New York Film Academy faculty is comprised of award-winning filmmakers. We attract students from all over the world, some of whom are already getting their films distributed and making an impact before they graduate. An extraordinary feature of the Academy’s curriculum is the Master Class series that offers students the priceless advantage of working directly with documentary’s working masters. Every year, throughout the program, executive level editors and producers from HBO and Discovery, and multiple Academy Award, Peabody Award, Emmy Award and top festival winning filmmakers, producers, editors and cinematographers work with our documentary students in small, intimate Master Classes. Their involvement means that students graduate not only with an indispensable education and films in their portfolio, but they also become part of a remarkable professional network.
Extraordinary access to the world of documentary television represents another singular facet of the program. Currently in the US, over 20 top tier cable channels are dedicated to non-fiction programming 24 hours–a-day, 365 days-a-year.
With nearly every other cable channel, from HBO to MTV to Sundance and Bravo dedicating increasing percentages of their airtime to documentaries and doc-style series, and networks shifting ever further into the realm of "unscripted" programming, the opportunities are unprecedented. The New York Film Academy's documentary program is distinctive in the in-depth and cutting-edge education our students receive from top professionals in the non-fiction television industry.
In recent years, filmmakers like Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11), Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and Marilyn Agrelo (Mad Hot Ballroom) have radically transformed the commercial environment for documentaries, conferring on newcomers a theatrical landscape routinely populated by documentaries that draw mass audiences. Television has nearly inverted the traditional ratio of fiction to non-fiction programming, and the internet has opened up a myriad of new avenues for documentary distribution as well as "cyber- docs" and "web-isodes." New York Film Academy Documentary graduates are uniquely situated to jump right into this thrilling and evolving field.
Extraordinary access to the world of documentary television represents another singular facet of the program. Currently in the US, over 20 top tier cable channels are dedicated to non-fiction programming 24 hours–a-day, 365 days-a-year.
With nearly every other cable channel, from HBO to MTV to Sundance and Bravo dedicating increasing percentages of their airtime to documentaries and doc-style series, and networks shifting ever further into the realm of "unscripted" programming, the opportunities are unprecedented. The New York Film Academy's documentary program is distinctive in the in-depth and cutting-edge education our students receive from top professionals in the non-fiction television industry.
In recent years, filmmakers like Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11), Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and Marilyn Agrelo (Mad Hot Ballroom) have radically transformed the commercial environment for documentaries, conferring on newcomers a theatrical landscape routinely populated by documentaries that draw mass audiences. Television has nearly inverted the traditional ratio of fiction to non-fiction programming, and the internet has opened up a myriad of new avenues for documentary distribution as well as "cyber- docs" and "web-isodes." New York Film Academy Documentary graduates are uniquely situated to jump right into this thrilling and evolving field.
CHAIR'S BLOG
New York Film Academy Documentary students have an exciting week ahead. Check out a few highlights of a week of study at the New York Film Academy:
TUESDAY:
Sara Kozak, VP of Production and Development for Discovery’s Emerging Networks, will give feedback on student ideas for an upcoming Discovery contest.
WEDNESDAY:
Oscar-Winning guest Maureen Ryan will screen Best Documentary winner Man On Wire and stay for a Q&A with students.
Oscar-Nominated Professor Bob Eisenhardt (and multiple Emmy winner) will screen Gun Fight, his latest collaboration with Barbara Kopple for HBO. Bob will then give the students guidance and inspiration for beginning their thesis edits.
THURSDAY:
Oscar-Winning Professor Vanessa Roth will host an Ethics Seminar with the key creatives from her new film American Teacher. Later that evening, students will join Vanessa at the special benefit preview of American Teacher with a discussion to follow including co-producer Dave Eggers (Pulitzer Prize Finalist for A Heart Breaking Work of Staggering Genius) and a possible appearance by narrator, Oscar-Winning Actor Matt Damon.
FRIDAY:
Oscar-Winning Professor James Lecesne will begin workshopping stories with students for upcoming projects.
TUESDAY:
Sara Kozak, VP of Production and Development for Discovery’s Emerging Networks, will give feedback on student ideas for an upcoming Discovery contest.
