Film Graduate Program

Welcome to the MFA in Film program

Low residency by design since 2018

The low-residency MFA in Film at FDU offers online courses during the semester, and two 9-day on-campus residencies each year, held in the summer and winter. It has all the rewards of a full-time experience and all the flexibility of a low-residency program. The program’s innovative structure allows students to learn all phases of filmmaking, from screenwriting and scheduling, through production, editing, and distribution – without re-locating or losing their day job.

The fall semester focuses on the ‘portfolio project’, usually a feature-length screenplay or business plan for a film or streaming series which the student will develop throughout their entire program.

Winter residencies are devoted to developing scripts, including table readings with actors, scene blocking for dramatic action and camera coverage, and selecting films for production during the upcoming summer residency. During the spring semester, all pre-production preparations get underway.

Summer residencies are dedicated to an intense production experience and setting up the post-production workflow and scheduling. 

“I gained invaluable experience through this residency, which truly helped tie together all the lectures and assignments. The staff, fellow classmates, and undergraduates were extremely knowledgeable and helpful, making it a seamless production experience [with very few hiccups].”

-Christopher Branch, MFA 2026