New York Film Academy (NYFA)

Overview

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is a for-profit film school that puts cameras in students' hands on day one. Founded in 1992, NYFA operates primary campuses in New York City (Battery Park, Lower Manhattan) and Los Angeles, with additional programs in South Beach, Australia, and online. The school enrolls students from over 120 countries and runs one of the largest equipment inventories of any film school.

NYFA offers BFA, MFA, AFA, and MA degree programs alongside non-degree conservatory certificates and short-term workshops lasting from one week to one year. The BFA in Filmmaking costs $19,500 per semester across 9 semesters, totaling $175,500 in tuition alone. Students can complete the BFA in 3 years by taking three semesters per year, or in 4 years on a traditional schedule. Short-term workshops range from approximately $3,000 for a one-week program to $15,000 for longer intensives.

If you want to start shooting immediately and build a reel through volume of production, NYFA removes the general education requirements and prerequisite chains that slow students down at traditional universities. Review the full tuition breakdown and estimated costs before applying.

History

Jerry Sherlock founded NYFA in 1992 with a simple premise: students learn filmmaking by making films. Sherlock brought in Michael Young, a Harvard graduate and NYU Tisch MFA recipient, to design the original curriculum. The school launched with short-term workshops before expanding into degree programs.

Key milestones include the 1992 founding in New York City, the opening of the Los Angeles campus, the addition of the South Beach, Miami campus, and the expansion into international locations including Australia's Gold Coast. NYFA grew from a workshop provider into a degree-granting institution offering BFA, MFA, AFA, and MA programs. Michael Young now serves as President and CEO, overseeing the school's global operations.

Programs Offered

NYFA offers programs across filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, documentary, and 3D animation and VFX.

Degree Programs:

• BFA in Filmmaking - 9 semesters (3 years accelerated or 4 years traditional), $19,500/semester
• MFA in Filmmaking - 4 to 6 semesters depending on track, approximately $19,973/semester
• AFA in Filmmaking - 6 semesters, total tuition approximately $103,699 (LA campus)
• BFA/MFA in Acting for Film - performance training for screen
• BFA/MFA in Screenwriting - writing for film and television
• BFA/MFA in Producing - creative and physical producing
• BFA/MFA in Cinematography - camera and lighting
• BFA/MFA in Documentary Filmmaking - nonfiction production
• MA in Film and Media Production - shorter graduate option

The MFA in Filmmaking is the most competitive degree program, requiring a portfolio submission and creative sample. The BFA in Filmmaking draws the largest enrollment.

Non-Degree Programs:

• One-Year Filmmaking Conservatory - full-time intensive, non-degree
• Two-Year Filmmaking Conservatory - extended non-degree production program
• Short-Term Workshops - 1-week, 4-week, 8-week, and 12-week programs in filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, and broadcast journalism
• Teen Summer Camps and Kids Workshops - age-appropriate introductory programs

Notable Alumni and What They've Made

Several NYFA alumni have achieved significant industry recognition:

• Issa Rae - Filmmaking program, LA campus, 2005. Creator and star of HBO's Insecure, nominated for three Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmys. Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People (2022).
• Bill Hader - NYFA workshop at Princeton, 1996. Two-time Primetime Emmy winner for HBO's Barry, DGA Award winner, former Saturday Night Live cast member.
• Aubrey Plaza - Acting workshop, LA campus, 2000. SAG Award winner for The White Lotus, known for Parks and Recreation, Ingrid Goes West, and film work across comedy and drama.
• Lana Condor - Acting program, NY campus, 2011. Star of Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
• Damon Wayans - Filmmaking program, LA campus, 2011. Co-creator of In Living Color, star of My Wife and Kids and Lethal Weapon (2016-2019).
• Tracy Oliver - Filmmaking program. Co-writer of Girls Trip, creator of BET's First Wives Club.

Acceptance Rate

NYFA reports an acceptance rate of approximately 100%. The school operates on an open admissions model for most programs, meaning applicants who meet basic requirements and pay the $75 application fee receive admission. This places NYFA among the easiest film schools to enter in the United States.

The MFA programs require a creative portfolio, which creates a soft filter. The BFA and conservatory programs admit most applicants who submit complete applications. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores. The lack of selectivity means the student body varies widely in prior experience and skill level.

Standout Faculty

NYFA employs working industry professionals across its campuses. Several faculty members bring significant credits:

• Anthony Richmond, ASC, BSC - Chair of Cinematography Department, LA campus. BAFTA-winning cinematographer with 85+ films including Don't Look Now, The Man Who Fell to Earth (with David Bowie), Candyman, and Legally Blonde. Received Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Society of Cinematographers in 2024.
• Liz Hinlein - Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography. MFA in Cinematography from AFI, BFA from NYU Tisch. Directed Other People's Children (available on Amazon Prime), with work spanning feature film, advertising, and music video.
• Michael Young - President and CEO. Harvard graduate, NYU Tisch MFA. Designed NYFA's original curriculum in 1992. Executive Producer on Turn Every Page (Sony Pictures Classics, 2023).
• Lanre Olabisi - Screenwriting and Directing instructor. 2020 HBOAccess Directing Fellowship recipient. Wrote and directed August the First, which screened at SXSW and Karlovy Vary, and earned an IFP Gotham Award nomination.
• Francis J. Pezza - Production Design Instructor. MFA from NYU Tisch. Production designer on Miami Vice, Outbreak, Dante's Peak, and Murder She Wrote.

