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Filmmaking is a creative practice rooted in storytelling and curiosity—about yourself and the world around you. As a student here, you’ll learn the craft from every angle, from writing and pre-production to shooting and editing. You’ll explore narrative, documentary, experimental filmmaking and video art, discovering what type of artist you want to be and developing the practical skills to become one.
woman in long hallway, wall covered in graffiti, with man holding camera pointed at her
Andrew Guaman directing his Film+Fashion class project, 'Loteria'
Type
Undergraduate, BFA
Department
Film/Video
School
School of Art
Credits
126
Duration
4 Years
Courses Plan of Study
flim set, models and camera in background, directors in foreground

Film/Video at Pratt

At Pratt you begin making your own films and collaborating with your peers in your first semester. You will have access to everything you need to make your work– professional cameras, tripods, sound, and lighting equipment as well as computer labs, software and production facilities. Our faculty of filmmakers and artists will facilitate your learning in intimate classes of 12 students through screenings, readings, technical demonstrations, production exercises, class critiques, and visiting professionals. By the time you have graduated, you will have created 12-20 short films and will have crewed on many others directed by your peers. You will leave with a sample reel of your work ready for entry into the professional landscape and your strongest work will be ready to submit to film festivals and/or used as the foundation of an application to graduate school.

Student Work

The Experience

student working with camera

In your first semester, you’ll gain essential conceptual and technical training in two rigorous foundational courses: Film Fundamentals and Production Studio. You’ll then explore varied modes of filmmaking in fiction, nonfiction, and experimental studio courses. In your junior year, the curriculum broadens to include more electives and advanced coursework in Fiction II and either Nonfiction II or Experimental Studio II.

Senior Thesis Project

The culmination of the program is a guided but self-defined year-long senior thesis project. You will direct and edit your most ambitious short film to date. Finished films will be presented as part of our Senior Showcase in our state-of-the-art Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room and at the prestigious BAM Rose Cinemas.

Internships

student standing outside nbc studios, arms raised

New York City is teaming with film and television production and we encourage all of our students to gain experience by doing an internship in the junior year. Our internship program mimics a real world job search in that it is personalized to the goals and interests of each student. When you have identified an area of interest (production, post-production, color correction, live television, distribution) we will coach you through the research and application process. Our students have been placed in internships in a wide range of contexts including Saturday Night Live, Late Night, A24, MoMA, Technicolor, Kino Lorber, and MTV.

Study Abroad

Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can shift your perspective and inform your creative work. In addition to a spring break program in Cuba, Film/Video students can study abroad at partner institutions in the spring semester of junior year in cities such as London, Lisbon, Paris, Rome, and Florence. Learn more.

Learning Resources

While you will develop disciplinary fluency in our program we celebrate the interdisciplinary, collaborative nature of filmmaking and encourage students to explore everything Pratt has to offer. Learning resources.

Our Faculty

Our full time and part time faculty are active filmmakers and artists representing a myriad of professional possibilities and creative directions students might take with their work. They are award-winning directors, professional editors, sound mixers, colorists, experimental filmmakers, animators, and video artists.

See all Film/Video faculty and administrators.

headshot of Eliza Hittman

Eliza Hittman

Assistant Professor

Person

headshot of Jim Finn

Jim Finn

Associate Professor

Person

Profile Picture of Matias Pinedo

Matias Pineiro

Associate Professor

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Justice Whitaker

Assistant Professor

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Our Alumni

A discussion panel is assembled in front of a projector screen. There are four panelists with the person on the right holding a mic.
John Requa and Glenn Ficarra (BFA ‘91) returned to do a public talk in 2022

Our students go on to do many different kinds of things.  They are directing television, feature films, commercials, and music videos. They are professional editors, colorists, cinematographers, and sound recordists. They are award-winning writers, producers, and educators.

