Business of Film MA

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Westminster

Program Overview

The Business of Film MA is designed for anyone who wants to understand how the film industry really works behind the scenes — from financing and marketing to distribution and exhibition. It’s perfect for creative thinkers who also want solid business skills, whether you’re aiming for a career in production, distribution, or film entrepreneurship.

Curriculum Structure
Over the course of a year, you’ll dive into the core workings of the film business. Modules like Introduction to the Business of Film give you a clear picture of how films are made, funded, and brought to audiences. Creative and Business Acumen helps you develop essential skills in pitching ideas, managing projects, and making smart business decisions.

With Film Finance and Funding Models, you’ll learn how film budgets are structured, how funding is secured, and how investors and producers interact. Distribution, Exhibition and Marketing explores how films reach audiences, including the strategies behind successful marketing campaigns and festival releases. In International Film Industry and Global Markets, you’ll understand how film markets differ across the world and how digital trends are shaping global distribution.

The program also includes a work placement, giving you hands-on industry experience, and a Final Project, where you can create a practical business plan or research project, often in partnership with industry professionals like the BFI.

Focus areas: Film business strategy, finance and funding, distribution & marketing, global film markets, entrepreneurial skills, professional industry experience.

Learning outcomes: Understand the film industry ecosystem, develop practical business skills, plan and pitch film ventures, manage distribution and marketing strategies, gain real-world experience, produce a substantial industry-focused project.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The course is delivered in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI) and the department is a member of CILECT, a global network of leading film and TV schools.

Reputation (employability rankings): Westminster’s MA connects you directly to the industry through placements, projects, and guest lectures. Graduates go on to careers as producers, marketing executives, distributors, sales agents, exhibition curators, consultants, or even start their own film ventures.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This MA is all about learning by doing. From the very first week, you’ll be getting hands-on experience that mirrors real film industry work — not just sitting in lectures. Thanks to strong links with the British Film Institute (BFI) and Regent Street Cinema, you’ll work on real projects, whether that’s planning a film’s distribution, marketing campaigns, or even curating screenings. You’ll collaborate in teams, pitch your ideas, and develop practical business skills that employers actually value.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

Industry placements and live projects: Gain real-world experience through the Film Industry Work Placement module, either at a partner organisation or via live projects with Regent Street Cinema.
Hands-on cinema experience: Work directly with Regent Street Cinema on budgeting, programming, marketing, and community engagement.
Networking and guest lectures: Learn from industry professionals through talks, mentoring, and events organised with the BFI.
Collaborative projects: Team-based modules like Creative and Business Acumen let you practice pitching, project management, deal-making, and other key industry skills.
Final industry-focused project: Produce a business plan or research project supervised by faculty and industry professionals, giving you something tangible to showcase to employers.

Through these experiences, you’ll leave the program not just with knowledge, but with practical skills, industry contacts, and projects that demonstrate you can hit the ground running in the film world.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the Business of Film MA leave with the skills and confidence to step straight into the film industry. You could find yourself working as a producer, marketing executive, distributor, exhibition curator, or even as a film‑business consultant. The program doesn’t just teach theory — it gives you real-world experience, industry connections, and the practical know-how that employers value:

Career support and services: The University’s careers and employability service, including the Zone29 hub, helps you find placements, jobs, freelance opportunities, and even support for launching your own business.
Strong industry partnerships: With direct links to the British Film Institute (BFI) and Regent Street Cinema, you gain placements, internships, and hands-on experience that make your CV stand out.
Pathways across the film sector: Graduates go on to roles in film financing, distribution, marketing, exhibition, festival programming, consulting, or even start their own ventures.
Global recognition: The degree’s connection to CILECT, a global network of top film and TV schools, ensures your qualification is recognized internationally and signals quality to employers worldwide.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, this MA sets you up for research-focused degrees like an MPhil or PhD in film business, media economics, or cultural industries — either at Westminster or other leading institutions.