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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

Previous:

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

20152019

Editor-in-Chief, Film-Philosophy Journal

2006 → …

Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, Liverpool John Moores University

20022013

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