COURSE OVERVIEW
Could you develop, finance and produce a feature film or high-end TV drama?
During the course you will learn the core skills that every producer needs: Identify great story ideas and secure intellectual property, creative development, business affairs and film / TV financing, physical producing across filming and post production, and the routes to your audience.
Content Tabs
As a student on the MFA Producing course, you will produce at least three short films to industry standard, with a team comprised of students from the other disciplines at the school. You will undertake a Cannes Film Festival work placement and will be individually mentored by a successful film or TV professional during the second year of the course. You will learn the business of film and television in detail, and script development skills including writing script reports and giving notes to writers.
As a graduate, you may well go on to work as a producer, an executive producer or a development or production executive in the UK and/or internationally. Typically, new graduates combine developing and producing their own projects with paid employment in various roles across film and high end TV (for example as assistants to producers, development associates, script readers or in physical production).
COURSE FACILITIES
As a student at our school, you'll enjoy unparalleled access to the UK’s largest film school facilities. This includes Dolby Atmos-certified dubbing theatres, full-scale film stages, two cinemas and a wide range of top-of-the-range filming and post production equipment . You'll also benefit from a well-stocked reference library and a wealth of online resources, along with access to our central London space at Golden Square for castings and meetings. Additionally, you'll benefit from a student subscription to the industry-standard Moviemagic Budgeting and Scheduling software.
We are excited to announce this MFA course is part of an innovative slate of new qualifications from 2025/2026. Our A Fresh Take page tells you all you need to know!
You will be taught by Industry professionals in the five core skills that every producer working in film and television needs:
- Identify great story ideas, and secure intellectual property
- Creative development
- Business affairs in film and High End TV
- Physical producing (shooting and post production)
- Audience & market awareness
The course is divided into three core strands:
- Developing for Film & TV: identifying a great idea and securing IP, writing treatments and outlines, script analysis and script editing and working with writers and directors.
- Physical production: producing short films, foundation in crew roles, Movie Magic budgeting and scheduling, casting, managing the production and post-production.
- The Business of Film and Television: publicity, pitching, marketing, sales, distribution, financing, co-production and legal/business affairs.
During your second year, you are teamed with individual industry mentors, and will undertake work experience during the Cannes Film Festival and with a film / TV company in the UK.
We’re looking for people with a lively interest in storytelling across the spectrum of film and television. You’ll ideally have good communication skills, a vivid sense of curiosity, attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively. You might have a background in film and TV already, or you might be coming in from another industry with lots of transferable skills.
While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.
International students Visa and English language requirements
If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk
Along with your online application, you should supply the following supporting material. During the process you will be given access to a templated Word document where you can fill in each answer, before submitting/uploading it.
- A synopsis/short treatment for a film/television drama that you would like to produce (This should be based upon either existing IP or a historical or real life event). Please then tell us who you propose as Director, Writer, and Lead Actor for the project. Tell us why you want to make it. (400 words max).
- Name one of your favourite films or TV dramas. Tell us why you chose it. Explain its strengths AND its weaknesses. (250 words max).
- List 2 British Producers (not directors) whose work interests you, and explain why. 75 words max each (150 words max in total).
- What are two strengths, and two weaknesses, of your own country’s film/television drama culture? (200 words max).
Applications will close at midnight on the day of the deadline, shown at the top of this page.
Funding Available
The NFTS awards more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK. If you’re successful at gaining a place on the course, you will be contacted by our funding team with details on how to apply for one of these scholarships.
Student Showcase
Crab Day (Trailer)
2023 graduate animation
Director - Ross Stringer
Producer - Bartosz Stanislawek
Crab Day won the award for Best Short Animation at the EE BAFTAs in 2023
Jellyfish and Lobster (trailer)
2023 graduation film
Director/Writer - Yasmin Afifi
Producer - Elizabeth Rufai
Cinematographer - Linda Wu
Two residents of a care home form an unlikely relationship while struggling to come to terms with the inevitability of their impending end of life.
Winner of the British Short Film BAFTA 2024, and the Audience Award at Encounters Film Festival
Milk (trailer)
2024 graduate documentary
Director - Miranda Stern
Producer - Ashoinye Ogene
One filmmaker sets out on a journey to discover the mother she never knew.
Milk is shortlisted for the All3Media Best Student Documentary Award at the 2024 Grierson Awards.
It is also a finalist at the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards in Los Angeles
Do Not Feed the Pigeons (trailer)
2021 graduation animation
Director - Antonin Niclass
Producer - Jordi Morera
Do Not Feed the Pigeons won the EE BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation in 2021.
The Leper (trailer)
2022 graduation film
Director - Hugh Mulhern
Producer - Alexander Handschuh
The Leper is a comedy drama about Frankie, a paparazzo reflecting on the encounter that made him question his career.
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Conclave
Executive Producer Loranzo Gangarossa
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Gentlemen
Producer Laura Jackson
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Enfield Poltergeist
Co-Executive Producers Jonny Persey and Vesna Cudic
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Heartstopper
Producer Zorana Piggott
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Who Is Erin Carter?
Series Producer Nuala O'Leary and Producer Tabitha Jenkins
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Other Fellow
Producer Michelle Brøndum
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
God's Creatures
Co-Story/Producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
Fodhla is an Academy Award and BAFTA nominee.
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Blue Jean
Producer Hélène Sifre and Co-Producer Marie-Elena Dyche
Nominated for EE BAFTA 2023 for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director and Producer.
