| What international value does the title ‘master of film’ hold? | Our graduate students carry the Master of Arts-title (MA). Before, 2015 this was MFilm. |
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| What is the formal status of the study programme? | In 2009, the Film Academy's Master's programme was officially accredited by the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders). |
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| Does the programme give access to the professional film and media industry? | The programme gives students the opportunity to use the professional network that the Netherlands Film Academy has built up on a national and international level. It does so through the bi-weekly lecture series, visits to important film festivals, and in the second year by connecting students to external advisors. Collaborations with professionals in the field for the execution of experiments are also encouraged. The same holds true for encouraging students to maintain their own contacts with the professional field, e.g. by showing their work at festivals, do residencies that are relevant to their research and / or project, et cetera. |
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| Is the course only for filmmakers? | No. The programme is equally open to visual artists, media makers or professionals from other art fields, provided they have a good cv, an interesting field of research and a reason for wanting to join a course focussing on artistic research in and through film. It’s important to stress that the course is not a shortened version of a bachelor course in film making. Nor is the course skills driven, although there may be some hands-on skills workshops (depending on the needs of the students). If you’re expecting a course that will teach you to become a professional director, cameraman, editor et cetera, then this may not be the right course for you. |
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| Is the course only for directors? | No. The programme is certainly not only for directors. It’s open to professionals from all walks of film life: editors, sound designers, producers, script writers, production designers, visual effects specialists, cameramen… |
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| May I make a (short) film during the study programme? | The programme focuses on research and development and thus experimentation and reflection, not on production. However: insofar as they are essential in answering the student’s research question, limited practical projects can be realized. There’s a small budget available to students for their research and their project(s). Full length feature or documentary projects cannot be realized. |
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| May I write a script or film plan, or make a pilot for a game or an exhibition, during the study programme? | Yes, that's certainly possible. For their graduation, students need to present both their research and their project. The presentation of a project can take any form – from a short film experiment, a script, a sound design, an installation, a performance or an interactive website. Given that there is limited time and limited means the presentation of the project will often be in the shape of a ‘project proposal’, a proposal for a project to be realized after graduation. Part of such a proposal can be a script, a film plan, a couple of scenes, a pilot for a game, a proposal for an exhibition, et cetera. |
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| Is it possible to follow part of the programme abroad or to spend a certain period of time abroad during the programme? | If it forms an intrinsic part of your research or the development of your project, you may travel abroad to carry out research or follow short-term study programmes or courses. However, this is only possible in the last part of the first year and in the second year. In the second year, you will, however, need to be present at regular feedback moments, crucial workshops and exams. You will also need to maintain regular contact with your mentor. |
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| Are there any scholarships or grants for Arab students? | Arab students can look for funds here rabbanifoundation.org/scholarships/msr-scholarships/ and also at AFAC for applying to a research grant www.arabculturefund.org/home/index.php |
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| What are research and project plans? | A research plan can take many different forms. It may comprise an experimental study into the contemporary nature of the language of film and media, or it may investigate new forms of storytelling or even help you develop your own artistic voice. The plan may likewise consist of innovative research or experiments in the areas of, for example, sound design, creative production, camera work or special effects. Or it may be designed to question the boundaries of film and thus result in new forms of audio-visual expression relating, for example, to games, installations or performance. |
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| | Applicants are also asked to suggest an idea for a project that is related to their research topic, or even the reason for it, and that they’d like to develop during the course. Such a project can be in any genre, discipline or art form. |
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| | The research will feed into the project; at the same time it extends it as well. In that sense it will, or should have potential relevance for the professional and/or artistic world at large. |
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| | The research and project plans will form the basis for the teaching process, which will be tailored to the individual student and require a significant measure of independence. It goes without saying that a research and project plan may be adjusted or modified during the course of the programme. |
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