University of Georgia - MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media

Joining the UGA MFA Film Program has so far been one of the best decisions that I have made as a developing filmmaker. I am entering my second year now, and I love the town, my friends and collaborators, and, most importantly, the work I am doing in the program.

The small class sizes offered by the UGA MFA program allow for more personalized feedback from the faculty. Ultimately, I feel that film school is all about what you put in, and this program has the structure in place for students to excel.

Athens is an excellent place to grow as a filmmaker, with year-round events and a film-friendly county that encourages the arts. With often very stressful and intensive semesters, Athens offers many ways to unwind and “replenish the well,” so to speak. Going downtown, seeing a movie at the GTC or Cine, or just trying a number of the local restaurants has made Athens stand out in my eyes.

While the program is still very much in its infancy, I have felt that, with each passing semester, it is adapting and evolving with the times. New gear and opportunities for my cohort are among the changes being implemented that make me excited about the future of this program. I imagine by the time the program inducts its 9-10th cohort, many of the kinks will be ironed out. This being said, I would still recommend this program to any interested film student, especially if they want to be a writer first while still gaining production skills.

Even as a still-young program, the UGA Film MFA continues to grow, improve, and build new resources and opportunities with every year. As a boutique 2-year program, it was a more affordable film school option than many others with just as much opportunity to grow my skills and hone a creative voice as a writer and filmmaker. The small cohort size made for an environment that prioritized growth and collaboration over competition, and that network has lasted after graduation. Faculty bring valuable experience, and since graduating the program has continued to upgrade partnerships and opportunities for students.

To me, film school is about three things: (1) getting better as a filmmaker; (2) meeting collaborators you like as people and enjoy working with; and (3) making connections that help you enter the industry upon graduation. The UGA MFA program excels at the first two and is improving on the third.

I've gotten much better as a writer, director, and crew member since starting here, and a lot of that is due to clear and constructive feedback from the skilled faculty. Equally importantly, I've met friends and collaborators that I enjoy being with on and off set. As a new program, alumni connections and industry pathways are still being developed, but they are improving every semester.

The UGA low-residency MFA in Screenwriting program is outstanding. While I would have loved to participate in a full-time program such as the MFA in Film at UGA, that wasn't feasible for my situation. I was a 45 year old military spouse and mother, located over 100 miles from campus. The low-residency program allowed me to strengthen my writing skills and build community with other writers, while developing relationships with mentors I would have otherwise not had access to. Since graduating, I directed an award winning proof-of-concept short film that I wrote in the program, and directed another web series pilot written by a fellow alum. In both instances, I was mentored by other alumni, and I brought on multiple classmates to be part of the process. Being part of the UGA MFA family means you always have a connection to the industry and someone to collaborate with.

I was apart of the inaugural cohort of the UGA MFA film program right in the heart of Athens, Georgia. It's grown a lot since I was there, but I learned a lot and even moreso was able to really focus on my craft as a filmmaker and cinematographer. After graduation, things were slow like with most, but now I can say just about every gig I have gotten in the past 4 years has been somehow tied to the connections and contacts I made through my time at the University of Georgia.