Film
Undergraduate Programs
Film Studies BFA
As a student in Film Studies, you'll build the artistic and technical skills to tell engaging cinematic stories. Learn by doing and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of film, from cinematography and sound design to filming with digital and analog technologies. Over the course of your studies, you’ll forge lasting collaborations with your peers by creating a body of documentary, experimental, and scripted short films.
Degree Earned
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Program Format
Full time / 4 years
Director
The home of Canada's film talent
As a film student, you'll be part of a thriving, collaborative community with an alumni network of film industry leaders. From directing and editing to cinematography, producing, and independent filmmaking, our alumni are making their mark on the industry. Start making the connections you need for a successful transition into professional film production.
Make Your Masterpiece
Take advantage of access to state-of-the-art, industry-grade equipment and facilities offered by Image Arts – including a suite of celluloid and digital cameras and lenses, sound stage, screening rooms, film processing lab, film editing suites, audio mixing facilities, and more. You’ll also get the opportunity to showcase your work at the Image Arts Film Festival, an annual student-run festival.
Student Work
Common to Film Studies and Film Studies/Integrated Digital Option.
MPC 101: Visual Studies I
MPC 103: Art and the Classical Tradition
MPC 203: Art in the Modern World
MPF 106: Film Production: Silent Film
MPF 107: Film Technology I
MPF 206: Film Production: Sound Film
MPF 207: Film Technology II
MPF 290: Introduction to Film Studies
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table A.
Common to Film Studies and Film Studies/Integrated Digital Option.
MPC 125: Visual Studies II
MPC 225: Visual Studies III
MPF 322: Film Production
MPF 324: Writing for Film I
MPF 327: Film History and Criticism to 1945
MPF 422: Film Production
MPF 423: Film Technology III
MPF 427: Film History and Criticism since 1945
CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.
MPF 300: Film Technology IV
MPF 502: Film Production
MPF 505: Film Theory I
MPF 602: Film Production
MPF 604: Film Technology V
MPF 605: Film Theory II
CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
MPF 42A/B: Senior Project
MPF 301: Business of Film
MPF 801: Capstone Lecture
CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
Academic
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 at:
Admission Requirements.
Non-Academic
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.
Your non-academic requirements are due by February 1, 2023 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.
The theme for this year is NEW BEGINNINGS. The theme is the subject or main idea in an artistic work that can be interpreted literally, broadly, or metaphorically.
Choose Option 1 or Option 2:
Option 1: Slide Show (Video)
Submit a selection of six examples of 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.), accompanied by a soundscape that illustrates the theme. The sounds should help expand upon or complement the meaning of the images and be either recorded or created sounds, or non-copyrighted music (no exclusive intellectual property rights must apply to the music).
Maximum: 30 seconds.
Your Slide Show (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 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 “FILM2023”. You can also choose to not use the privacy settings and not pay the Vimeo subscription fee.
Option 2: 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 "NEW BEGINNINGS" 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 videos 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 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 “FILM2023”. You can also choose to not use the privacy settings and not pay the Vimeo subscription fee.
Write an outline of a short film project that you would like to participate in during your final year of study (maximum of 500 words or two type-written pages). This is a non-binding proposal. Briefly describe the film, and discuss why it is interesting for you given the role you would like to play (e.g. writer, director, cinematographer, sound designer, editor, art director). The School of Image Arts reserves the right to retain this project outline. Do not submit a script.
Please save and upload your project outline as a .pdf file.
In a maximum of 500 words, please answer one of the following three questions:
- What single film has most influenced you? Why?
- What character in literature or film has most profoundly moved you? Why?
- What specifically non-American, non-mainstream movie has expanded your notion of what cinema can be and how?
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:
-
Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).
-
Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.
-
Next, click on the eForms Centre tile.
-
Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.
Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal.
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. 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.
Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:
- Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
- 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
- 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal
Instructions on how to upload documents, as well as common questions and answers for applicants can be found on our Ready to Submit Your Documents? web page.
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, 2023, or 10 business days from your application submission date (whichever comes later).
You belong at
The Creative School
As an Image Arts student, you'll be part of The Creative School, a dynamic faculty offering 27 degree programs in media, design and creative industries. Through global experiences and transdisciplinary opportunities, our students emerge as some of the most in demand and employable graduates anywhere.
Ready to apply?