Q: How many applicants do you accept each year into your graduate program?

We are a small program focused on close mentoring of students and small-group critique. Due to this, we typically admit between 2-4 Film Production graduate students per year. There will be roughly 7-10 students in the program during a standard year.

Q. Do I need to connect with one faculty member and have them agree to supervise me before I submit my application? 

While an applicant does not need to find a faculty member to study with before applying, MFA students will work with an advisor from our pool of Tenure Track production professors in the department during their time in the program. They are encouraged to study with professors from all three disciplines (Film Production, Film Studies, and Screenwriting) during their time in the program as well. That being said, in evaluating applications, we do take into consideration the fit between an applicant’s areas of interest and the department’s areas of strength and faculty research areas.

Q. Which faculty are available to supervise MFA theses?

Tenure-track faculty (currently Hope Tucker) in Cinematic Arts are the principal faculty available to direct theses. Additionally, instruction-track faculty (currently Laura Gede) may be available to serve on thesis committees.

Q: How long does the program take to complete? 

The program is three years.

Q: What funding opportunities exist for MFA students? 

The MFA in Film Production is fully funded through fellowships and teaching for three years. Students will be required to teach either as a Teaching Assistant or, after demonstrated teaching success, as an Instructor for a stand-alone course with faculty supervision. With this funding, tuition is covered and a stipend is provided during the academic year. Some students can receive a year-long fellowship called the Iowa Arts Fellowship once during the three year period that allows them to remain fully funded, while having no teaching load. This fellowship is determined through nomination from the faculty and not by separate application. 

In addition to this funding, students in the MFA program can apply and be nominated for various other funding opportunities through the Graduate College and University including, but not limited to, a Summer MFA Fellowship, a Student Impact Grant, Presentation Travel Grants, Small Grants for the Arts and Humanities, Student Government Research and Travel Grants, and Thesis Travel Grants. In addition to these internal grants, there are also many opportunities within the Iowa City and greater Eastern Iowa area to secure funding for productions, research, and projects.

Q: What are the program's areas of strength?

Our program has a long and valued history of experimental and analogue filmmaking, but we are open to many modalities and forms of media creation. We encourage students to explore different techniques and practices to help strengthen their artistic voice. With three production studio spaces, a green screen space, an audio recording studio, a full equipment cage, HD editing labs, 16mm editing labs, and more; Iowa’s facilities and faculty allow students to hone their practice through experimentation. We encourage applicants to look at our faculty profiles to learn more about our areas of specialty.

Q: What types of careers do your MFA graduates go into after graduation? 

Our MFA students gain employment in diverse professions, including higher education and many different artistic fields and practices. Students and alumni have also premiered their films at top festivals (Cannes, Slamdance, TIFF, Berlinale, Locarno, SXSW), have won Student Academy Awards, and have their work shown on major platforms (PBS, Netflix, Amazon Prime).

Questions about applying

Q: When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is January 1st for the following academic year.

Q: How do I apply? 

You must apply using the Office of Admissions application portal. Once inside the portal, you will apply to the program through the Graduate College.

Q: What materials are required with the application?

In addition to personal and educational information, you must submit the following:

· A statement of purpose

· A creative work sample (20 minutes or less)

 For a creative portfolio, please submit no more than 20 minutes (or a 20 minute equivalent for screenwriting samples), collectively, of material. You may provide links to multiple films (fiction, non-fiction, etc.), new media, documentation of work, and/or screen plays. Whole works are preferred, but clips or segments are acceptable given the time limit.

· An up-to-date CV or résumé

· Names of three individuals who will provide letters of recommendation

· An unofficial transcript from previous institution(s) (if admitted, official transcripts will be required before enrollment)

Q: What is the application fee?

The application fee is $60 for U.S. residents and $100 for international applicants.

Q: Is the GRE exam required?

No.

Q: Are international students required to take an English proficiency exam?

International applicants that do not meet the requirements for a waiver are required to submit English proficiency scores. Applicants will be given a waiver if they are a citizen, or have earned the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree, Master's degree or Ph.D in the United States, or any of the countries listed on the Graduate College website.

Q: How are applications evaluated?

Candidates are evaluated on the following criteria: statement of research goals, alignment with research strengths of the program, motivation and preparation for graduate school, filmmaking or creative ability, and potential for teaching. These should be your points of emphasis when putting together your application.

Questions about Iowa City

Q: What is Iowa City like? 

Iowa City consistently ranks near the top of lists about best college towns and most livable cities. It has been designated a “City of Literature” by UNESCO – one of only 20 in the world. 

Q: What is there to do in Iowa City?

There are lots of options for dining, entertainment, and nightlife in Iowa City. The city has a thriving arts scene with spaces like Public Space One, The Englert, Riverside Theatre, and an excellent non-profit art house cinema, Film Scene that is closely linked to the Cinematic Arts program, just to name a few! Iowa City also boasts multiple internationally renowned film festivals including the Refocus Film Festival and Cinematic Art’s very own Iowa City Documentary Film Festival (ICDOCS). You can read more about graduate student life here.

Q: Where do graduate students live while they are in your program?

Depending on their preferences and budgets, our students live all over the Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty area. The university’s Off-Campus Housing page is a great resource to learn about housing options in the area and even find a roommate.

Additional Questions?

If you have any questions about the program, the application process, or need assistance with a requirement listed above, please contact the current Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Paula Amad (paula-amad@uiowa.edu) for the Fall 2024 semester and Dr. Chris Goetz (Christopher-goetz@uiowa.edu) for the Spring 2025 semester.