Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. The origin of the name comes from the fact that photographic film (also called filmstock) has historically been the primary medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist - motion pictures, the silver screen, photoplays, the cinema, picture shows, flicks - and commonly movies. Films are produced by recording actual people and objects with cameras, or by creating them using animation techniques and/or special effects. They comprise a series of individual frames, but when these images are shown rapidly in succession, the illusion of motion is given to the viewer. Flickering between frames is not seen due to an effect known as persistence of vision - whereby the eye retains a visual image for a fraction of a second after the source has been removed.

Film is considered by many to be an important art form; films entertain, educate, enlighten and inspire audiences. The visual elements of cinema need no translation, giving the motion picture a universal power of communication. Any film can become a worldwide attraction, especially with the addition of dubbing or subtitles that translate the dialogue. Films are also artifacts created by specific cultures, which reflect those cultures, and, in turn, affect them. Hence, the filmmaking production cycle consists of five main stages:

1. Development
2. Preproduction
3. Production
4. Post-production
5. Distribution

An entire production cycle typically has three parts. The first part consists of development. The second part comprises preproduction and production. The third part, consists of post-production and distribution.