Dr Anna Misiak
MA Film & Television Course Leader
Former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Southern California, Anna Misiak holds a PhD from the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is a senior lecturer in Film and MA Film & TV course coordinator. She authored one monograph, Kinematograf kontrolowany (2006) and contributed her film research to edited collections and peer-reviewed journals. Between 2013-2016, Anna was an investigator on an international research project, ‘Documentary in V4 Countries’, which was supported by the Visegrad University Studies Grant. In 2015, she won the Leverhulme Trust Fellowship to develop her archive documentary study, Life Under Communism. Before coming to Falmouth, Anna had lectured in film, media, sociology, and culture studies at the American Studies Centre, Warsaw University and at Warsaw Higher School for Humanities.
In 2017, together with Anna Backman Rogers from Gothenburg University in Sweden, Anna founded a feminist open access academic journal MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture http://maifeminism.com/. She serves as a co-editor-in-chief for this publication.
Anna's research has always explored the interdependence between film and society. Her most recent academic interests centre on archive and cinema that transgresses dominant ideologies. She is the author of Women under Communism: A Report from The Archive: http://womenundercommunism.com/ and a contributor to Female Agency and Documentary Strategies (2018, Edinburgh University Press). Anna is currently working on her book on Polish documentary. Outside academia, she has translated several feature films and TV series (including Green Wing) for Polish television channels and worked as a book reviewer for literary magazines.
In her teaching, Anna aims to inspire and awaken her film & TV students' creativity through consideration of intellectually challenging concepts and theories. Several years of HE teaching have given Anna a lot of satisfaction. Numerous professional and academic successes of her students have included festival awards, nominations, film criticism awards, as well as publications in prestigious journals. At weekends, she teaches yoga classes in Falmouth and Penryn.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | PhD in Sociology/Film | Institute of Sociology and Philosophy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland |
| 2000 | MA in Literature and Culture Studies | Collegium for Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland |
| 2000 | MA in American Studies | American Studies Center, Warsaw University, Warsaw Poland |
Honors and awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Leverhulme Trust Fellowship |
| 2002 | Fulbright Scholarship |
| 2000 | Four years full-time PhD Scholarship Award from the Graduate School for Social Research, Institute of Sociology and Philosophy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland |
Membership of external committees
Member of Association for the Study of NationalitiesResearch Interests
Research interests and expertise
Contemporary Eastern European Cinema
Polish Cinema
Transnational Cinema
World Cinema
Documentary Film
Research Methodology
TV Drama
American Cinema
Film and Freedom of Speech
Culture Studies
Sociology
Research Topics
- American Cinema
- Cinema and Cultural Trauma
- Contemporary Eastern European Cinema
- Eastern European Documentary Film
- Film and Gender Studies
- Film and Leftist Ideology
- Film Censorship
- Heritage/ Epic Film
- Polish Film
- Research and Methods in Media
- World Cinema
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
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Mulraney, Rosa
Misiak, Anna, (2024), WHY MUMS DON'T JUMP: ANIMATION AS A FEMINIST TOOL, In: MAI: Feminism and Visual Culture, MAI: Feminism and Visual Culture, Online, ISSN: 2003-167X -
Misiak, Anna
(2018), The lessons we have learnt: how sexism in American politics sparked off the new feminist renaissance, In: MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture, maifeminism.com/, maifeminism.com/the-lessons-we-have-learnt-how-sexism-in-american-politics-sparked-off-the-new-feminist-renaissance/, 1 (1), ISSN: 2003-1671 -
Misiak, Anna
(2018), When Politics Tipped the Scales: Locating Polish Documentary Films from the 1940s, In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television, Taylor & Francis Routledge, London, UK, 38 (4), pp. 762-786, ISSN: 1465-3451 -
Misiak, Anna, Bielak, Anna and dwutygodnik.com
(2017), ORDERY NA POPLAMIONYCH SUKNIACH: ROZMOWA Z ANNĄ MISIAK, In: dwutygodnik.com, Filmoteka Narodowa-Instytut Audiowizualny, Poland, Poland, ISSN: 2299-8128 -
Misiak, Anna and Galuszka, Kinga
(2017), Woman under Communism: Rozmowa z Anna Misiak, In: Film Pro: Magazyn dla profesjonalistow i pasjonatow kina, FilmPRO ul. Chełmska 21 00-724 Warszawa tel. +48 795 136 333 info@filmpro.com.pl office@filmpro.com.pl, Warsaw, Poland, 31 (3), pp. 42-46, ISSN: 2081-4178 -
Misiak, Anna
(2015), Trapped by bureaucracy: Kieślowski, his masters and the making of Urzᶏd, In: Short Film Studies, Intellect, Bristol, 5 (1), pp. 21-25, ISSN: 20427824 -
Misiak, Anna
