Fonds I0062 - Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema fonds

The Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema has its origins in the Sir George Williams University (SGWU) Moving Pictures program, which was located in the Department of Fine Arts. The development of this program first appeared following a draft proposal for a Cinema Major in 1972, commissioned by Professors Alfred Pinsky and Edwy Cooke. After the merger of SGWU and Loyola College to form Concordia University in 1974, the program became the Cinema Section of the Visual Arts Division of the new Faculty of Fine Arts. A Cinema proposal was submitted in 1974 to which the Quebec Conseil des universités answered with recommendations in 1978, leading to the creation of two specializations: Film Studies and Film Production, in 1980-1981. Later, another specialization in Film Animation will be added. In 1981, the Faculty of Fine Arts was reorganized and existing Divisions were replaced by formally created departments. The Cinema and the Photography programs were joined together to form the Department of Cinema and Photography. In June 1986, the department was renamed Department of Cinema when the two programs of Photography and Printmaking were established as one department. From 1988, the Department of Cinema offers a graduate program in Film Production joint with the Studio Arts program. The Digital Animation, Digital Image/Sound program was launched in June of 1997. In December 1997, the department again changed its name for the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 1998, the department offers a new graduate program in Film Studies.