UCLA TFT MFA Applicants 2026 (1 Viewer)

[Chris W]

Are you applying to UCLA film school for an MFA? This is the thread for all 2026 application year discussions. Reply to this thread and meet your fellow applicants.

Also, be sure to check out our guide on applying to UCLA

Article 'UCLA TFT: How to Apply for 2026, Acceptance Rate, and What To Expect as a UCLA Film School Student'

As the only film school in the nation where theater, film, television, and digital media studies are concentrated within a single professional school, the University of California Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television combines rigorous courses with hands-on training in production...

• Alexa P.
• Oct 14, 2023
• Updated Nov 24, 2025
• 48 min read
• Reaction score: 1
• Comments: 1
• Category: Applying to Film School
• best film schools how to apply to film school los angeles film schools top film schools in the world ucla ucla film school ucla tft west coast

Here's an interview of ours with a UCLA grad student:

Article 'UCLA TFT Producers Program, Demystified: Spotlight on Keenan Kunst, Graduate Student'

Keenan Kunst (FilmSchool.org user @KeenanDK) sits behind a cluster of canyons and valleys. His Zoom background reflects his longtime passion for Spaghetti films, old West gunslingers that have more plot points than bullets. Watching 20th century classics and constantly reading scripts has...

• Alexa P.
• Mar 30, 2021
• 7 min read
• Reaction score: 1
• Category: Film Student Interviews
• ucla ucla film school

Our current acceptance data for UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) can be found here:

UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) Acceptance Rate (All Programs/All Years)

34.4%

Admitted

157 out of 457

6.8%

Waitlisted

31 out of 457

58.9%

Not Admitted

269 out of 457

Awaiting Results Admitted Waitlisted Denied

Click here for our full Admission Statistics for this program including interview and acceptance notification dates, accepted GPAs, waitlist acceptance rate, demographics of accepted applicants, $ amount of scholarship awarded, and more...

Follow the link above for tons of helpful data such as:

• Earliest/Latest Interview Notification Date
• Earliest/Latest Interview Date
• Earliest/Latest Decision Notification Date
• Earliest/Latest Admitted Off Waitlist Date
• Earliest/Latest Scholarship Notification
• Lowest accepted GPA
• Lowest accepted GRE Verbal Reasoning
• Lowest accepted GRE Quantitative Reasoning
• Lowest accepted GRE Analytical Writing
• Lowest accepted TOEFL IBT
• Lowest accepted IELTS Score

Be sure to log your application once you've applied so that we can improve this data.

Also past years UCLA threads can be found here:

UCLA Film School

All FilmSchool.org discussion threads related to UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

www.filmschool.org

 

[soom]

Hi everyone! Has anyone interviewed for UCLA? I’d love to hear about your experience or any insights. Thanks!

 

[featherless]

just received an interview notification! i selected a time slot already, but didn't get a confirmation email. did anyone get a confirmation email?

 

[xtalvows]

just received an interview notification! i selected a time slot already, but didn't get a confirmation email. did anyone get a confirmation email?

Nice! I scheduled an interview too, but no confirmation email.

 

[featherless]

Nice! I scheduled an interview too, but no confirmation email.

checked with admissions and they confirmed that my registration went through. strange that there wasn’t an automatic confirmation email.

 

[TanooMoo]

If you’ve contacted admissions for clarification on the interview, who did you contact? I signed up about 15 minutes after receiving the first email, but I got another one tonight saying they hadn’t gotten my sign-up yet. I grabbed another spot to be safe but I am a bit annoyed since my original date worked much better with my schedule :/

 

[featherless]

If you’ve contacted admissions for clarification on the interview, who did you contact? I signed up about 15 minutes after receiving the first email, but I got another one tonight saying they hadn’t gotten my sign-up yet. I grabbed another spot to be safe but I am a bit annoyed since my original date worked much better with my schedule :/

i responded to the original email, so not the admissions email address but the production-narrative email address

 

[filmfluff]

Has anyone else read online TFT reviews (one here on Filmschool.org from a 2025 student) basically saying it’s a dysfunctional and unhappy program? Curious if any applicants here have spoken to current/former students and have a clearer read on the current state of the program…?

@Chris W I see you responded to a recent thread with a similarly concerned applicant, do you have any updates to the state of the program from down the grapevine?

@8ballqueen @prodigalsun @RoseOfAberlone curious to get your takes as well if you have first hand/second hand information from within the program.

@featherless @soom @TanooMoo

1. 2025 review: UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) - Reviews
2. 2022 review: UCLA MFA Production/Directing 2022 - A Warning

 

[Chris W]

@Chris W I see you responded to a recent thread with a similarly concerned applicant, do you have any updates to the state of the program from down the grapevine?

