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.
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.
- Submit an idea that you have for a film or HETV drama. You should provide a synopsis, and who your ideal director, writer and lead actor (male or female!) would be. This should be based on a book, play, documentary, a historical event or an article – and you do not need to have secured an option over the rights for the application. (1,000 words).
- Name one of your favourite films or TV dramas. Tell us why you chose it. Explain its strengths AND its weaknesses. (250 words max.)
- Name two British film producers or HETV execs whose work you admire, and please tell us why. Be sure to choose people who are primarily known in this role! 75 words per producer (150 in total).
- Please tell us about the film / tv production landscape in your country – what is interesting or distinctive about it? What are its strengths? What could it do better? (250 words max).
Applications will close at 23:59 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.
Tutors
Student Showcase
Rock Paper Scissors (trailer)
2024 graduation film
Director/Writer - Franz Böhm
Producer - Hayder Rothschild Hoozeer
Ivan and his father, operating a small hospital at the frontline, are tested when a platoon of Russian soldiers approach their building, forcing them to make a difficult decision to protect their patients and their own lives.
The film is shortlisted for an Academy Award, and won the BAFTA British Short FIlm award in 2025.
Crab Day (trailer)
2023 graduation film
Director/Animator - Ross Stringer
Producer - Bartosz Stanislawek
As part of a fishing community’s annual ritual, a young boy must kill his first crab in order to become a man and gain his father’s approval.
BAFTA Best Short Animation 2024
Jellyfish and Lobster (trailer)
2023 graduation film
Director/Writer - Yasmin Afifi
Producer - Elizabeth Rufai
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.
BAFTA Best Short Film 2024
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent credits include:
Bugonia
Co- Producer Kasia Malipan
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent credits include:
Conclave
Executive Producer Lorenzo Gangarossa
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent credits include:
The Gentlemen
Producer Laura Jackson
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent credits include:
Heartstopper
Producer Zorana Piggott
