The Film Department situates itself within the tradition of the artistic auteur film. The goal of the program is the development of artistic work whose strength lies in the capacity for independent creative innovation. Central to the program is collaborative experimentation, fostering a free and individual approach to all facets of cinematic communication and interaction. Based on film-technical competencies, the program provides an inspiring space where cinematic conventions are examined, open-ended and sustainably effective film experiments are encouraged, and the artistic, economic, and political roles of film in media realities are critically discussed. The starting point is each student’s artistic project, guided from concept to realization through individual and group supervision by the faculty.

Students experiment with analog and digital film techniques, evaluate the project-appropriate use of available tools and resources—including sustainability considerations—and experience the development of cinematic concepts and their artistic realization in individual and collective film projects. These projects can encompass all fictional and non-fictional forms of film, insofar as they involve the development of artistic authorship.

In addition, students gain an overview of the medium’s development in film history and theory seminars, reflecting on its forms of expression, particularly in relation to time-based discourses. HFBK Hamburg’s workshops allow students not only to expand their technical film skills but also to realize their own artistic projects.

The interdisciplinary structure of the program also enables engagement with neighboring disciplines, allowing students to situate their own artistic endeavors within a broader artistic context.

Students are particularly encouraged to gain experience in other cultural contexts through international exchange programs and project collaborations, sharpening their perspectives against diverse viewpoints. Experience in the mediation and presentation of artistic work, with attention to institutional and societal contexts, is gained through the annual exhibitions, the Graduate Show, the HFBK Hamburg university cinema, as well as public screenings of their films in cinemas, at national and international film festivals, on television, and on digital platforms.

The Master’s program in the Film Department focuses on artistic film in the tradition of the auteur cinema, fostering independent creative project development within personal or collective filmmaking practices. The technical, theoretical, and artistic skills acquired in a foundational Bachelor’s program are deepened and expanded through film projects. In addition to project realization and direct supervision, the program emphasizes individual artistic development, supported by comprehensive engagement with the medium of film—from its established forms to contemporary practices and open-ended potentials.

The program encourages critical reflection on methods of cinematic expression across all areas and traditions of world cinema. Film theory seminars accompany project work, and HFBK Hamburg’s international collaborations provide opportunities to gain intercultural perspectives.

The presentation of projects is a central component of the program and takes place at the annual exhibitions, the Graduate Show, the HFBK Hamburg university cinema, as well as through public screenings in cinemas, at national and international film festivals, on television, and on digital platforms.

The Master’s program at the Hamburg Medial School (HMS) enables students with a professionally qualifying Bachelor’s degree in directing, screenwriting, production, or cinematography to independently develop, network, and implement cinematic concepts and projects—either autonomously or on commission—within the context of film, television, and audiovisual production for the professional TV, platform/internet, and cinema markets. Graduates typically work in their respective fields as screenwriters, directors, producers, or cinematographers.

The program is a cooperative degree between HFBK Hamburg and HMS. This means that HMS is responsible for delivering the program, while HFBK Hamburg awards the degree and retains academic oversight and responsibility for the program.