Documentary film has become the field where, as the New York Times put it, "all the cool kids are." From VICE and HBO, to independent docs, viral videos, doc-style TV series, and now virtual reality, documentary filmmakers have more venues and more stylistic opportunities than ever before. With this explosion of increased interest in the world of documentary filmmaking, more and more aspiring documentary filmmakers are looking to find the documentary filmmaking program that will help them to best hone their skills and develop their expertise in non-fiction storytelling.
Review Of The NYFA Documentary Filmmaking Program
The New York Film Academy’s Documentary Filmmaking School strives to instill students with the skills they need to become documentary filmmakers.
For the past eight years, the New York Film Academy has been ranked as a top documentary filmmaking school, holding a coveted spot on The Independent Magazine’s list of the Top 10 Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers. The school has kept this ranking through its focus on preparing students as documentary filmmakers, which is often demanding as it is rewarding. Instead of focusing only on theory, the New York Film Academy’s documentary program aims to groom students for the practical challenges, opportunities, and realities that arise when creating documentary films.
Throughout their time at the New York Film Academy’s Documentary Filmmaking School, students will work on a variety of different films, learning the myriad skills that go into creating a successful documentary.
Documentary Filmmaking Courses
Depending on the documentary filmmaking program or workshop in which a student enrolls in, he or she can expect to take documentary courses covering such subjects as:
Sound
Cinematography and Lighting
Producing and Directing the Documentary
Editing
New Media/Self-Distribution
Writing/Non-Fiction Storytelling
Producing
Documentary Craft
Documentary Traditions and Aesthetics
Production Sound
Post-Production Sound
Graphics, Special Effects and Color Correction
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING CLASSES
Documentary programs at the New York Film Academy are held at different points throughout the year. Click here to view the start dates and tuition rates for our documentary filmmaking classes.
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING DEGREE
If you would like to continue your education as a documentary filmmaker and earn a degree in documentary filmmaking, you are able to apply your Conservatory coursework toward credit in the New York Film Academy's Los Angeles campus documentary degree program.
The Documentary Filmmaking School at the New York Film Academy offers a year-long Documentary Conservatory program that extensively trains students in the craft of documentary filmmaking.
Students have the option to take the Documentary School's intensive Six-Week Documentary Filmmaking Workshop where they’ll be introduced to documentary filmmaking in hands-on exercises and create their own original documentary film projects.
A Reel of 2015 and 2016 student documentary work (shown as trailers) from the Los Angeles Campus.
Documentary Filmmaking Faculty
The New York Film Academy boasts a distinguished and varied documentary faculty comprised of professional documentary filmmakers who mentor students through the school's challenging curriculum, helping to establish NYFA amongst other top documentary schools. With each member coming from a unique and prestigious background, students work with a well-rounded faculty.
Learn more about the Documentary Filmmaking faculty from the New York campushere.
Learn more about the Documentary Filmmaking faculty from the Los Angeles campushere.
Documentary Filmmaking Alumni
The Documentary Filmmaking School at the New York Film Academy has graduated numerous alumni that have gone to find success in documentary filmmaking. Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances. Learn more here.
Contact Us
To learn about the New York Film Academy's Documentary Filmmaking School, please call our offices at +1 (212) 674-4300 or click the following links.
▸ REQUEST INFO
▸ APPLY
1-800-611-FILM | 1-212-674-4300 
Online Workshops
For the past eight years, the New York Film Academy has been ranked as a top documentary filmmaking school, holding a coveted spot on The Independent Magazine’s list of the Top 10 Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers. The school has kept this ranking through its focus on preparing students as documentary filmmakers, which is often demanding as it is rewarding. Instead of focusing only on theory, the New York Film Academy’s documentary program aims to groom students for the practical challenges, opportunities, and realities that arise when creating documentary films. 
