The City College of New York (CCNY) offers a BFA in Film & Video—one of the oldest film programs in the country (dating back to 1941) and the only undergraduate BFA in film within the CUNY system.
It combines intensive hands-on training in fiction and documentary production (including screenwriting, shooting, and editing) with courses in film history, theory, and aesthetics.
CCNY also has a separate MFA in Film focused on short-form documentary and fiction filmmaking.
It combines intensive hands-on training in fiction and documentary production (including screenwriting, shooting, and editing) with courses in film history, theory, and aesthetics.
CCNY also has a separate MFA in Film focused on short-form documentary and fiction filmmaking.
- Undergraduate Application Requirements
- Official High School Transcripts
- SAT/ACT Optional
- Personal Essay / Statement of Purpose
- School-Specific Short Answer Essay(s)
- Portfolio Required
- Writing Samples
- Interview Required
- Undergrad Application Fee
- $65
- Minimum High School GPA
- 2.7
More Info on Undergraduate Application Requirements:
The BFA in Film & Video is a second-tier admission program that takes only 30 students a year. Interest in film and admittance to City College does not guarantee entrance into the program. All students must apply separately to the program in April for admittance the following September.
We are now accepting applications from high school students who have experience in film and video production. However, in general, the BFA curriculum is embedded in the liberal arts and students need to have a good foundation in the humanities by completing some of their general education requirements before they start the program.
We are now accepting applications from high school students who have experience in film and video production. However, in general, the BFA curriculum is embedded in the liberal arts and students need to have a good foundation in the humanities by completing some of their general education requirements before they start the program.
- Graduate Application Requirements
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Official Transcripts
- TOEFL / IELTS (International Only)
- Personal Essay / Statement of Purpose
- School-Specific Short Answer Essay(s)
- Resume/CV
- Portfolio Required
- Creative Samples
- Graduate Application Fee
- $74
- Minimum Undergrad GPA
- 3.0
More Info on Graduate Application Requirements:
For applicants who do not have a film/video undergraduate degree (or comparable film/video experience) we may require taking foundation courses in directing, camera and editing in the summer prior to starting the program.
city-film.org
Requirements – City Film – MFA in Film at the City College of New York
MFA in film at the City College of New York
city-film.org
Quick Facts
Nonprofit/For-Profit?:
Nonprofit
Program Style:
Theory + production
Residency Requirements:
On-campus required
Instruction Format:
In-Person Only
Undergraduate Entering Cohort Size:
30
Graduate Entering Cohort Size:
15
Deadlines, Decisions, & Enrollment
Undergraduate Deadlines:
The deadline for admissions for Fall 2026 is EXTENDED to April 15th, 2026.
Graduate Deadlines:
Round-1: Apply by: December 1st* / Decision by: February 1st*
Round-2: Apply by: February 1st / Decision by: April 1st
Round-3: Apply by: April 1st / Decision by: June 1st
Round-2: Apply by: February 1st / Decision by: April 1st
Round-3: Apply by: April 1st / Decision by: June 1st
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Undergraduate Tuition (Annual):
Under $10k
Graduate Tuition (Annual):
$10k to $30k
Tuition & Cost of Attendance Details:
Scholarships
Scholarship & Funding Types:
Merit-Based Scholarships
Need-Based Financial Aid
Work-Study Opportunities
Scholarship Opportunities Detailed:
For the BFA. five $1,000 College Media Scholar awards and one Herman Lew award are given to successful first-year BFA students for use in their second year. Other scholarships are also available to upper classman.
For the MFA, there are no scholarships offered upon admission. However, the MFA Program grants several scholarships based on merit to students (mostly in their second year of study) in the program. There are also awards of cash and services given at our annual Cityvisions Film & Video Showcase.
city-film.org
For the MFA, there are no scholarships offered upon admission. However, the MFA Program grants several scholarships based on merit to students (mostly in their second year of study) in the program. There are also awards of cash and services given at our annual Cityvisions Film & Video Showcase.
Scholarships – City Film – MFA in Film at the City College of New York
MFA in film at the City College of New York
city-film.org
Copyrights & Production
Production Funding:
School provides gear/facilities only; no cash for production
Students are responsible for raising all production funds
Avg. Out-of-Pocket Production Cost:
Varies Widely
Cycle & Thesis Film Details:
We also offer production insurance (certificates of liability) exclusively for 2nd year MFA thesis projects only.
Equipment Access
Equipment Checkout Access:
Standard Business Hours Only
Weekend/Holiday Lockouts
Equipment Access Tiers:
Entry-level gear for lower-class; advanced gear for upper-class
Mandatory Equipment & Lab Fees:
Unknown
Production Safety & Compliance:
Unknown / Not Specified
Production Insurance Coverage:
Certificate of Insurance (COI) Provided
No Official Coverage
Facilities
Filmmaking Facilities:
Private Editing Suites
Green Screen Studio
Screening Theater
Sound Mixing Suites
Sound Stage(s)
Facilities & Equipment Details:
Undergraduate students in the BFA in Film & Video program use a range of prosumer flash card HD video cameras such as the Blackmagic Design, Panasonics AC160, HMC150 and AG-UX9, as well as the Sony A7III and GH4. The program provides a variety of location lighting, grip, and sound recording equipment for classroom assignments and student projects.
Cameras & Equipment
Camera Types Available:
Professional Camcorders
Digital Cinema Cameras
Camera Brands Available:
Blackmagic
Panavision
RED
Lens Access:
Unknown
Lighting & Grip Equipment Available:
Basic Location Lighting Kits (Portable LED or tungsten kits for small-scale shoots)
Professional LED Systems (Modern, high-output color-controllable fixtures and tube lights)
Standard Grip Package (Stands, flags, nets, sandbags, and mounting hardware)
Manual Camera Movement (Dollies, track, and sliders)
Software Taught
Editing & Finishing Software Taught:
Adobe Premiere Pro
VFX, Motion & 3D Software Taught:
Unknown
Audio Post Software Taught:
Unknown
Writing & Production Software Taught:
Unknown
Virtual Production / Performance Software Taught:
Unknown
Internship Opportunities
Internship Opportunities:
Career Services Support
Internships for Academic Credit
Career Assistance
Job Placement & Career Services:
Self-Directed Placement
