MA in Filmmaking - Additional information

Introduction

• Prospectus information
• Programme overview
• Time commitment
• Best Short Script competition
• Project costs
• Guidelines for applicants

The MA in Filmmaking is an integral part of the Goldsmiths Skillset Media Academy. The course developed in response to the re-emergence of the short film format as an important popular art form in the early twenty first century. Goldsmiths is at the centre of a vibrant filmmaking community in London and has pioneered strong links with many other filmmaking and educational institutions in our vicinity.

MA Filmmaking is distinctive because it combines the intellectual rigour of Goldsmiths’ thriving research community with the study of a range of creative filmmaking disciplines. Our aim is to nurture creatively and conceptually capable Cinematographers, Sound Designers, Editors, Producers and Directors. We are especially eager to utilise the lack of commercial constraints and executive controls in higher education as a creative opportunity.

Throughout your time at Goldsmiths, you are encouraged to engage with the thriving short filmmaking culture in London and to collaborate with students from other screen related MAs at Goldsmiths. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with students from external institutions in areas such as Art Directing and Music Composition.

Many of the practical workshops on the Filmmaking programme are run by experienced professionals from the UK Film Industry. Our recent speakers included high profile figures such as Danny Boyle, Sally Potter, Gurinder Chadha, Asif Kapadia, Stephen Frears, Michael Winterbottom, and Alan Parker.

Goldsmiths film students regularly go on to win awards at major international film festivals, and have even been nominated for the short film Oscar. Our alumni are active in the film and television industries around the world.

“I came to Goldsmiths after completing an undergraduate degree and working in Television in Delhi. I chose Goldsmiths because I wanted to be in the heart of London, the creative hub of the UK. I always used to think of filmmaking as a craft, but after making my graduation film at Goldsmiths, my vision has shifted and I am now convinced that filmmaking is truly an art. It’s not about planning sophisticated camera moves or complex editing; its about telling a powerful story in ways that people can experience for themselves and literally ‘feel’. Now I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learnt back in India - in Bollywood.”

Richie Taneja
Filmmaker / Editor

 

"Filmmaking is an organic process. No matter how well you prepare, you will encounter many unpredictable obstacles. In preproduction, we pooled our creativity to make the idea behind the story more meaningful; during shooting our thorough preparation, efficient communication and dynamic teamwork allowed us to conquer the challenges exacerbated by time pressure; in the edit suite, we reconstructed the story by nurturing the flowers and cutting back the weeds; in the sound studio, we re-discovered the essence of our original concept. By understanding the plastic nature of the process and holding to our core convictions, we prevailed through seemingly insurmountable difficulties. While our film may not be flawless, it is certainly a success and was a perfect collaborative experience."

Natasha Sung
Student Filmmaker / Director