(2013), Don't Look to the East: National Sentiments in Andrzej Wajda's Contemporary Film Epics, In: Journal of Film and Video, University of Illinois Press, Champaign, Illinois, USA, 65 (3), pp. 26-39, ISSN: 7424671 -
Misiak, Anna
(2013), Polish Film Industry under Communist Control: Censorship Conceptions and Misconceptions, In: Iluminance, Národní filmový archiv (The National Film Archive), Malešická, Praha, The Czech Republic, 24 (4), ISSN: 0862-397X -
Misiak, Anna
(2012), Jerzy Skolimowski: The Cinema of the Non-conformist, In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Routledge, London, 32 (1), pp. 150-152, ISSN: 0143-0985, Item availability may be restricted. -
Misiak, Anna
(2009), Our own courtyard: Post-traumatic Polish cinema, In: New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film, Intellect, Bristol, UK, 7 (3), pp. 237-256, ISSN: 1474-2756 -
Misiak, Anna
(2005), ‘Not a Stupid White Man: The Democratic Context of Michael Moore’s Documentaries’, In: Journal of Popular Film and Television, Heldref Publications, USA, 33 (3), pp. 160-168, ISBN: 1956051, ISSN: 0195-6051 -
Misiak, Anna
(2005), ‘Kontrowersyjna wolnosc. Elia Kazan w amerykanskim przemysle filmowym’ (‘Controversial freedom. Elia Kazan in the US Film Industry’), In: Kwartalnik Filmowy (Film Quarterly), Instytut Sztuki PAN (Insitute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences), Warsaw, Poland, pp. 172-188, ISBN: 4529502, ISSN: 0452-9502 -
Misiak, Anna
(2003), Politically Involved Filmmaker: Aleksander Ford and Film Censorship in Poland after 1945, In: Kinema, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontatrio, Canada, ISBN: 11926252, ISSN: 1192-6252 -
Misiak, Anna
(2003), Cenzura Filmowa po Zjezdzie w Wisle/Film Censorship after the Wisla Meeting, In: Kwartalnik Filmowy/Film Quarterly, Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Sztuki, Warsaw, pp. 92-102, ISSN: 0452-9502
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Misiak, Anna, Backman Rogers, Anna, Ulfsdotter, Boel, McCauley, Amy and MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture
(2019), MAI Feminism & Visual Culture Issue 3 (Spring 2019), MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture, Online (Gothenburg and Falmouth), 1 (3), ISSN: ISSN 2003-1673 -
Misiak, Anna, Backman Rogers, Anna, Coleman, Rebecca, Page, Tara, Palmer, Helen and MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture
(2019), MAI Feminism & Visual Culture, Focus Issue 4, 'Feminist New Materialist Practice - The Mattering of Methods, (Summer 2019), MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture, Online (Gothenburg and Falmouth), 1 (4), ISSN: ISSN 2003-1674 -
Misiak, Anna, Backman Rogers, Anna and Dots+Circles https://dotsandcircles.co.uk/
(2017), MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture, MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture, Online, ISSN: 2003-1671
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Misiak, Anna
(2018), FEMINISTS UNDER COMMUNISM? Everyday Experiences of Polish Women as Filmed by Female Documentarians, In: Doing Women’s Film and Television History IV: Calling the Shots – Then, Now, and Next (Academic Conference), 23-25 May 2018, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK -
Misiak, Anna
(2017), The Miscellaneous Chronicles of Gender Equality under Communism: Everyday Experiences of Polish Women as Filmed by Female Documentarians, In: Visible Evidence XXIV, 2 August to 6 August 2017, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Item availability may be restricted. -
Misiak, Anna
(2014), The Voices of Displaced Afghan Women: Documentaries by Alka Sadat, In: World Documentary Conference 2014, 9-11 September 2014, Falmouth University, Item availability may be restricted. -
Misiak, Anna
(2011), Dare to be Critical: Making Films in Poland Under Communism Control, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Misiak, Anna
(2024), „Feministka jest, chociaż szyldu nie ma.” Moje spotkanie z Heleną Amiradżibi, In: (Nie)Zapomniane dokumentalistki, Wydawnictwo PWSFTiTV, Łódź, Poland, ISBN: 978-83-67397-42-1, Item availability may be restricted. -
Misiak, Anna
(2018), From Visceral Style to Discourse of Resistance: Reading Alka Sadat’s Afghan Documentaries on Violence Against Women, In: Female Agency and Documentary Strategies: Subjectivities, Identity, and Activism, Edinburgh University Press, Edinurgh, pp. 137-155, ISBN: 9781474419475 -
Misiak, Anna
(2014), Gazing at the 'World without Women': Female Documentary Filmmakers in Socialist Poland, In: Dokumentarny film v krajinach V4/ Documentary film in V4 countries, Vysoka skola muzickych umeni, Bratislava, pp. 56-77, ISBN: 978-80-89439-65-2, Item availability may be restricted.
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Misiak, Anna, Dots + Circles : http://dotsandcircles.co.uk/, The Leverhulme Trust : https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/ and The National Film Archive (Warsaw, Poland) : http://www.fn.org.pl/en/page/231/about-the-national-film-archive.html
(2017), Women & Film Under Communism: A Report from the Archive, http://womenundercommunism.com/, Item availability may be restricted.
