Accepted Proposals

06. What if we built from our longstanding F.I.L.M. series to launch Hamilton as a new center for film culture?

May 16, 2025

The collaboration led by: Celeste Moore

With collaborators: Scott MacDonald, Pavitra Sundar, Anna Huff, Nadya Bair, Katheryn Doran, Jason Cieply, Martine Guyot-Bender, Kyoko Omori, Giampaolo Molisina, Nhora Serrano, Zhuoyi Wang, Edna Rodríguez-Plate, Lydia Hamessley, Tim Hicks, Graham Espe

We propose to expand the Hamilton Forum on Images and Languages in Motion (F.I.L.M.) series to launch an interdisciplinary, collaborative space that makes cinema a critical locus in our community’s civic, social, and intellectual life. Building on ongoing work by Cinema and Media Studies (CMS) faculty to coordinate with other departments and programs, we imagine F.I.L.M. as a more expansive program that brings in world-renowned speakers and sponsors high-quality screenings of new and old cinema. With renewed funding, Hamilton could establish itself as a leader among liberal arts colleges in film and media.

The proposal was submitted for CATALYST funding (under $10,000) and was ranked high with respect to the other proposals based upon the evaluation rubric.

The committee applauds the proposers for:

• Creating a proposal with strong interdisciplinary collaboration across numerous departments and programs
• Building upon an established program with demonstrated community engagement and attendance
• Recognizing the potential for Hamilton to become a leader in film culture among liberal arts colleges
• Involving both faculty and staff from Library and Information Technology Services in the collaboration
• Developing a vision that could enhance both academic and community experiences

The points that the committee recommends the proposers need to continue to develop include:

• A clearer articulation of how the expanded program will specifically involve other departments and disciplines beyond the current collaborators
• More detailed information about current attendance patterns and metrics for measuring the success of an expanded program
• A more detailed budget breakdown that distinguishes between one-time technology investments and ongoing operational costs
• A sustainability plan for how the program will be maintained beyond the initial funding period, particularly for student staffing needs
• Evidence of how this expansion will create meaningful dialogue and engagement across disciplines

From the committee’s perspective, the next phase of this project should include:

• A refined budget proposal that clearly separates one-time equipment purchases (specifically the new computer for Bradford) from ongoing operational costs,
• Development of a detailed implementation plan including specific strategies for expanding interdisciplinary participation and community engagement, and
• A sustainability model that addresses how the program will secure funding and support beyond the initial What If Initiative grant period.

The committee recommends funding the next phase of this proposal for $7,000 to move this idea forward for further aspirational design and development, with the stipulation that the budget to fund the technology and licensing fees as requested in the proposal.