Admissions

Admission

The admissions committee seeks applicants with work experience beyond their undergraduate years and can articulate why they want to learn documentary film production. The committee looks for evidence of the likelihood of success in a rigorous academic program emphasizing creative work. The conceptual and technical skills required for documentary work are sufficiently different from fictional narratives to make the Stanford program inappropriate for students interested in fiction filmmaking. The program does not allow for deferred admission or a mid-year enrollment. The program requires residency for two consecutive years.

Portfolio

The department requires a film or video work for which the applicant has had creative control. The sample work must be well labeled and accompanied by a brief synopsis, the clips’ running time, the production circumstances, and the applicant’s role. The admissions committee will view 15 minutes of work samples. Applicants may submit multiple projects and should include notes on which portion of their work to consider (up to 15 minutes). Work on which the applicant had only a production assistant role is inappropriate for submission. Student work, however, is appropriate for consideration. Applicants with minimal film or video production experience should submit an example of their best creative work in any medium.

Portfolio Specifications—See the department’s Graduate Admission opens in a new tab website for portfolio requirements.