Cinema, M.F.A.
Master of Fine Arts
About this program
The Master of Fine Arts in Cinema invites you to grow as an independent filmmaker. The program helps you learn production in documentary, experimental or fiction cinema. You will build hands‑on skills in editing, theory and history. You join a 60‑unit terminal degree. You also meet entry requirements in cinema studies, production and editing before you start.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
Our M.F.A. program offers rigorous, professional training in cinema production in conjunction with an understanding of cinema history, theory and aesthetics. The faculty supports production practice in diverse forms — narrative, experimental, documentary, animation or hybrid, and our graduate writers/directors become skilled in both traditional cinematic and emerging digital technologies.
The M.F.A. program also prepares filmmakers to teach cinema at the college or university level. The School of Cinema’s creatively active faculty regularly share from their own production experiences, coordinate master classes with distinguished practicing professionals, arrange for visiting independent filmmakers to screen contemporary work and facilitate student connection with local cinema and arts organizations.
The M.F.A. in Cinema is intended for individuals who wish to pursue independent film and media production. A 60-unit terminal degree, the program offers students the opportunity to focus on any/all of the following areas: fiction, documentary, experimental and/or animation.
Program Learning Objectives
The M.F.A. in Cinema’s learning objectives strives to enable students to:
- Produce individual creative cinematic works utilizing techniques that span a range of modes, styles and genres.
- Master pre-production, production and post-production skills necessary for cinematic expression.
- Realize a personal creative vision in the cinematic medium.
- Write coherent critical essays using appropriate historical and theoretical materials.
- Gain teaching-related experience.
Admissions Information
To apply to the M.F.A. in Cinema, you must complete the Cal State Apply application for graduate admission and upload your unofficial transcripts and application documents to the Program Materials section of Cal State Apply. You must complete the entire graduate admission by deadline to be considered for admission.
Applicants may only apply to a single graduate program per application term. The application fee is $70. The School of Cinema is unable to offer any application fee waivers, for more information on fee waivers, please contact the division of graduate studies at gradstudies@sfsu.edu.
After reviewing the Application Procedures below, please visit Cal State Apply to apply for the M.F.A. in Cinema.
Application Instructions
Your application for graduate study to SF State consists of a two-part review:
Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study. Applicants with degrees in areas other than film who show exceptional potential will be considered for admission to the program.
The School of Cinema requires candidates to have completed one introductory course in film production and a basic course in non-linear digital editing, or equivalent experience is required. Students will be expected to use Adobe's Premiere Pro for initial course work.
Prior to admission, all candidates must have at least one sample of creative image moving work in which they had a major creative role (ie: Director, DP/Cinematographer, Writer, Editor, etc.) Additionally, all applicants must submit a resume/CV, a personal statement, an example of academic writing, two letters of recommendation, and unofficial transcripts.
The GRE is NOT required to apply.
School of Cinema
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave.
Fine Arts Building, Room 245
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: (415) 338-1629
Email: cinegrad@sfsu.edu
Materials Needed to Apply
Prepare application materials in advance before starting the online Cal State Apply application. Please note that the School of Cinema Application Materials can be submitted on the Cal State Apply Application in the “Program Materials” section of the application. Please be aware that there are four tabs in this section of the application, Home, Documents, Evaluations, and Questions. Your Program Materials for the School of Cinema will be submitted within these tabs of the application.
The School of Cinema accepts new M.F.A. students for the Fall term only. The application opens on October 1 and the M.F.A. Application will be due on February 1.
Early submission is appreciated.
Ready to apply? Visit the Graduate Students page to get started.
Featured Student Work
Student films produced within the M.F.A. program.
Western Alliance
We are pleased to announce that the School of Cinema is now part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). This enables students in 16 Western states and territories to enroll in participating public graduate programs as nonresidents, yet pay the lower in-state tuition rates.
Student and Faculty News
- Summer Camp (2025), documentary short by Annie Pancak (Audience Award, Nashville Film Festival)
- A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers (2024), experimental narrative short by Birdy Wei-Ting Hung (51st Student Academy Awards, Alternative/Experimental Category - Winner)
- Adam (2020), dramatic short by Pietro Pinto (Venice International Critics Week)
- Drip Like Coffee (2019), dramatic short by Anaiis Cisco (Princess Grace Award) which was later developed into an acclaimed feature
- Shoe Shiner (2017), dramatic short by Andrés Gallegos (Nomination, ASC Cinematography Award)
- Casey Beck (MFA ‘20), Professor of Practice, Digital Media Practices, Tulane University
- Anaiis Cisco (MFA ‘19), Assistant Professor, Film & Media, Smith College
- Sam Davis-Boyd (MFA ‘19), Assistant Professor, Media & Communication, Vermont State University
- David Mai (MFA ‘19), Assistant Professor, Film & Media Studies, University of Kansas
- Priya Vashist (MFA ‘19), Associate Professor, Communication & Theater Arts, Old Dominion University
- Daewon Kim (MFA ‘18), Assistant Professor, Film Studies & Production, Oakland University (Michigan)
- Associate Professor Scott Boswell received nine competitive honors in 2026 for his feature screenplay Bloodroot, including Best Queer Screenplay at the New York Script Awards and an Award of Excellence from the NY LA International Film Festival. Bloodroot is now in production as a feature length 3D animated film.
- The Black Pack: Comedy, Race and Resistance, a new book by Associate Professor and Marcus Endowed Chair Artel Great, was published in 2025 by Rutgers University Press.
- Assembly (2025), a feature documentary by Professor Johnny Symons, premiered at SXSW, screened at more than 50 film festivals and broadcast on PBS’ Independent Lens. Symons became a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 2025.
- Associate Professor Laura Green’s documentary short Camp Widow (2025) screened at SXSW, SFFILM and Palm Springs before airing on PBS and being selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Green recently directed the three film Matter of Mind series for PBS’ Independent Lens.
- Professor Weimin Zhang’s feature documentary Of Color and Ink (2023) screened at dozens of international festivals and won multiple Best Documentary awards. It is now streaming on Amazon, AppleTV, GooglePlay and YouTube.
We’re Here to Help
Questions about the program or how to apply? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Johnny Symons
- Professor
School of Cinema Graduate Studies Contact
If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us directly at cinegrad@sfsu.edu. We’d be happy to help.