Tuition / Aid Reality

Tuition at NYFA varies by program, campus, and start date. The figures below reflect published rates for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Additional mandatory fees per semester (BFA):

• Departmental Program Fee: $2,000
• Technology Fee: $80
• Wellness Services Fee: $145
• Activity Fee: $125
• Orientation Fee: $150 (domestic) / $200 (international, first semester only)
• Graduation Fee: $100 (one-time)
• International Student Fee: $200 first semester, $120 each subsequent

Estimated living expenses (annual):

• New York campus: $12,336 (living with family) to $22,488 (living away)
• Los Angeles campus: $12,144 (living with family) to $28,401 (living away)

Total estimated cost of attendance for a BFA student living away from family at the LA campus: approximately $124,075 over the full program including tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. NYFA notes that an annual tuition increase is expected. Students also incur additional expenses on their own film productions, which vary by project scale.

NYFA participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs. Domestic students can access federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) by filing the FAFSA. NYFA also offers institutional scholarships, including merit-based awards for incoming students. The school does not meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. International students cannot access federal aid and should explore private loans or institutional scholarships. Prospective students should request current aid data from the financial aid office.

Facilities and Equipment

NYFA maintains one of the largest production equipment collections in film education. Students borrow professional-grade gear for assignments, with access expanding as they progress through their program.

Camera inventory includes:

• ARRI Alexa, ARRI SR (16mm), ARRI 535B (35mm)
• RED Scarlet, RED Epic Dragon, RED One
• Canon C100, C300, 5D Mark III
• Sony FS5, Blackmagic Cinema Camera
• Panavision cameras

Lighting and grip: Basic light packages through 2K fixtures, dollies, tracks, gimbals, green screen capabilities.

Audio equipment: Zoom recorders, Roland R44 mixers, Sennheiser microphones, Sound Devices recorders, wireless lavaliers, boom poles.

Post-production: Mac Pro editing stations running Final Cut Pro and industry-standard NLE software.

New York campus (Battery Park): Multi-level facility with production studios, computer labs, equipment holding, a fully operational theater with surround sound and backstage dressing room, and rehearsal spaces.

Los Angeles campus: Purpose-built facilities with soundstages, editing suites, and equipment library.

NYFA also operates a 24/7 "Flying Squad" production support team that assists students with equipment emergencies during shoots at no additional cost.

Student Film Examples

NYFA student films regularly screen at festivals and win awards:

• The Moment I Was Alone (dir. Kellen Gibbs, MFA thesis) - Nominated for 20 awards at 7 festivals. Won Best Screenplay at Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, Best Independent Film Score at Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and Best College Student Film at Sanford International Film Festival. Screened at the SAG Short Film Showcase.
• Celestial (dir. Bruklyn Miller, MFA South Beach) - Won the $7,500 top prize at the Wolfson CinemaSlam Production Grant Competition during Miami Film Festival. Also received a Works-in-Progress grant from the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation.
• Heartless (semester project, filmed in Brooklyn) - Won Best Student Short at Manhattan Film Festival, Best Indie Short at Los Angeles Film Awards, and Award of Merit at Best Shorts Competition.

What Filmmakers Should Know

NYFA's model trades academic depth for production volume. Students who want to make films immediately and build a large body of work will find the approach effective. The school minimizes general education requirements, allowing students to focus almost entirely on craft.

The trade-off is real. NYFA's curriculum prioritizes production skills over film history, theory, and critical analysis. Students seeking a comprehensive liberal arts education alongside film training should compare NYFA against programs at USC, NYU, UCLA, or UNCSA, which integrate humanities and critical studies more deeply.

NYFA is a for-profit institution. Tuition for the BFA exceeds $175,000, which is comparable to or higher than some non-profit university film programs. Students should carefully compare costs, job placement data, and alumni outcomes against alternatives before committing. NYFA does not publish verifiable job placement rates, so prospective students should request this data directly from the admissions office.

The alumni network is large in raw numbers because NYFA graduates a high volume of students each year. However, the network is less concentrated in senior industry positions than those of USC, AFI, or NYU. NYFA graduates work across production roles, independent film, television, and commercial production worldwide.

Watch

See Also

For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To estimate total education costs including living expenses, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For industry placement rates at top film schools, see Best Industry Placement Rates.