Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking with an option in Screenwriting

The Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking is a two-year comprehensive degree in the art and craft of filmmaking, with the emphasis on hands-on instruction coupled with practical exercises in all the essentials of film and television production including directing, production, editing, cinematography and screenwriting.

In the second year of study, while taking the required core courses comprising the basis of their degree, the student chooses from five possible options: directing, production, editing, cinematography and screenwriting and prepares an end of year project related to the field of choice. This, in addition to selective workshops offered in the MFA curriculum forms the basis of the program. Consequently, the student is trained to become a well-rounded and polyvalent filmmaker with additional practice in their chosen option.

Option in Screenwriting

The option in Screenwriting gives students in the second year of the program, in addition to pursuing their required core courses, the opportunity to orient their final year project towards screenwriting. Screenwriting option students will prepare a pitch, full treatment and screenplay for a feature film supervised by their screenwriting instructor. They also have priority in all screenwriting workshops during their second year.

Although the student’s final year curriculum allows for the choosing of a final project related to the student’s Screenwriting option, at the same time, the student must continue and complete the required core classes of the Master’s program.

Particulars of MFA

In addition to the required core subjects, the Master’s program includes a choice of approximately 40 intense, high-end specialized workshops given by industry professionals covering a wide range of topics including the latest developments in production and technological advancements in the film, television and new media industries.

Included in the program, is an exclusive membership at the world-renowned French Cinémathèque giving EICAR students free access to both the Cinémathèque library and multimedia library as well as admission to all daily screenings. The EICAR Graduation and Film Awards are held every year in the Cinémathèque’s prestigious Henri Langlois Theatre.

The small class sizes and one-on-one tutoring with personalized feedback on class exercises and film projects are the cornerstones of the EICAR program, allowing students to advance rapidly towards mastering the fundamentals of film and television production.

Validation of credits

After successfully completing all core classes, required workshops, and final year project, amounting to 120 ECTS, the student is awarded a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking degree issued by the European Board of Higher Education Schools (EABHES).

First Year

Mastering the fundamentals & new horizons of the digital era

The first year consists of courses in the key disciplines of filmmaking and an introduction to the latest digital technology accompanied by hands-on-film exercises and production of short films.

• Directing: fundamental film grammar, shot motivation, point of view, camera movement, narrative visual storytelling, coverage and continuity
• Screenwriting: introduction to basic structure from concept to character, scriptwriting rules and format, story development, character, visual strategies, understanding dramatic structure
• Directing Actors: fundamentals of casting and rehearsal techniques
• Production: budgeting, scheduling, location scouting and permits, running a film set
• Cinematography: theoretical and practical exercises covering the fundamentals – camera movement, lenses and perspective, axes and shooting rules, basic grip and lighting techniques, introduction of new equipment and technology including Sony PMW-F5 et PMW-FS7, Blackmagic URSA 4K
• Editing: fundamentals of picture and sound editing, introduction and mastering of standard editing software including Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, AVID
• Production Design: art direction and production design in relation to directorial choices and cinematography

Additionally, students have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge through a series of specialized intensive workshops covering a wide array of film, television and media topics.

Second Year

Focus on the final year project

In addition to completing the core curriculum and required workshops, students will devote significant time to the development of their final year project supported by extensive one-on-one tutoring.

• Directing: extensive hands-on directorial exercises, multiple cameras, use of cinemascope, mastering the sequence shot, etc., preparation and execution of final year film
• Screenwriting: pitching story, short film vs feature, structure of the short screenplay, character vs plot and writing of the final year film, the importance of visual language
• Production: line producing skills, demands of the modern creative producer, film distribution, financing and shepherding a project from pre-production to release
• Editing: mastering the art and craft of creative editing and post-production techniques (Avid, advanced techniques of Adobe Premier), extensive hands-on exercises
• Cinematography: advanced lighting, composition and camera techniques, introduction to the high-end digital cameras such as Arri Alexa Plus, RED Weapon Helium 8K
• Production design: establishing the correlation between the various artistic disciplines – music, theatre, dance, art – and the relationship to cinema and the moving image