This travel course is open to all Chapman undergraduate/graduate students and takes place during the summer within the context of the internationally renowned Cinema Ritrovato Film Festival, in the beautiful historic city of Bologna, Italy, home of the oldest university in the world. Students explore the archives of the town’s Cineteca and attend the countless screenings and workshops guided by Chapman faculty in Film Studies and Italian Studies. During their stay, students also learn about the process of film restoration at L’immagine ritrovata, one of the most important such laboratories.
*Designed by Dr. Emily Carman in collaboration with Dr. Federico Pacchioni.
Moments from The Structure of International Film Festivals: Cinema Ritrovato
“Nowhere else have I felt the amount of love and passion for film as I have here. Hearing industry members speak passionately about the films that were screened at the festival, and getting the chance to speak to some directly has made me even more excited about being a part of the film community, now and going forward.” — Afra Nariman
“As a producing student, I often focused more on the technical and business aspects of film. This course reminded me of the beauty and importance of cinema in documenting and shaping the narrative in both global geopolitical situations and the human experience.” — Nishaad Trivedi
“The Il Cinema Ritrovato festival is extremely well-suited for anyone who takes the theater-going experience very seriously and is interested in (world) film history and restoration. This was a phenomenal opportunity to not only engage with the amazing films the festival offers back-to-back, but also to explore the Italian culture and history that surrounds you and is interwoven with the passions of the festival itself.” — Austin Kang
“Walking through the city of Bologna was like walking through the history of a great civilization; viewing the various films of the Cinema Ritrovato festival was like taking a look into the lives of the people of those times and the culture and stories that formed them.” — Sofie Kassaras
“The most meaningful aspect of this course in Bologna would have to be the opportunity to experience the fusion of Italian culture and cinema simultaneously. Attending Il Cinema Ritrovato has encouraged me to expand my horizons and delve deeper into new genres, eras, and cultural impacts of film movements. The incredible films and extensive historical background of the city have made this course one that I will not forget!” — Mia McGarity
Read more from the blog (2022)