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Misiak, Anna
(2014), WORLD DOCUMENTARY CONFERENCE FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY 2014, FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY
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Misiak, Anna
(2013), Review: 'A Social History of Iranian Cinema, Vol.4: The Globalizing Era, 1984-2010', In: Transnational Cinemas, Routledge, Bristol, 4 (2), ISSN: Print ISSN: 2040-3526 Online ISSN: 2040-3534
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Misiak, Anna
(2006), Kinematograph Controlled: Film Censorship in a Former Communist State and in Democracy. Poland and the USA: A Comparative Sociological Analysis (Kinematograf kontrolowany: Cenzura filmowa w kraju socjalistycznym i demokratycznym. Analiza socjologiczna)., Universitas, Kraków, ISBN: 8324207775
Externally funded research grants information
| Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Grant |
GBP | Leverhulme Trust Fellowship | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Life under Communism: | 49969 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Dr. Tereza Cz. Dvorakova from Masaryk University in Brno, Dr. Terez Vincze from Elte University in Budapest, Dr. Maria Ridzonova Fenencuhova (project coordinator) from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava |
EUR | Visegrad Fund http://visegradfund.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/approved/v4fund_approved_vusg+vusg-eap_2012.pdf | 6 EU government bodies | Documentary film in V4 countries before and after 1989 | 10000 | 2013 | |
| Individual Grant |
Polish Ministry of Science | 6 EU government bodies | Kinematograf Kontrolowany/ Publishing Grant | 2006 | |||
| Conference Grant |
Polish Science Foundation | 7 EU-based charities- Open competitive process | 'Immigrants in Film' | 2002 | |||
| Individual Research Grant |
The Fulbright Program | 10 Non-EU-based charities Open competitive process | Film Censorship: Comparative Study | 2002 | |||
| Individual Research Grant |
Polish and Czech Governments | 6 EU government bodies | Film Archive Research Project | 2000 |
Events
World Documentary Film & TV Conference, Penryn Campus, Falmouth University, 4-6 September
Events
Archive Symposium, Penryn Campus, Falmouth University
Events
Image 2.0: Digital Media Futures: International Interdisciplinary Conference, Penryn Campus, Falmouth University
Events
South West Screen Research Network Symposium, Penryn Campus, Falmouth University
Events
'American Freedoms, American (Dis)orders'. Polish Association for American Studies 2004 Conference, American Studies Center, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland
Research Students
Research degrees examined
Anna has examined one MPhil candidate at Falmouth University and a few Masters degrees in Warsaw/Poland.
Number of research degree examinations
5Teaching
Areas of teaching
- academic writing
- American Cinema
- Archive Research
- Audience Research
- Classical Hollywood
- Communication Studies
- Criticism Analysis Theory
- Culture Studies
- European Cinema
- Gender Studies
- Immigration Studies
- Mass Communication
- New Media
- Research Practice and Methodology
- Silent Film
- Sociology
- Transnational Film
- World Cinema
Courses taught
- FLM160 World Cinema (Module Leader)
- FLM233 Transnational Cinema (Module Leader)
- FLM240 Research and Methods (Archive, Audience, Work Placement) (Module Leader)
- FLM220 American Cinema (Module Leader)
- FLM301 Research Practice (Module Leader)
- FLM303 Conceptual Development Theory (Module Leader)
- FLM305 Dissertation (Module Leader)
Policy engagement within Cornwall
Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall
Anna is a member of the Steering Group and the Film Selection Panel for Cornwall Film Festival.
Professional Engagement
Independent professional practice
Translations
Green Wing (the entire TV series) from English to Polish for Comedy Central, 2006.
Feature films and TV shows from English to Polish for Sun Studios, Poland, 2006-07.
Film translations for Andrzej Wajda Film School, Warsaw, Poland, 2004-05.
Social, community and cultural engagement
Public lecture, Kinoteka, Polish Film Festival, University of Exeter - 29 April 2010.
Series of public lectures on Eastern European Film and Media at Beykent University in Istanbul, Turkey - 8-13 December 2010.
Public lecture at St Ives Art and Music Festival, St Ives, Cornwall - 15 September 2009.
Public lecture at St Ives Art and Music Festival, St Ives, Cornwall - 10 September 2008.
Engagement with professional associations and societies
2014 Member of the Association for the Study of Nationalities
External examiner for BA(Hons) Media Culture and Production at Southampton Solent University - October 2011 - now.
Professional esteem indicators
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Academic journal peer reviewer for Studies in Eastern European Cinema, Taylor & Routledge |
| 2012 | Academic journal peer reviewer for Slovo Journal, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London |
| 2011 | Head of the Jury for Reel Women Category, Cornwall Film Festival |
| 2011 | Member of the Jury for 'The Edge' Experimental Film Category, Cornwall Film Festival |
| 2010 | Pre-publication book manuscript reviewer in Film Studies, Berghahn Books |
| 2010 | External application referee for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada |
