BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies graduate joins London Short Film Festival committee
- Written byRobyn McKinson
- Published date 06 March 2026
My name is Robyn, and I’m a graduate from BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies (2025) with a First Class Honours from London College of Communication (LCC). I currently work as a Selection Committee Member and Venue Coordinator at the London Short Film Festival (LSFF), alongside programming for Backronym Films.
Finding my path in film programming
My journey into film and festival programming began during my time studying BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies, where the course fundamentally shaped how I think about cinema and made me realise there is far more to the discipline than analysis and theory alone.
Throughout my degree, I developed critical analysis skills and a deep understanding of film history, theory, and exhibition contexts. Studying feminist cinema and short film programming and being given the confidence and space to explore helped shape my personal curatorial interests.
The course encouraged us to think beyond filmmaking itself: to consider audiences, distribution, and the cultural and social power of programming. Learning how to articulate why a film matters, how it connects to communities and movements, and how it might sit within a broader programme has been essential in my current role evaluating festival submissions and contributing to programming discussions.
From academic research to festival programming
While studying BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies, I became increasingly interested in the role festivals play in shaping film culture, and this interest translated into professional opportunities.
At LSFF, I pre-select and rate submissions, contribute to discussions for the New Shorts programme, and collaborate with the programming team to make programme decisions.
In 2025, for my Major Project, I proposed and co-curated Love Bites for LSFF, a programme of lesbian vampire short films. The proposal and success of this project led to LSFF offering me a role on the Selection Committee, marking the moment my academic and creative work transitioned into professional practice.
Bringing that idea from concept to screen and seeing it resonate with an audience confirmed that programming could be both intellectually rigorous and creatively fulfilling.
Gaining industry experience
Alongside this, working as a programmer for Backronym Films has grounded my curatorial interests in practical exhibition experience.
Understanding how audiences move through a space, how screenings operate logistically, and how teams collaborate has been invaluable. This has been particularly important in my role as Venue Coordinator at LSFF, where I manage day-to-day screening operations and liaise with filmmakers, guests, and press.
How LCC supported my journey
Studying BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies at London College of Communication played a key role in this journey. My lecturers encouraged independent and creative thinking and treated our ideas seriously, which has given me the confidence to pitch and defend my curatorial concepts professionally.
The collaborative environment mirrored festival work, with discussion, debate, and shared decision-making central to both.
Advice for future students
My advice to future BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies students is to fully embrace the course, particularly its analytical side. Critical thinking is not separate from the industry; it is essential to it.
Take advantage of opportunities and trips to cinemas and festivals, spend time in these spaces, and, most importantly, stay curious about the kinds of films and voices you care about amplifying.
Film and Screen Studies can open doors in many directions, with programming being just one of them, but it starts with finding and honing your own perspective.
Related links:
- See more from our Screen School
- Discover BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies
- Follow Robyn McKinson
- Learn more about London Short Film Festival
- Explore Backronym Films