Our program works with aspiring narrative, documentary, and experimental filmmakers to refine their practice and to engage with evolving distribution and business models.

Program Overview

Through a hands-on curriculum and unique collaborations with The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Film and Media Studies program and the Maryland Film Festival, the M.F.A. in Filmmaking prepares students for sustainable careers in film and media as the industry continues to realign.

M.F.A. in Filmmaking students engage in a curriculum that integrates a broad understanding of cinematic history with diverse technical experience-from generating ideas and writing to production, post-production and delivering a film to its intended audience. First-year students work on short film projects and crew for second-year student thesis films. These collaborative, hands-on experiences, combined with workshops, electives, and a robust schedule of visiting filmmaker talks, allow students to learn the cinematic process as they become knowledgeable about a variety of models to finance and produce films and reach audiences. Shared facilities with JHU's Film and Media Studies program gives Filmmaking students access to faculty and resources from two world-class institutions, while the Maryland Film Festival offers programming that connects students with renowned filmmakers as they screen films, hold master classes or review thesis projects. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work in traditional film and media hubs and to create sustained filmmaking practices in non-traditional markets.

Who Should Apply

The M.F.A. in Filmmaking program is appropriate for creative professionals or recent B.F.A. graduates who want to deepen their filmmaking skills and who are prepared for a collaborative, immersive, hands-on experience. Potential students could include, but are not limited to, experienced creative professionals or recent B.F.A. graduates in filmmaking or communication-related disciplines such as graphic design, environmental design, planning, architecture, photography, digital media, wiring, public health, and fine arts.