Course summary
Our Course Our one-year MA in Filmmaking is ideal for students aiming to build a career in filmmaking while learning to contextualise their creative choices through critical thinking. Our distinctive approach to film education provides hands-on practical teaching from industry professionals across six key filmmaking disciplines: directing, producing, editing, screenwriting, cinematography, and sound. By working in multiple roles, graduates emerge from LFA as well-rounded filmmakers, well-prepared to excel in their chosen field while remaining adaptable in a collaborative industry. The combination of extensive film production and career-focused research ensures that students develop a substantial showreel, poised to make their mark as world-class filmmakers. We welcome creative individuals who have a keen instinct for the grammar of visual storytelling and a passion for a professional career in filmmaking. We value self-motivation, the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment, and an openness to challenging your perceptions of your chosen specialisation and the evolving film landscape. MA Filmmaking Key Features
- Intensive and in-depth practical teaching in the key disciplines of filmmaking
- No hidden costs - course materials and film budgets are all included in the course fee
- Training with experienced film and TV industry tutors
- Masterclasses and Q&As with prominent filmmakers and guest speakers
- Shoot with high-end digital cameras and use up-to-date industry-standard equipment and software
- Development of pitching technique and other important soft skills
- Advanced critical thinking to inform your filmmaking practice
- Excellent student-to-tutor ratios
- Focus on future career and employability
Modules
Module One: Practical Filmmaking This module is dedicated to learning key areas of screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing and sound. Students develop analytical skills to contextualise their work and take part in a range of hands-on workshops. This phase of the course culminates in a collaborative project, which allows students to experience each role within all the given disciplines, broadening their knowledge and helping them to identify any area(s) to develop further. Module Two: Collaborative Film Project Students will work on several complex, team-based film projects in different roles to further enhance their skills in specific subject areas. Students learn to pitch and present their work in an industry framework and engage with existing material to develop their aesthetic sensibilities and strengthen their own practice. Students use professional equipment and are supported throughout the creative process where they receive constructive feedback by industry professionals. Module Three: Research by Practice The final module has a professional and career focus and looks at students' next steps and employability. It also enables students to contextualise their filmmaking within the relevant critical framework and adhere to sound ethical principles. Students will design and undertake a personal research project (a negotiated dissertation), aligned to their professional ambitions. These dissertations can take the form of a written or visual piece and can include work placements and scripts as research.
Entry requirements
To begin your application process for a place on this course please visit the course page on the LFA website by visiting www.londonfilmacademy.com/course/ma-filmmaking. Applicants should have the following: - A good Bachelor’s degree (a Bachelor’s degree with Honours, a Merit (2:1) or a Distinction (1:1) from a UK university or equivalent if applying from abroad). We welcome applicants with a wide range of degree subjects. Please provide us with a copy of your Bachelor’s degree certificate or formal transcript from your university, should you not yet have received your final degree certificate. Not a graduate? Exceptions apply for applicants aged 21 or above, who may be considered through the experience route. To qualify, candidates must have 4-5 years of professional experience with established production companies or charitable organisations, demonstrating exposure to industry workflows, professional standards, and collaboration. Eligible experience includes professional work with recognised production companies or films that have had a mainstream cinematic release (paid screenings) or have been broadcast on terrestrial TV or pay-to-view streaming platforms. This ensures that applicants possess the practical experience and industry insight necessary to engage fully with the course and contribute meaningfully to their peers and learning environment. We evaluate each application on a case by case basis. Entry materials: What do you need to submit for your application? - LFA application (completed online) - Creative materials - Showcase example(s) of your filmmaking - include links to a Digital portfolio, Video showreel, Short film (please specify film genre and your production role), Short film script etc. - CV/Resume - outlining your educational and employment history, relevant skills and filmmaking work experience you may have undertaken. Maximum 2 sides of A4. - Personal statement (up to 750 words) that outlines your motivations, your background and filmmaking ambitions and why this course, and LFA as an institution, is the right choice for you. - Education certificates (degree-level qualifications only) - Two references: academic or professional - including the referee’s contact details, containing a personal recommendation for your application, detailing your work ethic, interaction with others and your suitability for an MA. - Scanned copy of your passport. Next Steps We will review your application and if you meet our entry requirements, we will invite you to an interview. The interview will allow us to gain further insight into your creative filmmaking abilities, as demonstrated in the visual or written work you’ve submitted. It’s also an opportunity to discuss your understanding of film, your awareness of the key aspects of the programme, and how completing it aligns with your career aspirations.
English language requirements
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a minimum of a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale or equivalent in order to be able to access the course content and understand the technical filmmaking terminology used when delivering our courses. You will normally have to provide an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £23500 | Whole course |
| International | £23500 | Whole course |
| England | £23500 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £23500 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £23500 | Whole course |
| Wales | £23500 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £23500 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £23500 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
*Fee subject to annual review - this includes all materials for the course, including budgets for your films. There are no hidden costs.
Provider information
London Film Academy
The Old Church
52a Walham Grove
London
SW6 1QR