Apply — MFA in Film

Start your application via the button below. The application fee is $75.

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate coursework should be sent directly from the institution either electronically via Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, or email to [email protected], or they can be physically mailed to the address below:

Office of Admissions – MFA in Film
Vermont College of Fine Arts
36 College Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

Identify two references to provide letters of recommendation describing your qualifications for master’s level study and your aptitude for independent learning. The recommendations can be submitted directly into your Slate application. Your recommenders can also email their recommendations to us and we can upload them to your file. (You do not have to wait for the recommendations to be submitted to submit your application. However, you should contact references early in the process to avoid delays in reviewing your application.)

Note: Relatives and spouses are not eligible to provide references.

Submit 500–1000 words addressing the following:

• What are your current artistic goals and specific reasons for seeking an MFA in Film at VCFA?
• What experiences led you to this point, and how might they have shaped your current film work? (Feel free to include a discussion of your submitted work and provide context if relevant).
• What do you consider your approach to storytelling and your interests in exploring form and/or structure in innovative or personally compelling ways?

Submit 500–1000 words addressing the following:

• What do you hope to achieve during your MFA studies?
• What topics in the film are you most interested in studying (e.g., narrative, documentary, screenwriting, experimental, etc.)?
• As the independent study is an essential feature of the low-residency model, it is important for us to assess your aptitude for defining your own educational direction and time and project management. What other independent educational experiences have you pursued?

Submit two samples of your original work that best reflect your artistic vision. (All screenwriting samples should be in standard screenplay format.) This should include a list of the work samples submitted, including title, year, medium, your role(s) in the work’s creation (e.g., writer, director, cinematographer, editor, actor, etc.), and the excerpt that should be viewed and read, if not from the beginning.

• Option 1: Submit two videos for which you played a major creative role, cued to a sample of up to 10 minutes each. The entire work should be submitted. If a work is longer than 10 minutes, it will be viewed at the committee’s discretion.
• Option 2: Submit up to 20 pages each from two completed short or feature screenplays. If longer than 20 pages, the entire screenplay should be submitted and may be read at the committee’s discretion.
• Option 3: Submit one video and one screenplay (see specifications above).
• Option 4: Submit one screenplay and one treatment (see specifications above).
• Optional (for all samples): A synopsis of up to 100 words.
• Optional (for all samples): A description of up to 100 words of the action leading up to the sample, if it is not from the beginning of the piece.

Applying as a screenwriter or a filmmaker will not exclude a student from studying all aspects of filmmaking.

Submit a resume/CV, including a list of finished films and/or screenplays; screenings and any prizes, honors, and/or grants related to your work; a concise list of your relevant skills (such as camera operation, lighting, editing); and a list of any software related to the craft of which you have a working knowledge.

Submit a filmography listing all film projects including title, year, medium, your role(s) in the work’s creation.

Domestic applicants are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with their admissions application. The FAFSA is required for access to federal educational loans and is used for consideration of some merit- and need-based scholarships. International applicants should contact the Office of Student Services / Financial Aid at [email protected] to discuss their financial aid options.

Applicants are also asked to complete the VCFA Financial Aid form. This form provides us with important financial information that may not be captured on the FAFSA. It also helps the college identify financial need among our international students and others who are not eligible for federal financial aid.”

The VCFA Financial Aid form is available once the application for admission has been submitted.

For further information on tuition, scholarships, and financial aid, we encourage interested applicants to attend a financial aid information session.