York University School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design

Overview

York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) in Toronto houses the Department of Cinema and Media Arts, the most comprehensive university-based film program in Canada with over 50 years of history. The department offers four undergraduate BFA/BA programs and graduate MFA, MA, and PhD programs, combining production practice with critical studies. AMPD has 30+ competitive degree programs, 300,000 square feet of facilities, and a global network of 20,000+ alumni across creative industries.

Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year is approximately CAD $6,200 per year for domestic (Ontario) students in most arts programs, making it one of the most affordable film production degrees in North America. International student tuition is approximately CAD $40,000 per year. There was a 2% increase in domestic and out-of-province tuition fees relative to 2025-26. Detailed tuition breakdowns are available on the York University tuition fees page.

Students who want an affordable, university-based film education in one of North America's busiest production centers, with access to a professional sound stage at Cinespace Film Studios, should consider York. Students seeking a conservatory-style program focused exclusively on production from day one should look at dedicated film schools like AFI, Chapman, or UNCSA instead.

Programs Offered

The Department of Cinema and Media Arts offers four undergraduate programs and three graduate programs:

Undergraduate Programs (4-year BFA/BA):

• BFA in Cinema and Media Arts (Production) - the primary production degree. Foundational courses in production and screenwriting lead to specialized courses in directing, cinematography, editing, sound, production management, and production design. Students work with professional actors and create short fiction, documentary, and experimental films. Admission requires a supplementary application including a questionnaire, portfolio, and interview. Admission average: mid-80s.
• BFA in Cinema and Media Arts (Screenwriting) - Canada's only undergraduate screenwriting degree program. Covers script development for film, television, and digital media. Admission requires a supplementary application. Admission average: mid-80s.
• BFA in Cinema and Media Arts (Media Arts) - focuses on new media art forms including social media, mobile experiences, online streaming, augmented reality, immersive environments, and motion simulation. Uses the BetaSpace co-working lab. Admission is based on academic achievement only, no portfolio required. Admission average: mid-70s.
• BA in Cinema and Media Studies - a scholarly track in film history, theory, and criticism. No supplementary application required. Admission average: mid-70s. Includes field placement opportunities at organizations like TIFF and the National Film Board of Canada.

Graduate Programs:

• MFA in Film - a graduate production program offering specialized instruction in fiction, documentary, alternative cinema, and screenwriting. Students begin with fall-term core courses workshopping thesis ideas in three production studios, exploring green screen, improv for camera, 16mm hand processing, and other techniques. Hands-on electives include Screenwriting, Documentary Workshop, Process Cinema, Directing Actors, and Hybrid Fiction. Up to a dozen half-day workshops are offered each semester on practices including 16mm hand processing, editing in Avid Media Composer or Adobe Premiere, sound recording and design, music composition, digital cameras, blocking for the camera, and color grading. Past visiting masterclass artists include Deepa Mehta, Sarah Polley, and Alanis Obomsawin.
• MA in Cinema and Media Studies - a scholarly graduate degree preparing students for academic research or creative industry careers.
• PhD in Cinema and Media Studies - doctoral program in film theory and criticism.
• MBA/MA or MBA/MFA Joint Program - a combined degree in Fine Arts and Business Administration.

Facilities and Equipment

AMPD's cinema facilities are located in the Centre for Film and Theatre (building 223) and the Joan and Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts on York's Keele campus. The department provides access to state-of-the-art filmmaking technologies including:

• Professional sound stage and production facilities on campus
• York U Motion Media Studio (YUMMS) - a one-of-a-kind professional studio space inside Cinespace Film Studios, one of Toronto's largest production facilities with over 1.4 million square feet and 29 active stages. Cinespace was named Studio of the Year at the 2025 Global Production Awards in Cannes, partly because of its partnership with York University. YUMMS gives AMPD students hands-on experience with industry-standard tools in a real studio environment where major productions are filmed.
• Editing suites running Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere
• Sound recording and design facilities
• Color grading facilities
• 16mm film processing capabilities
• Digital cinema cameras and production equipment
• Screening rooms and campus cinema

The YUMMS facility at Cinespace also hosts Industry Talks, a speaker series bringing leading media industry voices, including successful AMPD alumni, directly to students. Students train, film, and meet professionals on the same campus as some of the largest productions in the world.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For the 2026-27 academic year (estimated annual costs for full-time enrollment):

Fees shown are based on 30 credits (5 courses per term) with a 2% increase relative to 2025-26. Actual tuition and fees are posted on the Course and Program Fees page. Entrance awards, scholarships, and bursaries are available each year. York University's Student Financial Services provides detailed breakdowns by program.

Cost of living in Toronto is high. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately CAD $2,200 per month. York's Keele campus is in the north end of Toronto, with on-campus residence options available. Toronto's position as one of North America's busiest production centers provides students with access to a thriving industry that produces Canadian and international content year-round.

Notable Alumni

York's cinema and media arts alumni are consistently recognized at the Canadian Screen Awards and at major international festivals including TIFF, Berlin, Sundance, and Hot Docs. At the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards alone, over 20 York community members were recognized.

