Image Arts: Film Studies - BFA
Image Arts: Film Studies - BFA
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Faculty: The Creative School
Requirements: Grades-Plus
Grade range: Mid 70s1
Experiential learning: Internship available
Full-time format: 4 Year
Is this degree for you?
The internationally renowned Image Arts: Film Studies degree program prepares students to deeply understand the power and art of the moving image. Bring your stories to life on screen, engaging an audience through cinematic techniques and skills.
Learn by doing and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of film production, from story development, cinematography and sound design to filming with digital and analog technologies.
Located in the heart of Toronto, the epicentre of filmmaking in Canada, you’ll be taught and mentored by industry-leading filmmakers and film scholars who are actively practicing their crafts. You’ll forge lasting connections with your peers by collaborating to create fiction and documentary short films.
Ranked in The 15 Top Global Film Schools (external link) in 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter.
"I can’t wait to take what I’ve learned from producing several films and organizing the TorontoMet Film Fest to start my career.”
Ollie Coombs, Class of 2023, Coordinator, Toronto International Film Festival
Student spotlight
Image Arts students display final thesis films at annual film festival
Image Arts: Film Studies students showcased 14 thesis films at the annual Toronto Met Film Festival at the iconic Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. Over the course of two nights, the festival attracted 1,500 attendees, including film enthusiasts, industry professionals and the TMU community at large.
Read more: Image Arts students display final thesis films at annual film festival
After you graduate with this degree
🎓 Further education:
- Documentary Media (MFA)
- Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management (MA)
- Scriptwriting and Story Design (MFA)
Career possibilities:
- Cinematographer
- Commercial and music video producer
- Director
- Festival programmer
- Production manager
💼 Employer possibilities:
- Blue Ant Media
- CBC
- Kobo Inc.
- Netflix
- Toronto International Film Festival
Tuition and fees range 2024-2025
For detailed fees information, visit tuition and fees by program.
Full-time format:
Ontario students: $7,305 - $7,798
Out-of-province students: $8,481 - $8,995
International students: $35,102 - $35,521
First-year courses
Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.
1st & 2nd Semester
REQUIRED:
LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
The Creative School
The Creative School stands as a beacon of innovation. Here, creativity isn't just a skill—it's the core of everything we do, transforming learning and expanding the boundaries of what’s possible. We offer a truly transdisciplinary education that immerses students in a creative ecosystem and encourages collaboration across faculties and around the globe.
The Creative School degree programs
Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.
Academic requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.
Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:
- English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)
- The minimum grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 65-70% range) will be determined subject to competition.
Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.
This is a Grades-Plus program. Admission decisions for Grades-Plus programs are based on academic performance plus non-academic criteria such as interviews, auditions, essays and portfolios. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application.
Fall 2025 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2025 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.
The theme for this year is MAKING WAVES. The theme is the subject or main idea in an artistic work that can be interpreted literally, broadly, or metaphorically.
Short Film/Video
Submit a short film/video up to 90 seconds in length (maximum), shot in any medium that addresses the theme/concept of "MAKING WAVES" along with three examples of any visual work (photographs, drawings, paintings, computer-generated prints, or photos of sculptures or other artwork - please do not include still frames or screenshots captured from videos, etc.). The short film/video must illustrate the theme. The three examples of visual work do not need to illustrate the theme.
Your video must be uploaded to “Vimeo.” When you have a Vimeo URL (e.g. https://vimeo.com/43927921 (external link, opens in new window) ) please paste the link, along with your three examples of visual work, into a single file (i.e. Microsoft Word document exported or saved as a .pdf) and upload the .pdf file in your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. If you choose to use the privacy settings in Vimeo, there is a member subscription fee to do so. Please use the password "FILM2025". You can also choose to not use the privacy settings and not pay the Vimeo subscription fee.
Describe a dramatic event from your own life or the life of someone you know that you would like to turn into a short film. Be specific about the events and the characters in your story, though you may change the names and details if you like (up to 500 words / 2 typed pages). Do not submit a script. Also briefly describe why you feel it would make a good film (100 words maximum), and what role you would like to take on (producer, writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, production designer). This is a non-binding proposal. The School of Image Arts reserves the right to retain this project outline.
Please save and upload your project outline as a .pdf file.
In the form of a short essay (up to 300 words), please answer the following questions:
- What single film has most influenced you and why?
- How has that film expanded your notion of what cinema can be?
- How has the film impacted society and/or the art form of cinema?
This statement should reflect only the effort of the applicant.
Please save and upload your written statement as a .pdf file.
Submit a current resumé outlining your education, work experience, related skills, interests and any special awards (not to exceed two pages).
Please save and upload your resumé as a .pdf file.
The non-academic requirements assessment fee is $50 CAD and must be paid in order for your submission to be reviewed. Here’s how to pay:
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Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).
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Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.
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Next, click on the eForms Center tile.
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Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.
Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.
Applicants unable to use the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal are required to contact the School of Image Arts at imagearts@torontomu.ca to discuss an alternate method of submission.
Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:
- Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
- Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
- 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal
If you are applying for readmission or reinstatement, you are not required to submit non-academic requirements. You must inform the program department of your intentions.
Email the School of Image Arts at imagearts@torontomu.ca by February 1, 2025, or 10 business days from your application submission date (whichever comes later).
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Notes:
- Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2025 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.
Disclaimer:
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.