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MFA Programs in Film

Master of Fine Arts degrees in film, kept separate from MA and MS degrees. Practice-based filmmaking MFAs and screenwriting MFAs are collected separately because they ask for different portfolios and end in different thesis work. All film master's degrees are in the master's directory.

72 programs · page 4 of 4

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Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking — editorial selections are published separately under Top Schools. What we list

University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Screenwriting (MFA)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television — Screenwriting
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Six to seven quarters
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

MFA in Social Documentation

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Social Documentation
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Production (broader film degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $24,118.58 per academic year · In-state — Graduate academic student fees, total California resident (includes waivable UC SHIP) · 2026-2027
Deadline: January 8, 2027 · Fall 2027
View program

University of Iowa

MFA in Film and Video Production

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Video Production
Location: Iowa City, IA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Cinematography (broader film degree) · Editing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA
University of Miami logo

University of Miami

Documentary, M.F.A.

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Documentary
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (broader film degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,763 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per credit hour · 2026-2027
Deadline: February 1, 2027 · Fall 2027
View program
University of Miami logo

University of Miami

Motion Pictures, M.F.A.

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (Production concentration) · Screenwriting (Screenwriting concentration) · Producing (Producing concentration) +3
Duration: Three years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,763 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per credit hour · 2026-2027
Deadline: February 1, 2027 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
University of North Carolina School of the Arts logo

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

MFA in Filmmaking — Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Filmmaking (Screenwriting concentration)
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (Screenwriting concentration)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $10,296 per academic year · In-state · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 2, 2026 · Fall
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

MFA in Film & Television Production

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree) · Cinematography (broader film degree) +2
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

MFA in Writing for Screen & Television

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Peter Stark Producing Program (MFA)

MFAMFA in Producing for Film, Television and New Media
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Producing (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years (four semesters)
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
University of Utah logo

University of Utah

MFA in Film & Media Arts

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA

Wake Forest University

MFA in Documentary Film

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Documentary Film
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Format: HybridA regular mix of online and in-person study. · Full- or part-time
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree) · Producing (broader film degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $38,650 per academic year · All students — Graduate School of Arts & Sciences full-time graduate tuition · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA

Comparing filmmaking MFAs on their structure

Filmmaking MFAs differ less in name than in structure: how many years, how many films you make and in which roles, whether you specialize (directing, cinematography, producing, editing, documentary), how equipment is allocated, and who pays for the thesis film. Tuition covers instruction; it does not by itself cover cameras, crew, actors, locations or a thesis budget unless the school says so.