BFI lecture for Film & Media Learners

Media and Film Studies learners at Solihull Sixth Form College took part in a BFI online lecture recently, learning about Gender Theories ahead of exam season.

A mixture of Year 12 and 13 Media Studies and Film Studies students took part in the online workshop, which explored Key Stage 5 concepts of gender. It was an aptly-timed session, as Year 13 get ready for their final summer exams and Year 12 prepare for their progression exams.

The live-streamed webinar, hosted by the British Film Institute, was led by lecturer Matthew Daintry-Hall, who was dialling in from Narobi in Kenya - a truly global guest speaker! He guided the group through a range of theoretical concepts including bell hooks theory, which focuses on the intersection of race, capitalism, and gender. Kimberle Crenshaw and Judith Butler were also part of the lecture; they used examples ranging from trailers and music videos, to cinematic movie clips. By the end of the session, students walked away from the event with an enhanced understanding of the key concepts.

Mehek, a Year 12 Media student commented:

"It opened up a discussion around gender, that many of us don't always think about, including how broad and varied media can be. Overall it taught us about different and thought-provoking ideas, that challenge conventionally 'normal' perceptions in society."

27 March 2026