Filmmaking (2 Year) MFA

The MFA Filmmaking programme at the University of East London is an intensive, practice-led postgraduate degree designed for emerging filmmakers who wish to develop an advanced creative vision and produce work of a professional, industry-ready standard. Delivered over two years, the programme provides an extended period of study that enables students to refine their artistic identity, deepen their technical expertise, and realise ambitious filmmaking projects within a supportive and collaborative learning environment.

Building on the foundations of the MA Filmmaking, the MFA is particularly suited to students who already hold an MA in Film, Media, or a related discipline, or who have equivalent professional experience. The programme places a strong emphasis on the production of a high-quality final film or body of work, suitable for submission to international film festivals, broadcast platforms, video-on-demand services, or gallery and exhibition contexts. Students may work across a range of forms, including documentary, narrative fiction, video installation, experimental moving image, and animation.

Teaching takes place in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Moving Image Studio, art studios, and multimedia production centres at UEL’s Docklands Campus in London. Students benefit from close engagement with leading film practitioners, academics, and visiting industry professionals, as well as strong links to the film, television, and contemporary art worlds. These connections support professional development through networking opportunities, industry placements, and exposure to current creative and production practices.

The programme is structured around a series of core and optional modules. Core modules include Narrative Cinema, which focuses on the development and production of short films; Professional Practice and Research Methods, which supports the development of academic, critical, and research competencies; and the Final Project, an independent, self-directed piece of work that represents the culmination of the MFA. This final project allows students to integrate theory, practice, and research into a coherent and original creative outcome.