Department Overview
The Department of Film & Media Arts at ACAPA offers conservatory-level training in the art and craft of filmmaking. Founded as a two-course sequence within the Humanities Division in 1953 and elevated to full departmental status in 1971, the department has grown to encompass undergraduate and graduate programs serving approximately 140 students. Our approach is practical, rigorous, and production-driven, emphasizing the development of each student's personal artistic voice alongside mastery of cinematic craft.
Students have access to the Crandall Cinema (a 94-seat screening facility in Hartwell Hall with 4K DCP projection and Dolby 7.1 surround), two production studios, digital editing suites (Avid and Premiere Pro), a Foley stage, a color grading bay, and a lending library of professional cameras including Sony FX9, ARRI Alexa Mini LF (shared equipment), Blackmagic Cinema 6K, and 16mm film cameras for analogue coursework.
The department maintains active relationships with regional independent cinemas, Vermont Public Broadcasting, and the New England film festival circuit. Production internships are coordinated through the Internship & Career Services office.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film & Media Arts
The BFA is a four-year, 128-credit intensive program. Students gain a rigorous foundation in production across all roles before specializing in a concentration from the third year onward. All BFA students complete a senior thesis film in their final year, screened publicly at the Crandall Cinema.
- Year 1–2: Core production sequence (directing, cinematography, editing, sound, screenwriting history/theory)
- Year 3: Concentration coursework + crew roles on upper-division productions
- Year 4: Senior Thesis Film + Professional Practices seminar
- 128 credits total; portfolio/audition required for admission
Full BFA curriculum and requirements →
BFA Concentrations
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film & Media Arts
The MFA is a three-year terminal degree for advanced filmmakers. The program is deliberately small (8–10 students per cohort) to ensure close faculty mentorship. The curriculum integrates film history, theory, and criticism with intensive production coursework, culminating in a feature-length or substantial short-format thesis film.
- Year 1: Graduate production core + Film History/Theory seminars (I & II)
- Year 2: Advanced concentration coursework; thesis proposal defended in spring
- Year 3: Thesis film production and post-production; public thesis screening
- 54 credits total; GRE not required; portfolio and writing sample required
- Teaching assistantship positions available (tuition remission + stipend)
Full MFA curriculum and requirements →
MFA Concentrations
Concentrations — Detail
| Concentration | Available In | Description | Sample Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directing | BFA, MFA | Covers narrative and non-fiction directing. Emphasis on working with actors, visual storytelling, and personal filmmaking voice. | Scene Direction I & II; Directing the Non-Actor; Advanced Narrative Workshop; Genre Studies |
| Cinematography | BFA | Covers camera operation, lighting design, color theory, lens craft, and digital/photochemical workflows. | Lighting for Film I & II; Digital Cinematography; Optical Theory; Color Grading Lab |
| Editing & Post-Production | BFA | Covers narrative editing, sound design, visual effects integration, and the full post-production pipeline. | Editorial Theory; Advanced Avid; Sound Design; Picture Lock Practicum |
| Documentary | BFA, MFA | Investigates the history, ethics, and craft of documentary filmmaking. Students produce short and long-form non-fiction works. | History of Documentary; Observational Cinema; Ethics of Representation; Doc Production Lab |
| Screenwriting | BFA, MFA | Develops feature, short, and serial script writing. Emphasis on story structure, character, dialogue, and professional script format. | Script Analysis; Feature Writing I & II; Writing for Series; Adaptation Workshop |
Faculty
The department has 11 full-time faculty. Part-time instructors and visiting artists are listed separately in the Visiting Artists & Adjunct roster.