We've been trying to get UCLA to do an interview with us but haven't been successful. We did an interview with their professional program though.

Article 'Inside UCLA TFT’s Professional Programs: A Conversation with Director Brian Patrick Fagan (Part 1)'

UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television's Professional Programs provide an intensive, career-driven education in half the time as a traditional MFA — and at a more affordable price point for many students. Led by seasoned industry professionals in the heart of Los Angeles, these...

• Alexa P.
• Aug 7, 2025
• Updated Aug 7, 2025
• 8 min read
• Reaction score: 1
• Category: Admissions Interviews
• admissions department interview applying to film school best film schools brian fagan film schools in california ucla ucla professional programs ucla tft

 

[finnbarkely]

Has anyone else read online TFT reviews (one here on Filmschool.org from a 2025 student) basically saying it’s a dysfunctional and unhappy program? Curious if any applicants here have spoken to current/former students and have a clearer read on the current state of the program…?

@Chris W I see you responded to a recent thread with a similarly concerned applicant, do you have any updates to the state of the program from down the grapevine?

@8ballqueen @prodigalsun @RoseOfAberlone curious to get your takes as well if you have first hand/second hand information from within the program.

@featherless @soom @TanooMoo

1. 2025 review: UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) - Reviews
2. 2022 review: UCLA MFA Production/Directing 2022 - A Warning

Hey, I’m a first year in the mfa directing track at TFT. So far the program has far exceeded any expectations I’ve had, and I know many in my cohort feel similarly. Happy to go into more detail in pm.

 

[xtalvows]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone on this thread is currently an MFA student at TFT (or in undergrad for that matter) and is open or willing to do a short tour of campus / film buildings next Friday the 20th or on a future date? I happen to be going to Los Angeles to attend CalArt's interview day and it's ironic because I now happen to be in Los Angeles the day I scheduled the TFT online interview. Both the general UCLA tours and film department tours are filled or unavailable, and I'm just putting out a line to see if anyone on campus is willing to meet and talk about the program and walk around for an hour or two on campus. I'll buy you a coffee in appreciation

 

[filmfluff]

Hey, I’m a first year in the mfa directing track at TFT. So far the program has far exceeded any expectations I’ve had, and I know many in my cohort feel similarly. Happy to go into more detail in pm.

Thanks so much for your response @finnbarkeley, will dm u now!

 

[TanooMoo]

Can anyone who has interviewed already speak to their experience?

 

[munozcine]

Can anyone who has interviewed already speak to their experience?

Mine lasted around 20 minutes. It’s pretty straight forward with a lot of simple questions. Pretty similar to USC’s in my experience.

 

[Elena Sun]

Anyone got the interview for the Documentary program? I couldn't find much information about this program after the reformation.

 

[Allison]

They asked me:

1. What have you been up to since your submitted your application?
2. Why film school/UCLA?
3. What is an influence for you? Films, documentaries? Directors? They wanted me to name one.
4. Any hobbies outside of film/art?
5. Do you have any questions for us?

I think we also discussed what films I would make? I know it came up but I don't remember how.

My advice is to be present and smile and try to enjoy it and come across like someone they would enjoy spending three years with. The questions are simple but it's really just another opportunity for you to sell yourself and basically endear yourself to them haha. It was really relaxed and friendly for me and I tried to crack some jokes and just enjoy the back and forth.

 

[Elena Sun]

They asked me:

1. What have you been up to since your submitted your application?
2. Why film school/UCLA?
3. What is an influence for you? Films, documentaries? Directors? They wanted me to name one.
4. Any hobbies outside of film/art?
5. Do you have any questions for us?

I think we also discussed what films I would make? I know it came up but I don't remember how.

My advice is to be present and smile and try to enjoy it and come across like someone they would enjoy spending three years with. The questions are simple but it's really just another opportunity for you to sell yourself and basically endear yourself to them haha. It was really relaxed and friendly for me and I tried to crack some jokes and just enjoy the back and forth.

Thank you sooooo much!

 

[Arbyrnes]

UCLA just sent me their decision notification that I was rejected. All good as I have other irons in the fire. Good luck to everyone else here!

 

[Allison]

UCLA just sent me their decision notification that I was rejected. All good as I have other irons in the fire. Good luck to everyone else here!

Congrats on USC and your other interviews! I can't make sense of this process lol but an acceptance at USC is huge!

 

[Arbyrnes]

Thanks! Yeah, it’s confusing and convoluted. Last year I applied to two programs and got rejected. This year I’ve had more success.