University and I am thrilled that their remarkable efforts are being recognised. Our students benefit greatly from their expertise and even more will do so when we launch our new degree in Film and Media next year and our single honours degree in film in 2016," he said.

Most recently one of the senior lecturers at the university has been nominated for the famous Grierson awards for his much popular documentary Algorithms. It follows three boys over three years as they compete in blind chess tournaments in India and abroad and visits them in their homes where they reveal their struggles, anxieties and hopes.

Algorithms have already received accolades from all over the world. They are:

• Best Film Trophy at Film South Asia, Nepal, 2013
• Audience Award at the RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films, UK, 2013
• Prix du Patrimoine Cultural Immaterial at the Jean Rough International Film Festival, Paris, 2013
• Special Mention in the Best Documentary category at the Durban International Film Festival, South Africa, 2013
• Best Editing Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival, India, 2014
• Best Story Award at Krasnogorski International Festival of Sports Films, Moscow, 2014
• Algorithms were released in Los Angeles this week and will open in New York cinemas later this month, and are expected to be released in the UK in November.