Theatre and Film Studies

The aim of the study programme is a systematic preparation for academic and scientific work in academic and research institutions and universities or in the broader field of humanities, and also expert praxis in cultural institutions, creative industries, media etc.

“Theatre Studies: All the world’s a stage. Film Studies: We see film from within.”

The study programme has two orientations 1) Drama and Performativity - focuses on the theory and history of theatre and drama (including production modes), and 2) Audiovisual Culture and Society - focuses on theory and history of film and audiovisual culture, including production modes and institutions, cultural effects, and reception.

The study programme is highly specialized and individualized, focused on scientific work and tailored to the needs of individual dissertation projects. The study plan consists of a set of dissertation seminars, leading to the completion of the thesis. The system of dissertation seminars is supported by a series of type A/required as well as type B/selective and type C/selective courses (including lectures in English, practical training, or an internship abroad).

Practical training

Practical experience is important part of doctoral programme. Students - according their specialisation - can join research project at the departments, take part in teaching (first as assistents and later provide courses on their own), and co-operate on other academic or organisational tasks.

Study programme also includes abroad intership (minimal length of stay 1 month) and internship in practical field in research institution or cultural industries (minimal lenght of stay 30days).

Further information

More info about the programme, research focus of the departments and individual teachers is provided on web pages of

Department of Theatre Studies https://divadlo.phil.muni.cz/

and Department of Film and Audio-visual Culture https://fav.phil.muni.cz/

Graduates of the doctoral degree study programme can work as top experts in scientific research and educational institutions, both nationally and internationally.

Doctoral graduates are trained for specialized positions requiring high qualifications in scientific research institutions, academia, museums, archives, theatres, and the film industry (production, distribution, festivals, cinemas, television, etc.), as well as in other cultural and creative industries, such as cultural management and policies, dramaturgy, press, editorial and publishing practices, etc.

Deadline for submitting applications: 1 August - 30 November

Deadline for submitting documents for the admission procedure: until 15 December

The application must explicitly state either the theatrical focus, which belongs to the Department of Theatre Studies, or the filmological focus, which belongs to the Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture. Enter this information in the e-application in the field “Additional text of the applicant”.

Documents for the admission procedure:

• signed CV;
• list of publishing activities and other professional (possibly also artistic) activities;
• doctoral thesis project: topic and goal of the thesis, work procedure including time schedule, elementary literature and sources (approx. 4 standard pages = 7,200 characters).

The Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture will consider projects fitting into following research areas:

• "Animation Filmmakers in Exile". This historical research in the field of sociology of art will focus on filmmakers who began their working careers in animation in a country from which they left for political, economic, racial, or religious reasons and continued their careers elsewhere. Projects exploring the transformation of filmmakers' careers in different professional environments and the process of adaptation to different conventions of animation production will be preferred. Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Pavel Skopal, Ph.D., skopal@phil.muni.cz
• „International collaboration in the on-demand production of Czechoslovak animation during the period of state-controlled cinema (1945-1989)“. Custom production in animated film represented a significant part of production activities, but in addition to domestic customers, Czechoslovak animation also established cooperation with foreign ones. The proposed thesis would analyse the specifics of this type of production, the dependence on particular personalities and the practical implications for the animation production system in the environment of nationalised cinema. Supervisor: Mgr. Michal Večeřa, Ph.D., veceram@phil.muni.cz
• „Distribution of short films in the period of nationalised cinema between 1945 and 1989“. The topic of the thesis would focus on the analysis of the way short films are shown in cinemas with a special focus on programming - e.g. the use of films as additional films or their composition into composite strips, the use of domestic and foreign films, etc. The research will also include a reconstruction of the contemporary debate related to the above-mentioned issues. Supervisor: Mgr. Michal Večeřa, Ph.D., veceram@phil.muni.cz
• „Film programmes of Czechoslovak cinemas between 1918-1939 - a local case study“. The thesis will focus on the analysis of contemporary cinema programmes, with the help of which the author will examine the patterns of film exhibition in the chosen local environment. The existence of the Film Brno database, or relevant foreign research, allows for mutual comparison and drawing more general conclusions about film exhibition system in Czechoslovakia. Supervisor: Mgr. Michal Večeřa, Ph.D., veceram@phil.muni.cz

The Department of Theatre Studies does not specify the preferred areas of research.

Recommendation: Applicants are advised to contact a potential supervisor before submitting their application in order to consult the research focus and its possible guidance (an external supervisor is also possible).

If applying for full-time study, applicants are advised to choose the combined form of study as a second preference in addition to this preferred form in their application.

Documents for the admission procedure must be inserted into the e-application (rubric “Documents”) by 15 December. At the same time, the documents must be sent electronically in the format of one .pdf file (surname_name_focus_project_cv) to div@phil.muni.cz for theatre science or fav@phil.muni.cz for film studies.

The entrance examination takes the form of an oral discussion over the doctoral thesis project.

Notice: A poof of completion of a Master’s degree programme (officially certified copy of the diploma, in the case of education obtained abroad also the so-called recognition) shall be submitted by the accepted applicants upon enrolment in the studies. For the entrance examination, a proof of completion of a Master’s degree programme is not required.

Criteria for evaluation

• Pass/fail line: 60 points (out of 100).