Highlights

  • Liz Hannah (BFA ‘07)  Golden Globe Nominated Screenwriter of The Post (directed by Steven Spielberg), showrunner of ‘The Girl From Plainville’ and a writer on ‘The Dropout’
  • April Maxey (BFA ‘12) was named one of Sundance’s “Women to Watch 2023”. Winner of Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding US Narrative Short Film at the Tribeca Film Festival 2022
  • Park Min-woo (BFA ‘17) is the director of photography on the Korean dramatic TV series Oasis (2023)
  • Yessenia Sanchez’s (BFA ‘21) thesis film Double Cultura is streaming on HBOMax as part of the Latino Short Film Competition in 2023/24
  • Yi Xiong, ‘22, A Tortoises Year of Fate an official selection in the Locarno Film Festival 
  • Glenn Ficarra (BFA ‘91) & John Requa (BFA ‘91) are showrunners for the Paramount+ spy thriller Rabbit Hole (2023). They wrote Bad Santa and wrote and directed Crazy, Stupid, Love
  • Luiza Gonçalves (BFA ‘19) won best film in competition for A BANANA TREE IS NO  COINCIDENCE Pesaro Festival of New Cinema in Italy, 2021
  • Joel Haver (BFA ‘18) is a YouTube phenomenon whose weekly animations and comedic skits regularly get hundreds of thousands if not millions of views
  • Owen Kline’s first feature Funny Pages (2022) was produced by A24 and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival
  • Mika Altskan (BFA ‘15) is a cinematographer whose commercial work includes a Nike ad with singer Billie Eilish; his narrative work includes Wild Nights with Emily (2018) which premiered at SXSW
  • Mackie Mallison’s (BFA ‘22) short film It Smelled like Springtime (2022) premiered at the New York Film Festival
  • Myrsini Aristidou’s (BFA ‘13) short films have screened at the Toronto, Venice and Sundance film festivals; and Semele (2015) won a Special Jury Prize at the Berlinale
  • Jungah Kim (BFA ‘86) is a producer and was the first female president of CJ Entertainment in South Korea

Our Stories

Ready for More?

HERE’S HOW TO APPLYOUR CAMPUS & BEYOND
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
@prattfilm_video
Pratt Film Video

@prattfilm_video

  • Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
  • Join us for a workshop with Eric Branting of @freerangesound - On Saturday, November 18th at 1 PM.

Pratt Film/Video Building, open to all F/V students and highly recommended for all!
#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
  • Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation!  @prattfilm_video
  • Please join us for an Intimacy Coordination Workshop with Troy!

DATE: November 3rd
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Film/Video - Studio A

More information about this special visitor can be found at her website:
https://oliviatroy.com/

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #filmstudent
  • ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION. NOV 4 – JAN 21 Admission is free to all Open Call events. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, October 17. 
The Open Call 2023 Group Exhibition features new artworks by emerging NYC artists who intersect their personal stories with global history, proposing care- and community-based responses to the urgent issues of our time. The exhibition presents the work of artists selected as part of Open Call, a large-scale commissioning program for early-career, NYC-based artists, and will be followed by a performance series in summer 2024.

The exhibition is organized by Eduardo Andres Alfonso, Associate Curator at Large, and Deja Belardo, Assistant Curator, Visual Arts and Civic Programs, with exhibition management by MK Meador, Exhibition Producer, and Freddy Villalobos, Project Manager.
  • Join us on November 2nd in welcoming our Speaker Series guest Charlotte Wells! 
Director of the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Aftersun".

DATE: November 2nd 
TIME:6:30
LOCATION: Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room in the F/V building. 

Registration for this exciting guest event is required and come be found here: https://forms.gle/asxS32iGaWM7QXKt7

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #aftersun
  • Fall 2023 Speaker Series is excited to announce: ANNA BODEN - Thursday October 26th, 6:30 PM in the Film/Video Building Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room. 

We look forward to welcoming this special guest; director of many films including "Captain Marvel" and the acclaimed "Half Nelson". 

Registration is required: https://forms.gle/X1ZNFNSwNehhCdQA9

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #captainmarvel #halfnelson #mrsamerica
  • Pratt Film/Video Faculty member Sewra Kidane was again a panelist at this year's @fashfilmfete in Phoenix to talk about "Fashion in Film and Pop Culture"! Moderated by celebrity stylist Ashley LaRae Samspon who has worked with artists including Jay-z and Kanye West.

Joined by panelist Angela Johnson, @tshirtballgown, fashion designer and co-founder of fashion incubator FABRIC

Maurice Porcher @opusxtravelxart, award-winning filmmaker, musician and co-founder of Paine Artistry, an artist collaborative. #prattfilmvideo #prattfaculty
  • Congratulations to Visiting Assistant Professor Sunita Prasad, editor on HBO Original “The Ringleader”. @sunitadee Streaming now on @hbomaxes
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Charlotte Wells for a great visit and conversation last night. Thanks also to Dianne Bellino and students for your questions! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Join us for a workshop with Eric Branting of @freerangesound - On Saturday, November 18th at 1 PM.

Pratt Film/Video Building, open to all F/V students and highly recommended for all!
#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
Join us for a workshop with Eric Branting of @freerangesound - On Saturday, November 18th at 1 PM. Pratt Film/Video Building, open to all F/V students and highly recommended for all! #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation!  @prattfilm_video
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation!  @prattfilm_video
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation!  @prattfilm_video
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation!  @prattfilm_video
Pratt Film/Video thanks guest speaker Anna Boden for sharing thoughtful insight and experience with us last night! Thank you to Professor Eliza Hittman for a great conversation! @prattfilm_video
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Please join us for an Intimacy Coordination Workshop with Troy!

