Prof Jolyon Mitchell is Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CTPI) at the University of Edinburgh. A former President of TRS-UK (the national association for theology and religion in the UK, 2012-2018), he also chaired the conference 'Peacemaking in the World of Film' (2007), co-sponsored by INTERFILM, SIGNIS and WACC. He regularly gives courses for students and postgraduates in the field of film and religion. A former BBC World Service producer and journalist, he has written extensively on film in recent books such as Promoting Peace, Inciting Violence: The Role of Religion and Media (2012); Media Violence and Christian Ethics (Cambridge University Press, 2007) and The Religion and Film Reader (co-editor, Routledge, 2007). A new edited volume on peacebuilding and the arts (Palgrave MacMillan, 2019) includes an extensive section on film and peacebuilding. He is co-editor of three monograph series, including (with Robert Johnston) a series of research monographs on 'Film and Religion' (Routledge).
Professor of Communications, Arts and Religion
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Articles
The 75th Venice International film Festival gave plenty of cause to celebrate. In 2018 it arguably outshone the other leading international film festivals...
In his essay about the Festival de Cannes 2015 jury member Jolyon Mitchell reflects on the use and the meaning of faces in media communication
Festivals
Current issues
Mythical figures and images from the worlds of culture, sport and politics formed the subject matter of some of the films screened at DocFest Sheffield 2026. Peter Paul Huth explores them.
The extent to which the documentary film has evolved was once again evident this year at DocFest Sheffield (10–15 June 2026). The classic ideal of Direct Cinema or Cinéma Vérité has given way to a wide variety of cinematic possibilities. Report by Peter Paul Huth.
Events
16.02.2025
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