1-Year Documentary Filmmaking Program
Documentaries have never been hotter or more commercially promising—whether you are looking for a career or are out to change the world.
Documentary film has become the field where, as the New York Times put it, "all the cool kids are." From VICE and HBO, to independent docs, viral videos, doc-style TV series, and now virtual reality, documentary filmmakers have more venues and more stylistic opportunities than ever before. With this explosion of increased interest in the world of documentary filmmaking, more and more aspiring documentary filmmakers are looking to find the documentary filmmaking program that will best prepare them for this ever-expanding field.
Our faculty is comprised of award-winning filmmakers. We attract students from all over the world, some of whom are already getting their films distributed and making an impact before they graduate. An extraordinary feature of the Academy’s curriculum is the Master Class series that offers students the priceless advantage of working directly with documentary’s working masters. Every year, throughout the program, executive level editors and producers from HBO and Discovery, and multiple Academy Award, Peabody Award, Emmy Award and top festival winning filmmakers, producers, editors and cinematographers work with our documentary students in small, intimate Master Classes. Their involvement means that students graduate not only with an indispensable education and films in their portfolio, but they also become part of a remarkable professional network.
Extraordinary access to the world of documentary television represents another singular facet of the program. Currently in the US, over 20 top tier cable channels are dedicated to non-fiction programming 24 hours–a-day, 365 days-a-year. With nearly every other cable channel, from HBO to MTV to Sundance and Bravo dedicating increasing percentages of their airtime to documentaries and doc-style series, and networks shifting ever further into the realm of "unscripted" programming, the opportunities are unprecedented. The New York Film Academy’s documentary program is distinctive in the in-depth and cutting-edge education our students receive from top professionals in the non-fiction television industry.
Campus Information
South Beach, Miami
New York Campus
New York City is the home of independent film and the international proving ground for actors. Its 24/7 energy and culture will inspire you to create and achieve at the highest level. As a student, you will be immersed in the heart of this great city, which will become part of your films and your life.
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Aug
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 20
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
NYFA Employees thrive on creativity and diversity. NYFA also brings the following perks along!
- Competitive Pay
- Vacation Time
- Sick Time
- Paid Holidays
- Health, Vision, Dental
- Long-term Disability
- Short-term Disability
- Voluntary Term Life
- Commuters Benefit
- 401k
- Flexible Schedules
- Work Life Balance
- Fun Company Events
- Check Out Equipment for Personal Projects
- Attend Screenings and Q&As
- Network and Build Professional Relationships
- Professional Development Grants
- Flexible Savings Account (FSA) - Health and Dependent
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
To be admitted into the Master of Fine Arts program at NYFA, students must possess a Bachelor's degree from a post-secondary institution recognized by the United States Department of Education or a college or university outside of the U.S. that is recognized as a degree-granting institution by their respective governments. The ideal applicant must demonstrate a sincere passion and aptitude for visual storytelling and the ability and desire to pursue graduate-level work and scholarly research in his/her chosen discipline.
No particular major or minor is required as a prerequisite for admission, but applicants with a strong background in the visual arts are preferred. While an applicant’s GPA will be taken into consideration and is an important component of the admissions process, the strength of the candidate's Narrative Statement and Creative Portfolio is a significant determining factor for admission.
Upon submitting an initial application, applicants will be contacted by a NYFA admissions representative. The admissions representative will provide instructions on how to submit application materials.
MASTER OF ARTS
To be admitted into the Master of Arts program at NYFA, students must possess a Bachelor's degree from a post-secondary institution recognized by the United States Department of Education or a college or university outside of the U.S. that is recognized as a degree-granting institution by their respective governments. The ideal applicant must demonstrate a sincere passion and aptitude for visual storytelling and the ability and desire to pursue graduate-level work and scholarly research.
No particular major or minor is required as a prerequisite for admission, but applicants with a strong background in the visual arts are preferred. While an applicant’s GPA will be taken into consideration and is an important component of the admissions process, the strength of the candidate's Narrative Statement and Creative Portfolio is a significant determining factor for admission.
Upon submitting an initial application, applicants will be contacted by a NYFA admissions representative. The admissions representative will provide instructions on how to submit application materials.
NYFA is proud to welcome students from all over the globe. Our programs are international in their scope and perspective, and NYFA alumni have made great positive impacts on storytelling industries worldwide.
To achieve this goal of training visual storytellers from around the world, NYFA requires that students submit scores from one of the below English exams. NYFA’s preferred English proficiency scores are as follows:
Bachelor’s Degree: TOEFL = 68 or above / IELTS = 6.0 or above / Duolingo = 90 or above
Master’s Degree: TOEFL = 79 or above / IELTS = 6.5 or above / Duolingo = 101 or above
However, NYFA encourages all students to apply for their degree program even if they do not have the preferred English exam score. Students with scores lower then these targets will be connected with a NYFA language professional who can offer support and guidance to help the student gain admission to their program of choice. Students who would benefit from extra English language support will have the option to elevate their language skills through the Pathway Track, a two-semester curriculum designed to support English language growth while enrolled in their degree program.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Post Graduate Diploma or Certificate
- Duration: 01 Year
-
Total Tuition Fee:
39801 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 75 USD
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