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Image Arts: Film Studies - BFA

Is it for you?

The internationally renowned Image Arts: Film Studies program creates graduates who master the art of the moving image. Discover the best way of telling your story and engaging an audience through cinematic techniques and skills.

Learn by doing and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of film production, from cinematography and sound design to filming with digital and analog technologies.

Located in the heart of Toronto, the epicentre of filmmaking in Canada, you’ll be taught and mentored by filmmakers and film scholars with lots of experience working in the industry and teaching high-level academic courses. You’ll forge lasting collaborations with your peers by creating a body of fiction and non-fiction short films. 

 Ranked in The 15 Top Global Film Schools (external link)  in 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter.

Program info

Faculty: 
The Creative School

Program format(s): 
Full time: 4 Year

Degree: 
Bachelor of Fine Arts

Grade range: 
Mid 70s1

Requirements: 
Grades-Plus 

Experiential learning: 
Optional internship


Tuition and fees 

For detailed fees information, visit tuition and fees by program.

Full-time format 2023-2024:

Ontario students fees range: $7,232 - $7,738
Out-of-province students fees range: $8,060 - $8,582
International student fees range: $33,462 - $33,881

First-year courses

Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.

1st & 2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 101 Visual Studies I: Design Fundamentals
  • MPC 103 Reframing Art History
  • MPC 203 Art in the Contemporary World
  • MPF 106 Film Production: Silent Film
  • MPF 107 Intro to Cinematography
  • MPF 206 Film Production: Sound Film
  • MPF 207 Introduction to Editing and Sound
  • MPF 290 Introduction to Film Studies

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

Your future

  • Independent filmmaking, commercials, music video production
  • Cinematography
  • Editing
  • Sound recording
  • Assistant directing
  • Festival programming
  • Distribution and exhibition companies
  • Production management
  • Director
  • Development executive
Graduate studies at TMU including:
  • Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media
  • Master of Fine Arts in Scriptwriting and Story Design
  • Master of Arts in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management

Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.


Requirements

Academic requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.

Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:

  • English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)
  • The minimum grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 65-70% range) will be determined subject to competition.

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.


Non-academic requirements 

This is a Grades-Plus program. In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application. 

Fall 2024 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2024 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

The theme for this year is RECKONING. The theme is the subject or main idea in an artistic work that can be interpreted literally, broadly, or metaphorically.

Short Film/Video

Submit a short film/video up to 90 seconds in length (maximum), shot in any medium that addresses the theme/concept of "RECKONING" along with three examples of any visual work (photographs, drawings, paintings, computer-generated prints, or photos of sculptures or other artwork - please do not include still frames or screenshots captured from videos, etc.). The short film/video must illustrate the theme. The three examples of visual work do not need to illustrate the theme.

 Your video must be uploaded to “Vimeo.” When you have a Vimeo URL (e.g. https://vimeo.com/43927921 (external link, opens in new window) ) please paste the link, along with your three examples of visual work, into a single file (i.e. Microsoft Word document exported or saved as a .pdf) and upload the .pdf file in your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. If you choose to use the privacy settings in Vimeo, there is a member subscription fee to do so. Please use the password "FILM2024". You can also choose to not use the privacy settings and not pay the Vimeo subscription fee.

Describe a dramatic event from your own life or the life of someone you know that you would like to turn into a short film. Be specific about the events and the characters in your story, though you may change the names and details if you like (up to 500 words / 2 typed pages). Do not submit a script. Also briefly describe why you feel it would make a good film (100 words maximum), and what role you would like to take on (producer, writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, production designer). This is a non-binding proposal. The School of Image Arts reserves the right to retain this project outline. 

Please save and upload your project outline as a .pdf file.

In the form of a short essay (up to 300 words), please answer the following questions:

  • What single film has most influenced you and why?
  • How has that film expanded your notion of what cinema can be?
  • How has the film impacted society and/or the art form of cinema?

This statement should reflect only the effort of the applicant.

 Please save and upload your written statement as a .pdf file.

Submit a current resumé outlining your education, work experience, related skills, interests and any special awards (not to exceed two pages).

 Please save and upload your resumé as a .pdf file.

The non-academic requirements assessment fee is $50 CDN and must be paid in order for your submission to be reviewed. Here’s how to pay:

  1. Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).

  2. Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.

    eForms Centre button highlighted in the applicant portal account
  3. Next, click on the eForms Center tile.

    eForms Center button highlighted in the bottom right corner of MyServiceHub.
  4. Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.

    Non-academic Fee Form highlighted in the eForms Center page.

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Applicants unable to use the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal are required to contact the School of Image Arts at imagearts@torontomu.ca to discuss an alternate method of submission.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

If you are applying for readmission or reinstatement, you are not required to submit non-academic requirements. You must inform the program department of your intentions.

 Email the School of Image Arts at imagearts@torontomu.ca by February 1, 2024, or 10 business days from your application submission date (whichever comes later).


Student spotlight

Fourth-year Film Studies students screen 14 thesis films at the historic Winter Garden Theater

Image Arts: Film Studies students showcased 14 thesis films at the annual Image Arts Film Festival (IMAFF) that took place on April 28 and 29, 2023. The student-run festival showcases the work of Film Studies undergraduate students, supports Canada’s future creatives and aims to strengthen Toronto’s identity as a leading film-production hub.

Read more: Image Arts Film Festival showcases student talent during the two-night event

Image courtesy of Audrey Persaud

Fourth-year Image Arts Film students at the Winter Garden Theatre.


More ways to explore TMU

  

Notes:

  1. Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2024 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.

Disclaimer: 

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.