Justin Timothy Smith

Justin Timothy Smith is Professor of Cinema and Television History at De Montfort University, affiliated with the Leicester Media School in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media. He is also Director of the Research and Innovation Institute in Arts, Design and Performance. His research is centered in the Cinema and Television History (CATH) research group, where he leads significant projects funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). His work spans British film and television history, music video culture, cult cinema, and archival studies.

Smith holds a PhD in Cult Films and Film Cults in British Cinema, 1968-86 from the University of Portsmouth (2006), an MA in Popular Culture (The Open University, 2000), a PGCLTHE (2005), and a BA in English and American Literature (University of Kent, 1986). His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to cultural and media studies.

His research interests include post-war British cinema and television, cult film fandom, cultural identity, popular memory, censorship, and the cultural industries. He is primarily an archival historian, drawing on extensive primary sources to explore how media shapes national and personal identity. His work often bridges academic research with public engagement, particularly through film archives and educational outreach.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on British music video history, Channel 4’s cultural impact, literary adaptation (especially Middlemarch and Jane Austen), and cult film stardom. His articles frequently appear in leading journals such as Journal of British Cinema and Television and Adaptation, demonstrating sustained scholarly influence in film and media studies.

Smith has received notable recognition, including:

• Appointment to the AHRC Peer Review College
• British Academy Overseas Conference Travel Grant (2010)
• Krasna Krausz Publication Award (2009)

He has supervised PhD students, served as external examiner for MA Film Studies at Leicester and Southampton, and acted as project advisor for AHRC-funded initiatives. His grants include major PI roles on AHRC projects such as Fifty Years of British Music Video and Channel 4 and British Film Culture, with partnerships at the BFI, British Library, and Channel 4. He has organized academic conferences and contributed to public-facing outputs like the Power To The People DVD box-set. Smith is also active in professional societies, including the Royal Television Society and the Creative Industries Federation.

He leads the CATH research group and has fostered collaborations with national institutions to digitize and preserve media heritage. His current and recent projects continue to shape the understanding of British screen culture through interdisciplinary and archival methodologies.