Program Overview

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Master's of Fine Arts Degree in Cinematography

The Master's of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree in Cinematography program at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) is designed to help students develop a range of skills that can help them pursue creative goals in cinematography. This accelerated graduate program immerses students in a unique, collaborative environment that emphasizes practical, hands-on instruction in cinematography and the related aspects of filmmaking.

Program Overview

Through intensive workshop courses, individual projects, and rigorous critiques, students learn the fundamentals of visual storytelling and cinematographic technique. Students develop their proficiency with different state-of-the-art camera systems, both film and digital, and learn to supervise the creation of sophisticated lighting schemes. As they shoot a series of challenging projects, culminating in a final Thesis Film, students create material for a compelling cinematography reel that showcases their skill and versatility as a cinematographer.

Curriculum

The MFA degree in Cinematography is currently available at the NYFA Los Angeles campus. The course curriculum and program include:

• Advanced courses and practical workshops that teach essential film and digital cinema cameras, lighting, camera movement, and storytelling techniques
• Production time to develop technical expertise in lighting, grip work, camera operating, camera assisting, and other key areas of film production
• Personal instruction and ongoing critique from award-winning faculty, with many belonging to prestigious cinematic societies all over the world
• The opportunity to shoot a range of projects on the latest film and digital cameras, providing material to build each student's cinematography reel
• Access to industry-standard equipment such as cameras, dollies, lighting, and grip, as well as production workshops with advanced equipment, such as a crane
• The ability to attend exclusive guest speaker events with industry experts such as cinematographers, directors, producers, and more

Degree Details

The MFA degree in Cinematography is an accelerated graduate program that takes place over two years and five full-time semesters. The accelerated two-year schedule is possible through an extended academic schedule, which allows students to complete three full-length semesters in the first year.

Projects

During their studies, MFA students complete compelling projects such as classic Mise-En-Sc鋝e, Documentary, and Continuity projects, as well as their MFA Thesis film. In the spirit of fostering collaboration, there may be screenings hosted to showcase the cinematographers' work to NYFA Filmmaking students. Students will also work as crew on colleagues' films in positions including gaffer, key grip, camera assistant, and camera operator. At the conclusion of their program, MFA students will have a showcase of work for their professional reel.

History and Theory Courses

In addition to classes focused on Cinematography, MFA students will also engage in History and Theory coursework that supports the curriculum. MFA students can learn more about these requirements on NYFA's History and Theory Courses page.

Locations

NYFA's Cinematography MFA program is conducted at the NYFA Los Angeles campus. At NYFA Los Angeles, students will be working in the heart of the entertainment industry, with convenient access to world-class equipment, facilities, and crew.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for the MFA program in Cinematography are as follows:

• Tuition: $20,500 per semester
• Departmental Program Fee: $2,500 per semester
• Program Duration: 6 semesters
• Additional Fees:
  • Technology Fee: $80 per semester
  • Wellness Services & Programming Fee: $145 per semester
  • Activity Fee: $125 per semester
  • Orientation Fee: $150 (domestic students), $200 (international students)
  • Graduation Fee: $100
  • International Student Fee: $200 (first semester), $120 (each subsequent semester)

Start Dates

The start dates for the MFA program in Cinematography at the NYFA Los Angeles campus are:

• August 2026
• January 2027

Faculty Highlights

The NYFA Cinematography faculty includes award-winning professionals such as Anthony Richmond, ASC, BSC. Students can learn from experienced instructors who have worked in the film industry and can provide valuable insights and guidance.

Alumni

NYFA has a strong network of alumni who have gone on to work in the film industry. Some notable alumni include Bob Nguyen, a cinematographer who has worked on several films and television shows.