About the Program | MFA in Film (2024)

Applications for Fall 2025 will open in September.

The Stony Brook MFA in Film is the only graduate program in the SUNY system fiercely dedicated to independent filmmaking. Our approach is simple — roll up your sleeves and dive in. With today's technology, all you need is a well-crafted story, a realistic plan, and the drive to make it happen. At Stony Brook, you will learn how to craft a tightly woven script, operate state-of-the art camera equipment, develop a realistic budget and production plan, become skilled at working with actors and crew members, and navigate legal, marketing, financing, and distribution. Get it made, make it right, get it seen, live to tell about it… that is our mantra.

Killer Films founders and faculty Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, along with top industry professionals and our working-in-the-field faculty, mentor and guide students through the essential elements of independent film and digital content production and television writing. Hands-on, experiential, in-depth, and project driven.

The curriculum requires 45-48 credits and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Location

The Stony Brook Manhattan Center for Creative Writing and Film is located at 535 Eighth Avenue. The Center is an easy commute by train, bus, or car, and Manhattan’s many movie theatres, film festivals, openings, screenings, premieres, exhibitions, archives, and libraries are easily accessible. Occasional courses are offered in Southampton.

Facilities

Our facilities operate as indie production offices and film studios. We have an array of industry standard camera, lighting, sound and grip equipment. Some highlights include the RED Epic-W Helium, Canon C100, Canon XC10, Canon Cinema Prime lenses, ARRI and Kino lighting systems, Tascam, Rode and AT audio equipment and four 1-Ton grip packages. When it comes to post-production, the program has a top of the line edit suite containing iMacs equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud, Avid Media Composer and Pro Tools.

Students

Students in the Stony Brook MFA have received top notch industry scholarships, awards including Sundance Institute / Sloan Commissioning Grant, , and NYWIFT’s "From Script to Pre-production" internships. Plus their work has showcased at film festivals across the world including the Atlanta Film Festival, DOC NYC, Loft Film Fest, Miami International Film Festival, New York Short Film Festival, NewFilmmakers New York, Nottingham International Film Festival, the Zero Film Festival and the Jeonju International Film Festival in Korea .

Tracks

In addition to Tracks in Directing, Television Writing and Screenwriting, we are launching our new Producers Track, and make-your-own Independent Track.

Faculty

Each one of our faculty are active working professionals in the field and understand first hand what it takes to make a living as creatives and content-makers. Check out our Faculty page.

Academics

• MFA in Film Program Requirements: 45-49 credits
  

  REQUIRED CORE COURSES: 19 credits
  

  FLM 500 Introduction to Graduate Studies, 4 cr.
  FLM 501 Film Tools, 3 cr.
  FLM 537 Production I, 3 cr.
  FLM 638 Directing I, 3 cr.
  FLM 650 Screenwriting Workshop, 3 cr.
  FLM 660 Acting Workshop, 3 cr. (SOUTHAMPTON)

  EXPERIENTIAL OPTION: 3 credits

  One or more of the following Experiential options:

  FLM 591 Independent Project
  FLM 690 Professional Internship; or
  FLM 550 Teaching Practicum, 3 cr.

  REQUIRED MFA PROJECT & THESIS: 6 credits

  FLM 691 MFA Project, 3 cr. (SOUTHAMPTON)
  FLM 692 Thesis, 3 cr. (SOUTHAMPTON)

  SELECT ONE TRACK FROM THE FOLLOWING: 17-21 credits

  Directing Track
  Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  FLM 505 Film Management I
  FLM 508 Editing I
  FLM 509 Cinematography I
  FLM 510 Film History
  FLM 525 Topics in Film (1-3 cr.)
  FLM 576 Film Workshop
  FLM 639 Directing II
  FLM 670 Directing III
  FLM 637 Production II
  FLM 669 Advanced Tools
  FLM 680 Art Direction Workshop

  Producing Track
  Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  FLM 505 Film Management I
  FLM 506 Film Management II
  FLM 510 Film History
  FLM 530 Directed Readings in Film
  FLM 575 Adaptation
  FLM 525 Topics in Film
  FLM 576 Film Workshop
  FLM 637 Production II
  FLM 680 Art Direction Workshop
  CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting

  Screenwriting Track
  Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  FLM 505 Film Management I
  FLM 510 Film History
  FLM 520 Film History II
  FLM 530 Directed Readings in Film
  FLM 575 Adaptation
  FLM 525 Topics in Film
  FLM 576 Film Workshop
  FLM 651 Screenwriting Workshop II
  FLM 652 Screenwriting Workshop III
  CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting
  With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above).

  Television Writing Track
  Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  FLM 505 Film Management I
  FLM 510 Film History
  FLM 526 Topics in Television Writing
  FLM 536 Forms of Television Writing
  FLM 575 Adaptation
  FLM 525 Topics in Film
  FLM 576 Film Workshop
  FLM 651 Screenwriting Workshop II
  FLM 652 Screenwriting Workshop III
  CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting
  With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above).

  Individualized Track
  Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  FLM 505 Film Management I
  FLM 506 Film Management II
  FLM 508 Editing I
  FLM 509 Cinematography I
  FLM 510 Film History I
  FLM 520 Film History II
  FLM 525 Topics in Film (1-3 cr.)
  FLM 526 Topics in Television Writing (1-4cr)
  FLM 530 Directed Readings in Film (1-4 cr.)
  CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting (4 cr.)
  FLM 536 Forms of Television Writing (1-3 cr.)
  FLM 575 Adaptation
  FLM 576 Film Workshop (1-6 cr.)
  FLM 608 Editing II
  FLM 609 Cinematography II
  FLM 637 Production II
  FLM 639 Directing II
  FLM 640 Film Design Workshop
  FLM 651 Screenwriting Workshop II
  FLM 652 Screenwriting Workshop III
  FLM 669 Advanced Tools
  FLM 670 Directing III
  FLM 680 Art Direction Workshop
  With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above, 4 cr.).

  See Also

  Admissions | MFA in FilmSUNY to appoint interim Stony Brook University president; national search to begin

Library

The University Library holds in excess of 15,000 items comprised of books, eBooks, videos, periodicals, music scores, dissertations, and audio files related to the study of film, which are easily accessible through interlibrary document delivery.Our book collection contains over 7,500 volumes.

Special collections, such as the recently endowed Sklar Collection, are being developed continuously.

Interested students should request information from the department and find application information here.

Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, especially if they plan to apply for financial aid.

The MFA in Film program accepts applications for admission on a semi-rolling basis.

A NOTE ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: If creative work is conceived and/or completed within the Stony Brook MFA program in Film and Television Writing, then the Intellectual Property (IP) represented by that creative work is owned by the student.

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