Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr David Sorfa is a Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh and editor-in-chief of the journal Film-Philosophy. He has written on Michael Haneke, Czech film, surrealism, belief in cinema and the philosophical implications of point-of-view. He has particular interests in film-philosophy, Existentialism, phenomenology, the work of Jacques Derrida and the presentation of thought and thinking in cinema.
He has acted as Programme Director of the MSc and PhD in Film Studies and as the Postgraduate Research Director for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. He was previously Head of Film Studies at Liverpool John Moores University.
Websites
Administrative Roles
- 2020 - 2022: Director of Postgraduate Research, LLC
- 2013 - 2022: Programme Director of the MSc & PhD Film Studies, University of Edinburgh
External Examiner
- 2018 - 2020: MLitt Film Studies, University of Dundee
- 2016 - 2020: MA Film Studies, King's College London
- 2016 - 2020: BA Film Studies, University of Dundee
- 2010 - 2014: BA Film, Falmouth University
- 2010 - 2014: BA Film, University of the West of England, Bristol
- 2008 - 2012: MA Screening Europe, University of Swansea
Teaching
Undergraduate teaching
Postgraduate teaching
- Film Theory
- Film-Philosophy
- Film and Existentialism
- Research Methods in Film Studies
Previous:
- Introduction to European Cinema
- Film Adaptation
- Cinema Auteurs
- Film Criticism and Analysis
- Comparative Literature (2 seminars on Jacques Derrida)
PhD Supervision
For a full list of PhD projects I have supervised or am supervising, please visit: https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/david-sorfa
EUSA Teaching Awards
- 2022-23: Nominated - Teacher of the Year
- 2021-22: Nominated - Teacher of the Year; Supervisor of the Year
- 2020-21: Nominated - Teacher of the Year; Outstanding Course (Film & Existentialism; Film-Philosophy); Outstanding Innovation in Digital Teaching; Personal Tutor of the Year
- 2017-18: Nominated - Best Overall Teacher; Best Personal Tutor; Best Course (Introduction to European Cinema)
Education/Academic qualification
English Literature, Bachelor of Arts, University of Cape Town
Literary Studies, Master of Arts, University of Cape Town
Film Theory, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), The Fetishism of Meaning: Disavowal in Kafka, Švankmajer and the Quay Brothers, University of Kent
External positions
Board Trustee & Convenor of the Academic Committee, Edinburgh University Press
2022 → …
Member of the SGSAH Media, Communications, Film & TV Catalyst, Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities
2022 → …
Member of the Academic Committee, Edinburgh University Press
2019 → …
Board Trustee, Africa in Motion Film Festival
2015 → 2019
Editor-in-Chief, Film-Philosophy Journal
2006 → …
Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
2002 → 2013
Keywords
- PN1993 Motion Pictures
- Film Theory
- Film-Philosophy
- European Cinema
- Czech Cinema
- PR English literature
- Film Adaptation
- B Philosophy (General)
- Film-Philosophy
- Post-Structuralism
- Phenomenology
- Existentialism
- BF Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
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The loves of a system: Miloš Forman and Barrandov
Sorfa, D., 30 Mar 2020, (Accepted/In press) The Barrandov Studios: A Central European Hollywood. Herzogenrath, B. (ed.). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Bohuslav Brouk
Sorfa, D., 21 Feb 2019, The International Encyclopedia of Surrealism. Richardson, M., Ades, D., Fijalkowski, K., Harris, S. & Sebbag, G. (eds.). London: BloomsburyResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Seeing oneself speak: Speech and thought in first-person camera cinema
Sorfa, D., 4 Feb 2019, In: JOMEC Journal: Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies. p. 104-121Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Belief in film: A defence of false emotion and Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Sorfa, D., 8 Jan 2018, In: Film and Philosophy. 22, p. 36-57 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Review of Karl, Lars and Pavel Skopal (eds.): Cinema in Service of the State: Perspectives on Film Culture in the GDR and Czechoslovakia, 1945-1960
Sorfa, D., 21 Dec 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Apparatus. Film, Media and Digital Cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. 5Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
Open AccessFile
Activities
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Intransition: Journal of Videographic Film and Moving Image Studies (Journal)
David Sorfa (Peer reviewer)
21 Aug 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
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Existentialism and Film Studies: Party Girl (1958) Precedes Party Girl (1995)
David Sorfa (Invited speaker)
25 Jan 2023Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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The Lad Meets the Existentialists: Tony Hancock, The Rebel and Rendezvous in July
David Sorfa (Speaker)
4 Apr 2023Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Interrogating the Modes of Videographic Criticism
David Sorfa (Invited speaker)
24 Feb 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Can We Take Existentialism Seriously? Tony Hancock and The Rebel (1961)
David Sorfa (Invited speaker)
2 Nov 2022Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Fantasy/Animation Podcast - Everything Everywhere All At Once
24/04/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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David Sorfa guests on The Cinematologists Podcast
15/09/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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James Bond: From racial stereotypes to a ‘Queer’ and a ‘Woke’ 007
3/04/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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