New Students 

Welcome New Students! 

 The MFA In Film Residency is mandatory for all students. The residency that occurs every six months, in July and January, marks the beginning of each semester. The residency is at the center of the VCFA experience and each student is expected to participate in all activities offered during the residency. It is a very intense time, filled with screenings, workshops, group critiques, and individual meetings with faculty members. This intensity is the source of the community and collaboration that we believe will last long after our students graduate; residency concludes with a commencement ceremony.  See more in The Residency Overview

Observing Continuing Student Critiques   

Mandatory critiques are an opportunity for continuing students to present some aspect of their current work in 20 minutes to two or more faculty members, and to students who are in the Crit Group. Discussions with faculty directly follow the presentation and last 20-25 minutes. Students may opt to open up the discussion to fellow students for any portion of that time.  See more in the Critiques tab of the Residency Handbook 

1st Residency (New Students)

Pre-Residency Deliverables

• Travel & Residency Registration

• Create + edit your Google Project Site. Video instruction for  (start with second section 01:32)

• New Student Introduction Presentation:  All incoming students give a 5-10 min introductory presentation that introduces their work to date and goals for their time at VCFA. This is a casual introduction and can be a film reel or spoken introduction. This is an opportunity for you to say hello and for the community to get to know you. 

In Residency Deliverables: Due July/January

• Round Table Session: Round tables are your opportunity to have a speed date with up to six faculty members. This process is useful in informing who you might like to work with over the coming semester.

• Advisor Request: After individual meetings with prospective advisors , students indicate up to 6 choices for advisors they may like to work with over for the coming semester.  

• Film Semester Study Plan:  After receiving final approval from their advisors, students submit the semester study plan, outlining their study plans for the upcoming semester.

Midterm Semester Deliverables: February  /August 

• Project Sites and the Midterm Work Share*

• Midterm Self Evaluation 

End of Semester Deliverables: July/January

• End of Semester Self Evaluation 

• End of Semester Advisor Evaluation

• Residency Survey