Wondering when you need to get that film school application in? Below is a list of all current graduate film school deadlines as of October 1, 2025.
A quick review of what each application deadline means:
- Priority Deadline: Apply before Regular Decision. The Admissions team will prioritize your application, but it is non-binding.
- Regular Decision: Apply with the majority of applicants.
- Rolling: Your target film school continues to review applications after the final deadline and may admit you, if space is available and you meet the requirements.
Editor’s note: This list is meant to provide general film school application deadlines with the best information available at the time of publication. Always double check with the deadlines posted on the school’s website. If there is a discrepancy between the school's website and the information listed below, please send our administrator a DM and we will fix it as soon as possible. If you notice any errors, or if a school is not on this list and you would like it included, please let us know. Thank you, and best of luck!
November 1, 2025
University of California at Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT)- Cinematography (M.F.A.) — Regular Decision
- Documentary (M.F.A.) — Regular Decision
- Producers Program (M.F.A.) — Regular Decision
- Production/Directing (M.F.A.) — Regular Decision
- Screenwriting (M.F.A.) — Regular Decision
November 3, 2025
Columbia College Chicago- Film Directing MFA — Early Decision
- Screenwriting MFA — Early Decision (Non-Binding)
- Creative Producing MFA — Early Decision (Non-Binding)
November 15, 2025
Chapman University - Dodge College of Film and Media ArtsMFA Degrees
- MFA in Film Production (Cinematography) — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film Production (Directing) — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film Production (Editing) — Regular Decision
- MFA in Documentary Filmmaking — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film and TV Producing — Regular Decision
- MFA in Production Design — Regular Decision
- MFA in Screenwriting — Regular Decision
- MFA in Sound Design — Regular Decision
- Television Writing and Producing — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film and TV Producing/MBA — Regular Decision
- MA in Film and Media Studies — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film and Television Producing/JD — Regular Decision
- Film & Television Production (M.F.A.) — Regular Deadline
- Writing & Producing for Television (M.F.A.) — Regular Deadline
- Writing for the Screen (M.F.A.) — Regular Deadline
- Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management MA — Regular Deadline
- Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games & Health) MA — Regular Decision
- Expanded Animation MFA — Regular Decision
- Film & Television Production (MFA) — Regular Decision
- Interactive Media MFA and Interactive Media MS — Regular Decision
- Peter Stark Producing Program (MFA) — Regular Decision
- Writing for Screen & Television (MFA) — Regular Decision
December 1, 2025
American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI)- Cinematograpy MFA — Regular Decision
- Directing MFA — Regular Decision
- Editing MFA — Regular Decision
- Producing MFA — Regular Decision
- Screenwriting MFA — Regular Decision
- Production Design MFA — Regular Decision
- MFA Film Directing — Preferred Deadline
- MFA Film and Video — Preferred Deadline
- MFA Experimental Animation — Preferred Deadline
- MFA in Production — Regular Decision
- MFA in Writing — Regular Decision
- Cinema Studies MA — Regular Deadline
- Cinema Studies PhD — Regular Deadline
- Film and Television MFA — Regular Decision
- MFA/MBA Dual Degree Film — Regular Decision
- MFA in Documentary Film — Regular Decision
- MFA in Screenwriting — Regular Decision
- MFA in Film and Media Production — Regular Decision
December 2, 2025
Northwestern University- Northwestern MFA in Documentary Media — Regular Decision
- MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage — Regular Decision
December 9, 2025
Columbia University School of the Arts- Creative Producing M.F.A. — Regular Decision
- Screenwriting & Directing M.F.A. — Regular Decision
- Writing for Film & Television M.F.A. — Regular Decision
December 15, 2025
DePaul University- MFA in Animation — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Creative Producing (LA-Based) — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Documentary — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Film and Television Directing — Domestic Priority Deadline | International Student Regular Decision
- MFA in Film and Television Directing — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Screenwriting — Priority Deadline
January 5, 2026
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)- MFA Film Directing — Preferred Deadline
- MFA Film and Video — Preferred Deadline
- MFA Experimental Animation — Preferred Deadline
January 10, 2026
Columbia College Chicago- Film Directing MFA — Regular Decision
January 15, 2026
Brooklyn College (CUNY) Ferstein- MFA in Screenwriting — Regular Decision
- MFA in Directing — Regular Decision
- MFA in Cinematography — Regular Decision
- MFA in Producing — Regular Decision
- MFA in Post-Production - Regular Decision
- Film MFA — Regular Decision
- Screenwriting MFA — Regular Decision
- Creative Producing MFA — Regular Decision
January 20, 2026
Columbia University School of the Arts- MA Film and Media Studies — Regular Decision
February 1, 2026
Boston University- M.F.A. In Film and Television Studies — Priority Deadline
- M.F.A. Screenwriting — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Film and Media Art — Priority Deadline
- MFA in Writing for Film and Television — Priority Deadline
- Documentary MFA — Priority Deadline
- Motion Pictures MFA — Priority Deadline
- Cinema MFA — Regular Decision
- Cinema Studies MA — Regular Decision
February 15, 2026
NYU - Tisch Kanbar Institute of Film and Television- Media Producing MA — Regular Decision
March 1, 2026
California State University at Fullerton (CSUF)- M.F.A. in Screenwriting — Regular Decision
- M.A. in Entertainment Media Management — Regular Decision II
- M.F.A. in Screenwriting — Regular Decision
May 1, 2026
American University- Film and Media Arta MA — Regular Decision (International Students Only)
- M.F.A. Screenwriting — Regular Decision II
May 15, 2026
DePaul University- MFA in Film and Television Directing — Regular Decision
June 15, 2026
DePaul University- Master of Science in Film and Television (STEM-Designated Program) — Regular Decision (International Students Only)
July 15, 2026
University of Miami- Documentary MFA — Regular Decision
- Motion Pictures MFA — Regular Decision
August 1, 2026
DePaul University- Master of Science in Film and Television (STEM-Designated Program) — Regular Decision (Domestic Students Only)
Rolling Admissions
Boston University- M.F.A. In Film and Television Studies — Rolling on May 1, 2026
- M.F.A. Screenwriting — Rolling on May 1, 2026
- MFA in Screenwriting - Rolling AFTER January 15, 2026 (Regular Decision Deadline)
Don’t miss our admissions interviews with top film programs
As you get your materials together, check out FilmSchool.org's admissions interviews with some of the best institutions in the world for undergraduate film students. These conversations offer valuable insights into what makes a strong application and what to avoid. We recommend starting with our recent interview that dives into Emerson College's new School of Film, Television, and Media Arts:
How to Get Into Emerson’s School of Film, Television and Media Arts: Admissions Advice and Program Insights (Part 1)
Emerson College has expanded its Department of Visual and Media Arts into the new School of Film, Television, and Media Arts, marking an exciting new chapter in the institution’s 130-year legacy. The College has a reputation for punching above its weight, including earning more Oscar wins and...
- Alexa P.
- Category: Admissions Interviews
