WHO SHOULD APPLY
Students from all accredited colleges and universities are welcomed to apply to our Semester Cinema film intensive. Many kinds of students—not just film and theater students—can benefit from our program. Yes, film and theater students develop new skills and are especially well-served—but so are students committed to theatre, visual arts, still photography, creative writing, and even history, literature and cultural studies.
This is because Semester Cinema cultivates essential skills in collaboration, critical thinking, joint decision-making, problem-solving, evidence-based inquiry, creative interpretation, contextual analysis, fair-mindedness, flexibility in the face of new information, risk-taking in the process of creative discovery and more.
One alumnus of our program emphasized this value in our program – writing to say how all that he experienced with us convinced him that he could successfully pursue a career in pediatric neurology.
Students and professionals create a tight-knit creative community while also cultivating practical skills and contacts which will help them advance. Many alumni, who gained their first production experience with us, are now working professionally as cinematographers, production designers, producers, directors, casting directors, editors, gaffers, costume designers, screenwriters and more.
Students interested in the following areas may be especially well suited in our program:
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Filmmaking
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Theatre (acting, directing, production management, makeup, costume and set design)
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Film Studies
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Production (film, television, theatre, radio)
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Visual Arts (production design, sets, props, scenic painting and graphic design)
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Photography (film stills)
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Documentary Filmmaking
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Creative Writing (story and script development)
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History and Cultural Studies (research for screenplays, locations, costumes and production design)
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Applications open: January 1st, 2025
Check back here for a link to our application portal.
Deadline to submit: October 1st, 2025
IMPORTANT NOTE: Each school has their own deadlines related to studying abroad, and your school may have an earlier deadline than we do. Please be sure to check with the off-campus studies office at your home instituion about their deadlines for studying abroad.
We've adopted a rolling admissions process, meaning we review and accept applicants as they apply and we may fill all of our spots before our submission deadline. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible!
Our application will include:
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basic identifying information
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a cover letter
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at least one faculty recommendation
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an optional creative submission
If you would like to apply for financial aid, please visit our Tuition & Financial Aid page for our supplementary Financial Aid Application. The deadline for submitting your Financial Aid application is the same as the deadline for your Program application.
Please send your completed application(s) to Nicole Doerges at nicoleldoerges@gmail.com