Master of Fine Arts in Film, TV, and Digital Media

Master of Fine Arts in
Film, TV and Digital Media

An MFA Film crew films a scene in a field.

Program OVERVIEW

Answering the need of one of the state’s largest industries, the MFA Film program educates future directors, producers and writers in a program in Athens, through a partnership with Athena Studios.

UGA’s MFA Film program is offered to students at a tuition rate comparable to that of other graduate programs at the university, making it one of the most financially accessible programs of its caliber in the country. The student cohort includes recent graduates and those who have worked in the field for a few years and are looking to take their skills and talent to a new level.

Visit the MFA in Film Site

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Faculty

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    Headshot of Tamlin Hall

    Tamlin Hall

    Director of MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media

    About: Tamlin Hall is a filmmaker, writer, producer, educator, and nonprofit founder whose career has been defined by a commitment to storytelling with social impact. View Curriculum Vitae Education Master […]

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    Neil Landau Headshot

    Neil Landau

    Professor; MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media

    About: Neil Landau is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, author and screenwriting professor. View Curriculum Vitae Education Master of Fine Arts, Screenwriting, University of Georgia Bachelor of Arts, Film/Television, University of […]

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    A headshot of Sanghoon Lee.

    Sanghoon Lee

    Clinical Associate Professor, MFA Film

    About: Sanghoon Lee teaches in our MFA Film, Television and Digital Media program. When he is not teaching, he is a director, producer, writer and cinematographer for independent film projects. […]

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The Latest

Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.

Read more about MFA Film student hires undergraduates to work with feature film
Man and woman in front of a house with a film slate.

MFA Film student hires undergraduates to work with feature film

It is seldom that undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on a professional film set and get paid for that work. But that unique experience came to fruition when […]

Read more about UGA MFA Film program gains national recognition  
A man operates a professional video camera indoors. Next to him is a graphic reading Top 50 Film MFA, Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media, University of Georgia.

UGA MFA Film program gains national recognition  

The University of Georgia Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media was recently named to the list of Top 50 Film Schools across the country by The […]

Read more about Faculty and MFA Film students participate in inaugural Athens Film Festival
People stand around a camera during film production.

Faculty and MFA Film students participate in inaugural Athens Film Festival

The film industry is thriving in Athens, Georgia, as evidenced by the 2022 opening of the new Athena Studios; growing momentum of the UGA MFA in Film, Television and Digital […]

Read more about MFA Film students work on feature film
Photo of the welcome gate for Athena Studios.

MFA Film students work on feature film

Working on a major film production is a dream for many students in the Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media. It was a reality for several […]

Read more about MFA Screenwriting student’s film to premiere at Atlanta Film Festival
A clapperboard about to be clapped on a movie set. The clapperboard has Win Marks' name on it.

MFA Screenwriting student’s film to premiere at Atlanta Film Festival

It was nearly three years ago that Win Marks, a first-year MFA student, started working on “Do You Say What You Mean?” Now, the Atlanta local’s film is set to […]

Read more about MFA Film thesis film to premiere at Atlanta Film Festival
Three people pose and smile for the camera indoors, with one holding a round brown object with a smiling face. Behind them, a woman stands by camera equipment and an elevator. The setting appears casual and friendly.

MFA Film thesis film to premiere at Atlanta Film Festival

“Black Butterfly,” a thesis film written, directed, produced and edited by Kelvin Summerhill (MFA ’22), has been selected as one of the narrative short films to premiere at the 47th […]

Read more about UGA MFA Film program goes green
Two men stand in a dimly lit studio near a bright light and a colorful painted backdrop. One holds a drink, and both wear glasses and casual clothes, with hats and facial hair visible.

UGA MFA Film program goes green

Film sets are hubs for creation. They are where concepts and ideas turn into visual, captivating works of art. But, unfortunately, television shows and movies aren’t the only thing created […]

Events

Lilli Verma sits with two other women at a reception table at ADPR Connection 2024.

Fall 2026 AdPR Connection

The vision of the student co-directors is to facilitate an event that helps students learn more about themselves and the opportunities in Advertising and Public Relations with the hope that attendees can find opportunities that to fit their personality, skills and needs.