DATE: November 3rd
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Film/Video - Studio A

More information about this special visitor can be found at her website:
https://oliviatroy.com/

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #filmstudent
Please join us for an Intimacy Coordination Workshop with Troy!

DATE: November 3rd
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Film/Video - Studio A

More information about this special visitor can be found at her website:
https://oliviatroy.com/

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #filmstudent
Please join us for an Intimacy Coordination Workshop with Troy! DATE: November 3rd TIME: 6:30 PM LOCATION: Film/Video - Studio A More information about this special visitor can be found at her website: https://oliviatroy.com/ #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #filmstudent
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION. NOV 4 – JAN 21 Admission is free to all Open Call events. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, October 17. 
The Open Call 2023 Group Exhibition features new artworks by emerging NYC artists who intersect their personal stories with global history, proposing care- and community-based responses to the urgent issues of our time. The exhibition presents the work of artists selected as part of Open Call, a large-scale commissioning program for early-career, NYC-based artists, and will be followed by a performance series in summer 2024.

The exhibition is organized by Eduardo Andres Alfonso, Associate Curator at Large, and Deja Belardo, Assistant Curator, Visual Arts and Civic Programs, with exhibition management by MK Meador, Exhibition Producer, and Freddy Villalobos, Project Manager.
ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION. NOV 4 – JAN 21 Admission is free to all Open Call events. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, October 17. 
The Open Call 2023 Group Exhibition features new artworks by emerging NYC artists who intersect their personal stories with global history, proposing care- and community-based responses to the urgent issues of our time. The exhibition presents the work of artists selected as part of Open Call, a large-scale commissioning program for early-career, NYC-based artists, and will be followed by a performance series in summer 2024.

The exhibition is organized by Eduardo Andres Alfonso, Associate Curator at Large, and Deja Belardo, Assistant Curator, Visual Arts and Civic Programs, with exhibition management by MK Meador, Exhibition Producer, and Freddy Villalobos, Project Manager.
ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION. NOV 4 – JAN 21 Admission is free to all Open Call events. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, October 17. The Open Call 2023 Group Exhibition features new artworks by emerging NYC artists who intersect their personal stories with global history, proposing care- and community-based responses to the urgent issues of our time. The exhibition presents the work of artists selected as part of Open Call, a large-scale commissioning program for early-career, NYC-based artists, and will be followed by a performance series in summer 2024. The exhibition is organized by Eduardo Andres Alfonso, Associate Curator at Large, and Deja Belardo, Assistant Curator, Visual Arts and Civic Programs, with exhibition management by MK Meador, Exhibition Producer, and Freddy Villalobos, Project Manager.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Join us on November 2nd in welcoming our Speaker Series guest Charlotte Wells! 
Director of the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Aftersun".

DATE: November 2nd 
TIME:6:30
LOCATION: Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room in the F/V building. 

Registration for this exciting guest event is required and come be found here: https://forms.gle/asxS32iGaWM7QXKt7

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #aftersun
Join us on November 2nd in welcoming our Speaker Series guest Charlotte Wells! 
Director of the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Aftersun".

DATE: November 2nd 
TIME:6:30
LOCATION: Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room in the F/V building. 

Registration for this exciting guest event is required and come be found here: https://forms.gle/asxS32iGaWM7QXKt7

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #aftersun
Join us on November 2nd in welcoming our Speaker Series guest Charlotte Wells! Director of the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Aftersun". DATE: November 2nd TIME:6:30 LOCATION: Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room in the F/V building. Registration for this exciting guest event is required and come be found here: https://forms.gle/asxS32iGaWM7QXKt7 #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #aftersun
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Fall 2023 Speaker Series is excited to announce: ANNA BODEN - Thursday October 26th, 6:30 PM in the Film/Video Building Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room. 

We look forward to welcoming this special guest; director of many films including "Captain Marvel" and the acclaimed "Half Nelson". 

Registration is required: https://forms.gle/X1ZNFNSwNehhCdQA9

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #captainmarvel #halfnelson #mrsamerica
Fall 2023 Speaker Series is excited to announce: ANNA BODEN - Thursday October 26th, 6:30 PM in the Film/Video Building Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room. 

We look forward to welcoming this special guest; director of many films including "Captain Marvel" and the acclaimed "Half Nelson". 

