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

This program fosters a strong sense of community amongst students, which can provide lifelong friendships and working partnerships amongst like-minded creatives, should you choose to embrace the opportunity. I strongly recommend doing so, as the people you connect with can be a strong source of support and honesty when it comes to helping each other with feedback and/or working together on projects well beyond graduation day.

My mentor experience was extremely positive and was the foundation for the majority of my learning throughout the program. My mentor was extremely knowledgeable, well-versed and respected within the film industry, a skilled instructor who could differentiate instruction according to each mentee's needs, and was always honest. Many of the mentors stay in touch well beyond program completion and joyfully offer support, advice, and encouragement. Since graduating, I have personally received guidance from not only my own mentor but also another mentor.

Be aware, though, that with the Low-residency program, since you only have a week in person at the start of each semester, you must come up with and stick to a plan to stay on target with goals and assignments. It is very doable, but if self-discipline is a struggle for you and you need more in-person/classroom guidance, then maybe a traditional MFA program is best for you. However, if self-discipline is a struggle for you, then some deep introspection before jumping into any time-consuming and costly venture would be advisable. If screenwriting is your dream, make a plan and follow through. Also, be honest about yourself with your mentor concerning your needed areas of growth; they can help you not only with the actual writing but also with the tools/disciplines you need to become a stronger writer.

I highly recommend the UGA Low-Residency Screenwriting MFA program, and it is especially helpful for motivated individuals who find leaving home/job/etc for multiple semesters is not a viable option.

I wish you the best as you pursue your passions. You are your greatest asset, and you can do this!

My experience with the program so far has been extremely positive. From the first time I interacted with the UGA MFA team, I knew it would be a great experience. When people think of a Master's program interview, they might anticipate a tense situation and experience anxiety. Not UGA. When I joined my MFA zoom interview, it felt less like an interview and more like a conversation with those you've known for many years. The staff was warm, welcoming, and eager to hear my story, not just my skills. Once I was accepted, they were very helpful in ensuring I had all the required documentation submitted to start the program and ensure a smooth transition. At orientation, they told us how they wanted to help us find our voice as filmmakers and told us how we would get there. Having talented professors like Dan Kelly teaching us what a film set looks like as we all help film a scene, to Mary Goodwin showing us how to prepare for post in the preproduction phase, to having David Fortune give us the insider tools to create a story that people connect with on an emotional level, is such a rare opportunity. We were able to pick up a camera on our first day of class, and the following week, we actually set up a scene and filmed with 2 actors! We’ve already been able to experience lighting, sound, camera work, and everything else that the audience wouldn’t expect from behind the scenes. We’re also able to learn from those who have been successful in the industry and understand the inner workings of the creative process, from creating a story to executing the final product. Not only that, but our cohort is what my family and I call "good humans." Everyone understands that we're here not only to learn and grow as filmmakers but also as people. I've already grown very close to every member of my cohort, and I feel honored to be around such good and talented people. I feel lucky to be a part of such a unique program and to have the opportunity to learn from experienced filmmakers who are still actively in the industry.

This program offers access and opportunity that even top-tier schools lack. The tradeoff is that results are self-driven. The program gives you the runway, but how far you go depends on your own initiative and the team you build. Be realistic about production costs running past budget. For motivated, independent filmmakers, the resources and location are genuine differentiators.

I am thrilled to have found such a thriving program run by incredible filmmakers, writers, and industry professionals from many different walks of life with varying skill sets.

One of the best features of the low residency MFA program is the caliber of filmmakers and professionals that are current faculty members, visiting speakers, and fellow students. I’ve greatly enjoyed learning from everyone and love seeing so many ages, backgrounds, and experiences represented.

The residencies are fully packed from morning until evening and can be very tiring, however, they offer a valuable and unique experience, providing the opportunity to connect on a personal level with fellow classmates and mentors.

I am so grateful for my mentor’s guidance and encouragement throughout the MFA program. He’s helped me become a better writer, and has challenged me to truly showcase the human experience in my work.

As other reviewers have said, you do get out of this program what you put in. I will be graduating from this program with everything I had hoped to achieve and more.

The UGA MFA Film program is very much what you make of it. For someone navigating the experience largely on their own, it can feel isolating at times, while at other moments it feels like a close knit family. Because the program is still growing and evolving, I believe it will continue to improve, and I am excited to see where that growth leads. Being part of the program during this stage of development has given me a unique perspective on both its strengths and the areas that are still taking shape.

There have been moments when I questioned whether the investment of time was worth it, but those moments were balanced by experiences that reminded me of the unique opportunities available through UGA’s film program, opportunities I do not think I could have found elsewhere. Overall, the experience has been both rewarding and challenging, and I am grateful for what I have gained so far. I am excited to see the program through to completion and hope that even more opportunities continue to emerge for current and future students as the program grows.

I am nearing completion on my MFA in Screenwriting and have loved every minute of this program. There is a very strong sense of community within the students. The residency weeks are like going to summer camp for writing--informative industry speakers, invigorating workshops and filmmaker forums with working writers and producers. I have learned so much about the craft of screenwriting and the mentoring I've received has made my scripts stronger and more polished. I can't recommend this program enough.

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.