Read more about Fall 2026 AdPR Connection
Eight students stand to pose for a picture holding tote bags that read "Georgia Scholastic Press Association."

GSPA Fall 2026 Conference

The next conference will be on October 27, 2026, at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center. For more information please visit: https://www.ugagspa.org/conference.

Read more about GSPA Fall 2026 Conference
Woman sitting at a table laughs while registering students for an event. A sign that reads Intern Hours sits on the table.

Intern Hours

Join us for Intern Hours, a peer networking event for Grady College students. Each session will feature a group of current Grady students who had or have internships in Summer or Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. Get tips on how they found their internships, how to prep for your own internship applications, what they did in the role and more. See details on this month’s featured interns on Instagram @UGAGradyCareers.

Read more about Intern Hours
Three women stand next to a dog, petting it. The girl in the foreground has a medical walker.

Paws with the Dean

Take a pause from studying and group projects on Thursday, November 5, and join us on the Schnitzer Family Media Lawn for Paws with the Dean from 11 – 1 p.m. Dean Davis will be welcoming dogs and handlers for some time to de-stress.

Read more about Paws with the Dean
Six people smile while posing inside a large red frame reading “Proud of our Dawg!” at a stadium during Open House for UGA Families Weekend. The stands and field are visible in the background.

Open House for UGA Families Weekend

Students and families participating in UGA Families Weekend are invited to drop by for refreshments, meet faculty and staff and take self-guided tours of the building.

Read more about Open House for UGA Families Weekend

Yarbrough Distinguished Lecture: Gary Sheffer (GE)

On Nov. 11, the fourth annual Yarbrough Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Gary Sheffer, will take place in the Peyton Anderson Forum. The lecture is titled “The Human Side of Crisis Leadership: Building on the LEAP Framework.” The lecture is open to all UGA and Grady College faculty, staff and students. To attend, please RSVP using the form: https://forms.gle/7RyCCGyuey5ey59d7

Read more about Yarbrough Distinguished Lecture: Gary Sheffer (GE)
Connor Pannell holds a camera on a film set.

Perspectives

“It was really good to be in a position where I could hire from a place that has taken such great care of me,” Pannell said of the students he was able to hire. “And, I was able to say ‘not only can I get you on your first feature film, but also, you will be paid for it.’”

Connor Pannell

ABJ ’16, current MFA Film student

Three people stand outdoors; one is holding papers, another a tablet and water bottle, and the third operates a professional video camera. They appear to be filming or setting up for an interview.

Perspectives

“The University of Georgia’s MFA in Film program was the central accelerator for me to
achieve my dream of becoming a cinematic artist and excel in my craft.”

Kelvin Summerhill

MFA ‘22

A woman in a red floral dress holds a bouquet of flowers and smiles, while a man in a suit with glasses stands beside her, his arm around her shoulders. Both appear happy and are looking slightly to the side.

Perspectives

“There are so many learning experiences. There were really good mentorships, and
having the time and resources to explore what it means to be a filmmaker was invaluable.”

Nalani Dowling

MFA ’22

A bearded man wearing glasses and a black cowboy hat smiles slightly at the camera, with a blurred, colorful background behind him.

Perspectives

“The boutique nature of this program means every student’s experience is tailored to
their goals and strengths while stretching them to grow outside their comfort zone. Small
cohorts mean close collaboration with classmates and working industry professionals, and that prospective students can easily reach faculty and graduates to decide if this is the right program for them.”

Matt Hudgins

Current MFA Student

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a black dress and a lanyard, smiles in front of an Atlanta Shorts Fest step-and-repeat banner.

Perspectives

“It’s a good lesson in how to pitch your own material and get other people excited about
it and try to get your vision of it across.”

Elise Nation

MFA ‘22

Five people stand together in a forest, closely examining a camera setup. One person holds the camera, another holds a boom microphone, while the rest look at the camera screen. Sunlight filters through the trees around them.

Apply

Your advanced education starts here. Admission to Grady College’s graduate studies is a collaborative process involving Grady College and the University of Georgia’s Graduate School.

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