WEDNESDAY:
Oscar-Winning guest Maureen Ryan will screen Best Documentary winner Man On Wire and stay for a Q&A with students.
Oscar-Nominated Professor Bob Eisenhardt (and multiple Emmy winner) will screen Gun Fight, his latest collaboration with Barbara Kopple for HBO. Bob will then give the students guidance and inspiration for beginning their thesis edits.
THURSDAY:
Oscar-Winning Professor Vanessa Roth will host an Ethics Seminar with the key creatives from her new film American Teacher. Later that evening, students will join Vanessa at the special benefit preview of American Teacher with a discussion to follow including co-producer Dave Eggers (Pulitzer Prize Finalist for A Heart Breaking Work of Staggering Genius) and a possible appearance by narrator, Oscar-Winning Actor Matt Damon.
FRIDAY:
Oscar-Winning Professor James Lecesne will begin workshopping stories with students for upcoming projects.
DOCUMENTARY MASTER CLASS FACULTY INCLUDES
GEOF BARTZ
Supervising Editor of Documentary Programming at HBO
(Two ACADEMY AWARDS, PEABODY AWARD, four EMMY AWARDS)
MARYANN DELEO
ACADEMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Chernobyl Heart)
VANESSA ROTH
ACADEMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Freeheld)
JAMES LESCENE
Writer of Trevor
(ACADEMY AWARD, BERLIN, SUNDANCE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE)
BOB EISENHARDT
ACADEMY AWARD nominated, EMMY AWARD winning editor (Valentino, The Last Emperor)
SARA KOZAK
Vice President, Production, DISCOVERY Emerging Networks
TOM NEFF
Founder and CEO of DOC: The Documentary Channel,
(ACADEMY AWARD Nomination, EMMY AWARD)
CHRIS RANTAMAKI
Director of Production & Development DISCOVERY Channel
IMMY HUMES
ACADEMY AWARD nominated filmmaker (A Little Vicious)
TONY GERBER
EMMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Full Battle-Rattle)
MARCIE MULÉ
Vice President/Head of Programming at True Entertainment (2 EMMY AWARDS)
EDDIE ROSENSTEIN
Creator/Showrunner (Sandhogs)
HILLA MEDALIA
PEABODY winning filmmaker (To Die Jerusalem)
JIM ARNOFF
President of The Arnoff Company, Packaging Agent and Entertainment Lawyer (programs packaged on HBO,
DISCOVERY, Bravo, History Channel, Nat Geo, A&E, Fox, Comedy Central)
Supervising Editor of Documentary Programming at HBO
(Two ACADEMY AWARDS, PEABODY AWARD, four EMMY AWARDS)
MARYANN DELEO
ACADEMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Chernobyl Heart)
VANESSA ROTH
ACADEMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Freeheld)
JAMES LESCENE
Writer of Trevor
(ACADEMY AWARD, BERLIN, SUNDANCE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE)
BOB EISENHARDT
ACADEMY AWARD nominated, EMMY AWARD winning editor (Valentino, The Last Emperor)
SARA KOZAK
Vice President, Production, DISCOVERY Emerging Networks
TOM NEFF
Founder and CEO of DOC: The Documentary Channel,
(ACADEMY AWARD Nomination, EMMY AWARD)
CHRIS RANTAMAKI
Director of Production & Development DISCOVERY Channel
IMMY HUMES
ACADEMY AWARD nominated filmmaker (A Little Vicious)
TONY GERBER
EMMY AWARD winning filmmaker (Full Battle-Rattle)
MARCIE MULÉ
Vice President/Head of Programming at True Entertainment (2 EMMY AWARDS)
EDDIE ROSENSTEIN
Creator/Showrunner (Sandhogs)
HILLA MEDALIA
PEABODY winning filmmaker (To Die Jerusalem)
JIM ARNOFF
President of The Arnoff Company, Packaging Agent and Entertainment Lawyer (programs packaged on HBO,
DISCOVERY, Bravo, History Channel, Nat Geo, A&E, Fox, Comedy Central)
