Film Studies

The VBMA’s Film Studies program, with instructor Diane Thelen, offers a thoughtful exploration of cinema, blending classic and contemporary films designed to educate, enlighten, and entertain.

During the 2025-26 season, participants can attend class at the VBMA on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm or stream the films from the comfort of their homes. Registered students will receive weekly emails with film handouts, streaming links, and instructions. Following the in-house screening, we invite attendees to participate in a brief, optional “talk-back” session, providing an opportunity to discuss thoughts and questions about the film with classmates.

Tuition: $80 per person per series for VBMA Members; $96 per person, per series for non-members.

Register for all five sessions

October 14 – November 11, 2025
From Page to Screen: The Impact of Books and Writers on Cinema
From the early days of silent films, moviegoers worldwide have been interested in seeing their favorite books and plays represented on the big screen. Whether it is a work of non-fiction, a novel, a short story, or even a poem, filmmakers are often compelled to add their personal stamp on creations with origins on the written page. Included in this series is Rapito, the new Italian-language historical drama from famed award-winning director Marco Bellocchio, based on a true story.

Register for From Page to Screen ​

November 18 – December 16, 2025
Masterpieces, Models, and Muses: Reflections on What Inspires Art
Art, whether painting, sculpture, animation, or another form, has long inspired creators and audiences alike. The films in this series, some documentaries, some fiction, invite viewers into the world of the artist in various ways, encouraging them to reconsider and better understand why art remains such a vital part of daily life. Among the selections is the outrageously satiric Ruben Brandt, Collector, a thoroughly original piece of cinema from Hungary.

Register for Masterpieces, Models, and Muses

January 6-February 3, 2026
Journeys on the Orient Express: Exploring Eastern Cultures
Cinema has the unique ability to transport us to distant parts of the world, offering glimpses into lives, traditions, and values different from our own. This series highlights films from countries such as Japan, Jordan, and Iran, where stories unfold around contrasting cultures, beliefs, and practices. Each film depicts people living their lives in accordance with local traditions, while at the same time trying to find peace and serenity within themselves. Included is My Favourite Cake, a new film from Iran about a woman who dares to disrupt the status quo in her search for love

Register for Journeys on the Orient Express 

​February 10 –March 10, 2026
It’s All Relative: The Curious World of Family Connections
Parents and children, sisters and brothers, lovers and partners, all play significant roles wherever they live on this planet. There are common threads in all these stories, but often very different solutions – sometimes comic, sometimes chaotic! This is a collection of films that highlight family relationships and how they influence choices in life. One film included in this series is Memoir of a Snail, the newest creation from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Adam Elliot.

Register for It’s All Relative

March 17-April 14, 2026
Child’s Play: Grown-up Lessons our Children Teach Us
Children are often the best teachers because they are natural and uninhibited, representing truths that adults don’t always recognize. Viewers will be intrigued by these stories from France, Australia, Ireland, and elsewhere—all of which shine a spotlight on the many ways people can learn from children, when their eyes and ears are open to those lessons. One such film is Petite Maman from France, which received widespread critical acclaim.

Register for Child’s Play