Thesis Films

All students produce thesis films in their second year as their capstone project.  The first year, both doc track and fiction track students take classes together in camera, sound, editing, screenwriting, documentary production and theory, the second-year study is focused on supporting students to produce a 10-12-minute independent documentary or fiction film.

Doc track students begin production in the fall and continue that production and edit their documentary films in the spring. Fiction track students write scripts for their thesis films and take a class in directing actors first semester of their second year. They shoot and edit their fiction films the spring semester of their second year.

The films are judged by award winning filmmakers. Based on their assessment awards for best documentary, best fiction, best editing documentary, best editing fiction, best cinematography documentary and best cinematography fiction are awarded. Our thesis show takes place each year at the Francesca Beale Theatre at Film at Lincoln Center.