The Digital Film Academy (DFA) is a for-profit art and design college with locations in Manhattan, New York and

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, founded in 2001.

History

DFA was established in 2001 by filmmaker Patrick DiRenna in the historic Film Center Building in Manhattan. DiRenna was inspired by the evolution of digital cameras which he saw as a

democratization Democratization, or democratisation, is the transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction. It may be a hybrid regime in transition from an authoritarian regime to a ful ...

of filmmaking. Digital Film Academy offers 16 month Associate Degrees in

digital filmmaking : Digital cinematography is the process of capturing (recording) a motion picture using digital image sensors rather than through film stock. As digital technology has improved in recent years, this practice has become dominant. Since the mid-20 ...

, as well as one year long (12 month) conservatory programs both open to beginner and advanced level students. In April 2020, a new branch was opened in the downtown area of Atlanta, Georgia. As of 2018, the school has over 200 students every year which includes both American students and international students. (International students can apply for Curricular Practical Training,

Optional Practical Training Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for one academic year are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigrat ...

and STEM OPT, thus granting them up to 4 years of work authorization in the USA). The school is also authorized to enroll veterans as students under the GI Bill. DFA was also named as Best Film School in NYC by

Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the creat ...

Admission

Admission is rolling, with new programs opening three times a year in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.

Curriculum

DFA offers both full-time and part-time programs. In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020 the school switched to an online remote delivery method to prevent any interruption to the student learning experience. The institute offers One Year and Advanced Year Certificate programs in Digital Filmmaking, as well as a 16 month Associate Degree in Digital Media. The core classes include screenwriting, directing,

cinematography Cinematography (from ancient Greek κίνημα, ''kìnema'' "movement" and γράφειν, ''gràphein'' "to write") is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens to focu ...

sound recording Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording te ...

, production management (see Unit production manager), pre-production, video editing, sound editing & design and applied post production. The elective classes include After Effects (motion graphics and visual effects), Maya

3d animation Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anima ...

, Web TV production, D.I.T. ( Digital Imaging Technician),

Documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...

, color correction, steadicam.

Notable alumni

* Chadwick Boseman, actor *Alex Felix Bendaña, Screenwriter of '' The Gateway'' distributed by Lionsgate whose script was included in the 2013 The Black List *Phuttiphong Aroonpheng, Director of Manta Ray (film), Venice Film Festival winner 2018 *Brad Bailey, Student Oscar winner 2017 for documentary 'Hale' *Jamal Solomon, Director of Photography of movie 'Angelfish' starring Princess Nokia * Ranvir Shorey, Indian actor known for classic movies like Mithya(a Black Comedy), Titli and Sonchiriya.

References

External links

* {{authority control For-profit universities and colleges in the United States Art schools in New York City Universities and colleges in New York City Universities and colleges in Manhattan 2001 establishments in New York City Private universities and colleges in New York (state) Film schools in New York (state) Private universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state) Art schools in Georgia (U.S. state) Film schools in the United States