| Name | Title | Specialization | Terminal Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Ellsberg | Professor & Department Chair | Narrative directing; independent feature film | MFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts |
| Chukwuemeka Okafor | Professor | Documentary filmmaking; postcolonial film theory | MFA, University of Southern California |
| Sandra Rideout | Associate Professor | Cinematography; analog and hybrid film processes | MFA, RISD |
| Vincent Marchetti | Associate Professor | Screenwriting; adaptation; genre theory | MFA, Columbia University |
| Diana Yuen | Associate Professor | Editing; post-production; sound design | MFA, California Institute of the Arts |
| Thomas Albrecht | Associate Professor | Film history and theory; European cinema | PhD, University of Chicago |
| Rosa De León | Assistant Professor | Documentary; activist and community cinema | MFA, University of Texas at Austin |
| Phillip Nguyen | Assistant Professor | Cinematography; color science; virtual production | MFA, AFI Conservatory |
| Caroline Bristow | Assistant Professor | Experimental film; expanded cinema; installation | MFA, Bard College |
| Gerald Hayes | Lecturer (full-time) | Production sound; Foley; audio post-production | BFA, Berklee College of Music (cert. CAS) |
| Irén Szabó | Artist-in-Residence (2023–2026) | Documentary; Central European cinema; archive-based practice | DLA, Hungarian University of Fine Arts |
Visiting Artists & Adjunct instructors for 2024–25 →
Crandall Cinema
Located in Hartwell Hall, Room 110, the Crandall Cinema is ACAPA's dedicated film screening facility. It seats 94 and is equipped with a Christie 4K DCP laser projector, Blu-ray and 35mm/16mm projection capability, Dolby 7.1 surround sound, and a full accessibility package including induction loop hearing assist.
The Crandall hosts the department's weekly Screening Series (Wednesdays, 7:00 PM, free with ACAPA ID), the annual ACAPA Student Film Showcase each April, MFA Thesis Screenings, and visiting filmmaker events. The space is also available for academic rental by other ACAPA departments.
Student Work & Achievements
| Date | Student(s) | Award / Honor |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Priya Nair (MFA Year 2) | Best Documentary Short — Northeast Student Film Festival. Film: The Salt Farmers of Champlain. |
| March 2025 | Kofi Asante-Brown, Lucia Ferreiro, Devon Park (BFA Year 4) | Swept Experimental Category (1st, 2nd, 3rd) — Northeast Student Film Festival. |
| November 2024 | Marcus Webb (MFA Year 3) | Selection, Green Mountain Independent Film Forum; thesis film Meridian. |
| April 2024 | Saoirse Callahan (BFA Year 4) | Best Screenplay, ACAPA Student Film Showcase 2024. |
| January 2024 | Dept. faculty & students | Vermont Arts Council production grant awarded; supported two student documentary short projects. |
Upcoming Events
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2025 | Screening Series: Jeanne Dielman (Chantal Akerman, 1975) — introduced by Prof. Albrecht | Crandall Cinema, 7:00 PM |
| Apr 10, 2025 | Visiting Filmmaker: Tomás Rivas (documentary director) — talk + Q&A | Hartwell Hall 204, 4:30 PM |
| Apr 17, 2025 | BFA Senior Thesis rough-cut review (internal, dept. only) | Editing Suite B |
| Apr 24, 2025 | MFA Thesis Film Screenings — Program A (6:00 PM) / Program B (8:30 PM) | Crandall Cinema — Free admission |
| May 1, 2025 | BFA Senior Thesis Screening & Senior Showcase | Crandall Cinema, 5:00 PM |
| May 8, 2025 | End-of-Year Departmental Reception — all students and faculty | Hartwell Hall Atrium, 6:00 PM |
MFA Thesis Screening program and director notes →
Admissions
BFA Admissions
- Common App or ACAPA application (deadline: Feb 1 for fall entry)
- Portfolio: 3–5 min. film sample OR 5–10 pages of script/treatment
- Personal statement (500–700 words)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Optional: portfolio review interview (scheduled Feb–March)
MFA Admissions
- Application deadline: January 15 for fall entry
- Work sample: film(s) totaling no more than 20 minutes, or feature-length screenplay
- Statement of purpose (800–1,000 words)
- Critical writing sample (5–10 pages)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Interview required (selected candidates, February–March)
Department Resources & Links
- Crandall Cinema — specs & rental
- Equipment Room — cameras, lighting, audio gear
- Editing Suites — booking and software
- Visiting Artists & Adjunct Faculty 2024–25
- Internship & Career Services
- Notable Alumni
- Student Organizations (ACAPA Film Collective, Doc Lab)
- Weekly Screening Series schedule
- Course listings — Film & Media Arts
Department Contact
| Chair | Margaret Ellsberg |
| Department office | Hartwell Hall, Room 106 |
| Phone | (802) 555-0183 |
| filmarts@acapa.edu | |
| Office hours | Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Tue 12–2 PM) |