MFA in Documentary

Program Overview

This demanding MFA program, located in Chicago, equips aspiring documentary filmmakers with a deep understanding of the documentary genre and strong skills in film production. Taught by experienced documentary filmmakers, the program emphasizes high production values, post-production, and taking creative work to audiences. Students benefit from the program's location in a vibrant documentary community with connections to production powerhouses.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This demanding MFA program equips aspiring documentary filmmakers with both a deep understanding of the documentary genre and strong skills in film production. The curriculum integrates knowledge of documentary’s history, styles, traditions, affinity for research and development, and varied approaches to storytelling and production with high production values, effective post-production, and the ability to take creative work to its audiences.

Other:

The program is located in Chicago, which is home to one of the most involved and connected documentary communities across the nation. The faculty has deep connections with production powerhouses like Kartemquin Educational Films (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams, Life Itself), The Kindling Group (Radical Grace, The Calling, @Home) and Towers Productions.