• Matt Johnson (BFA '06, MFA '16) - Director of Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, which won Best Motion Picture at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. Also directed The Dirties (Grand Jury Prize, Slamdance 2013) and Operation Avalanche (Sundance 2016). Known for genre-bending work blending satire, fiction, and documentary.
• Matthew Miller (BFA '03, MFA '16) - Producer and co-founder of Zapruder Films with Matt Johnson. Produced Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Best Motion Picture, CSA 2025), Operation Avalanche (6 CSA nominations including Best Picture), and The Dirties. His films have screened and won top prizes at TIFF, Sundance, Hot Docs, Locarno, and Busan.
• Paul Sarossy - Cinematographer known for his 14-film collaboration with director Atom Egoyan, including Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter, and Chloe. Member of the Canadian, British, and American Society of Cinematographers. Three-time Genie Award winner for Best Achievement in Cinematography.
• Amanda Brugel (BFA '00) - Actor, earned the Spotlight Award for Best Performance at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards for The Handmaid's Tale. Also appeared in Room and The Handmaid's Tale.
• Sofia Bohdanowicz (MFA '19) - Director, her film Measures for a Funeral debuted at TIFF 2024. Celebrated for her reflective, poetic approach to cinema.
• Kazik Radwanski (MFA '17) - Director, his film Matt and Mara screened at TIFF 2024. Known for intimate, character-driven narratives.
• Amar Wala (BFA '08) - Director, his first dramatic feature Shook premiered at TIFF 2024. Previously worked in documentaries and episodic productions.
• Maya Bankovic (BFA '07) - Award-winning cinematographer, shot Blue Heron (TIFF 2025) directed by fellow alum Sophy Romvari. Work spans feature films, documentaries, and television.
• Chris Romeike (MFA '13) - Cinematographer with 25+ years of experience. His four-part documentary series The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal premiered at TIFF 2024.
• Julie Nolke (BFA '12) - Named Creator of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards for her comedic, character-driven digital videos on YouTube and social media.
• Shant Joshi (BFA '17) - Producer and founder of Fae Pictures, based in Los Angeles and Toronto. Credits include films screening at Outfest and Berlinale. Alum of the Producers Lab at the Canadian Film Centre.

Faculty

• Ingrid Veninger - Associate Professor and Director of the York U Motion Media Studio (YUMMS) at Cinespace. Filmmaker who has built the Cinespace partnership and deepened student opportunities. Students have worked on her films, including Porcupine Lake (TIFF 2017), in production management roles.
• John Greyson - Assistant Professor. Known for queer cinema and political filmmaking. His work has screened internationally.
• Faculty members are active professional filmmakers and media creators who maintain careers in the industry, serve on boards of organizations like Pleasure Dome, Vtape, the Toronto Arts Council, and CFMDC, and premiere work at TIFF, Berlin, Sundance, Hot Docs, and Images festival. Several faculty members regularly produce content for broadcasters including CBC and TVOntario.

What Students Should Know

York is a public university, and domestic tuition is among the lowest of any film production program in North America at approximately CAD $6,200 per year. This makes the BFA in Cinema and Media Arts (Production) one of the most affordable paths to a film degree on the continent. International students pay significantly more at approximately CAD $40,000 per year but remain competitive with alternatives in the US and UK.

The BFA in Production and BFA in Screenwriting require supplementary applications including a portfolio and interview. Admission averages are in the mid-80s for these programs. The BA in Cinema and Media Studies and BFA in Media Arts do not require supplementary applications and have lower admission averages in the mid-70s.

The MFA program is small and selective, providing close mentorship and strong support for thesis projects. Graduate students have access to production funding and equipment, and their work regularly screens at Canadian and international festivals. Past visiting masterclass artists include Deepa Mehta, Sarah Polley, and Alanis Obomsawin.

The Cinespace partnership through YUMMS is York's most distinctive advantage. Students train and film inside one of Toronto's largest active production facilities, alongside professional productions. Cinespace won Studio of the Year at the 2025 Global Production Awards in Cannes, with the York partnership cited as a key factor. Upper-level students may also participate in a summer internship program that has led directly to employment with prominent companies in the film and television industry.

The program's strengths lie in documentary filmmaking, experimental media, and independent narrative work. York has historically attracted students interested in socially engaged and artistically ambitious filmmaking. The department's faculty includes active researchers and practitioners in documentary, installation art, and critical media practice.

Toronto's production ecosystem is the program's greatest external asset. Students access internships on professional productions, attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and connect with the city's documentary, independent film, and television communities. York alumni are consistently represented at TIFF each year, with features and short films produced by alumni, faculty, and current students.

See Also

For comparing Canadian film programs with US and international schools, see Choosing a Film School. To estimate the total cost of a film degree including living expenses, see Film School Costs Explained. For understanding the Canadian production landscape, see International Film Markets. For planning your production workflow on student films, use the Post-Production Timeline Calculator.