Registration is required: https://forms.gle/X1ZNFNSwNehhCdQA9

#prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #captainmarvel #halfnelson #mrsamerica
Fall 2023 Speaker Series is excited to announce: ANNA BODEN - Thursday October 26th, 6:30 PM in the Film/Video Building Katharine L. McKenna Screening Room. We look forward to welcoming this special guest; director of many films including "Captain Marvel" and the acclaimed "Half Nelson". Registration is required: https://forms.gle/X1ZNFNSwNehhCdQA9 #prattfilmvideo #prattsoa #studentopportunity #captainmarvel #halfnelson #mrsamerica
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Pratt Film/Video Faculty member Sewra Kidane was again a panelist at this year's @fashfilmfete in Phoenix to talk about "Fashion in Film and Pop Culture"! Moderated by celebrity stylist Ashley LaRae Samspon who has worked with artists including Jay-z and Kanye West.

Joined by panelist Angela Johnson, @tshirtballgown, fashion designer and co-founder of fashion incubator FABRIC

Maurice Porcher @opusxtravelxart, award-winning filmmaker, musician and co-founder of Paine Artistry, an artist collaborative. #prattfilmvideo #prattfaculty
Pratt Film/Video Faculty member Sewra Kidane was again a panelist at this year's @fashfilmfete in Phoenix to talk about "Fashion in Film and Pop Culture"! Moderated by celebrity stylist Ashley LaRae Samspon who has worked with artists including Jay-z and Kanye West.

Joined by panelist Angela Johnson, @tshirtballgown, fashion designer and co-founder of fashion incubator FABRIC

Maurice Porcher @opusxtravelxart, award-winning filmmaker, musician and co-founder of Paine Artistry, an artist collaborative. #prattfilmvideo #prattfaculty
Pratt Film/Video Faculty member Sewra Kidane was again a panelist at this year's @fashfilmfete in Phoenix to talk about "Fashion in Film and Pop Culture"! Moderated by celebrity stylist Ashley LaRae Samspon who has worked with artists including Jay-z and Kanye West.

Joined by panelist Angela Johnson, @tshirtballgown, fashion designer and co-founder of fashion incubator FABRIC

Maurice Porcher @opusxtravelxart, award-winning filmmaker, musician and co-founder of Paine Artistry, an artist collaborative. #prattfilmvideo #prattfaculty
Pratt Film/Video Faculty member Sewra Kidane was again a panelist at this year's @fashfilmfete in Phoenix to talk about "Fashion in Film and Pop Culture"! Moderated by celebrity stylist Ashley LaRae Samspon who has worked with artists including Jay-z and Kanye West. Joined by panelist Angela Johnson, @tshirtballgown, fashion designer and co-founder of fashion incubator FABRIC Maurice Porcher @opusxtravelxart, award-winning filmmaker, musician and co-founder of Paine Artistry, an artist collaborative. #prattfilmvideo #prattfaculty
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Congratulations to Visiting Assistant Professor Sunita Prasad, editor on HBO Original “The Ringleader”. @sunitadee Streaming now on @hbomaxes
Congratulations to Visiting Assistant Professor Sunita Prasad, editor on HBO Original “The Ringleader”. @sunitadee Streaming now on @hbomaxes
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

From the Catalog

In the first semester film majors start making work right away in Film Fundamentals and Production Studio, two rigorous and comprehensive courses, which provide essential foun­da­tional training. Students then delve into various modes of filmmaking in Fiction I, Nonfiction I, and Experimental Studio I. In addition to writing, analysis, and theory classes, technical skills are put to practice in Postproduction Studio, Cinematography + Lighting Design, and Sound Design. Students develop advanced skills in Fiction II and their choice of Nonfiction II or Experimental Studio II. In the junior year, the curriculum opens up to electives giving students a chance to try new things and gain more experience in their areas of interest. The culmination of the program is a guided but self-defined senior thesis project, publicly screened in our state of the art screening room and at BAM Rose Cinemas.

Students learn in an intimate workshop setting through screenings, readings, technical demonstrations, production exercises, class critiques, and visiting professionals, as well as through internship programs in the many film, video, and postproduction studios throughout the city.

Upon graduation, students will have produced their senior project as well as compiled a sample reel of personal work, which can be part of a graduate school application, be submitted to galleries and festivals, or serve as a demonstration of students’ skills for entry into the professional landscape.

Movie still of a woman looking at her reflection in a dark room. She is wearing a white robe.

Upon graduation from the BFA in Film, the student is expected to be competent in the following areas:

  • Student is able to effectively plan, oversee, and complete all phases of the filmmaking process (pre- production, production and post- production). 
  • Student is able to clearly conceptualize a cinematic project within a historical, theoretical or cultural context. 
  • Student is able to demonstrate technical and aesthetic proficiency in service to the cinematic project.
  • Student is able to communicate creative, aesthetic and conceptual ideas.
A camera crew works with a variety of equipment in a cramped room.
A woman in a red traditional Chinese dress stands in front of stairs in a courtyard. There is a man sitting on the steps wearing a black traditional Chinese tunic.