New York Film Academy
About the university
New York Film Academy, known as NYFA, was founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the executive producer of The Hunt for Red October (1990), as a substitute for conventional university-affiliated film schools. Established to elucidate and democratize the competitive filmmaking business, NYFA aims to provide accessibility to education in the art of filmmaking. Today, we empower students from all backgrounds and experiences, instructing them in the craft of storytelling via cinema, media, and the performing arts via a practical, project-oriented methodology.
Upon commencing their classes at NYFA, students get the practical instruction and supervision necessary to develop creative and technical proficiency, alongside communication, teamwork, and critical thinking abilities. Students dedicate a significant portion of their time to developing projects, mastering the creative process from inception to completion. By offering students substantial experience in their field of study, they may acquire and grasp the framework necessary for ongoing creation and innovation. This demanding but fulfilling methodology equips students with the skills, resources, and support necessary to enhance their confidence and develop as artists.
New York Film Academy is an international university having campuses in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Gold Coast (Australia), and Florence (Italy), along with supplementary satellite sites. NYFA offers short-term or semester-long study abroad programs in Filmmaking and Acting for Film at NYFA Florence, NYFA Australia, Paris, France, and Beijing/Greater China.
Academics
NYFA provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certifications, and seminars. The New York Film Academy offers disciplines of study including Filmmaking, Producing, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Digital Editing, Documentary Filmmaking, Acting for Film, 3D Animation and Visual Effects, Entertainment Media, Photography, Game Design, Musical Theater, and Virtual Reality, alongside an English as a Second Language program that integrates conventional language acquisition with arts-related activities.
The NYFA Community
During their studies at the New York Film Academy, students engage in a cohesive community of filmmakers, visual artists, screenwriters, and performers who cultivate relationships via narrative. Students collaborate intimately with our expert professors, who impart accumulated knowledge, methodologies, procedures, and insights into emerging industry standards. Our faculty and personnel are film directors, actors, screenwriters, and other engaged industry experts dedicated to educating and motivating students to push their boundaries and enhance their creative, technical, and intellectual abilities.
NYFA has embraced students from more than 160 nations and diverse backgrounds, providing them the chance to become part of a lasting, global network of innovators. We welcome students with diverse educational and professional backgrounds, creating a distinctive community of like-minded artists united by a common love for storytelling. We want our students to collaborate in sharing information and discovering novel methods to innovate and flourish in storytelling.
NYFA at a glance
- 132,000 students graduated since 1992
- 160,000 international students from over 160 countries
- 30 years of interactive programs
- 8 campuses and locations worldwide
- 4:1 students to faculty ratio
- 86% of all undergraduates receive grants or scholarships
Awards, Rankings, and Recognition
The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is an internationally famous higher education institution. NYFA has received recognition and awards for its educational degree programs, certifications, short-term seminars, camps, staff, and graduates:
- NYFA received distinction by Variety as a Top Film School in 2024, affirming our dedication to quality in film education and industry acknowledgment.
- NYFA was recognized as one of the Top 30 Film Schools by Backstage in its 2024 guide to American film institutions.
- In 2023, NYFA was recognized as one of the Top 50 Game Design Schools by The Princeton Review, highlighting our distinction in several sectors of media and entertainment.
- The Wrap recognized NYFA as a Top Film School in 2023, commending our practical curriculum and capacity to provide exceptional education across all disciplines.
- The NYFA Los Angeles campus was designated as one of the 'Safest College Campuses in America' in 2023 by Niche.com.
- Recognized as one of the 'Top 25 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada for 2023' by MovieMaker Magazine.
- Recognized as a 'Top 20 School in California for Animation', a 'Top 25 Game Design BFA Program in the U.S.', and a 'Top 10 School in California for Game Design' in 2020.