New York Film Academy - New York Campus New York USA 2025

The New York Film Academy was founded by veteran producer Jerry Sherlock in 1992, who produced such classics as "The Hunt for the Red October". Encouraged by friends of his who wanted to send their children to film school, but found the prices too costly, Sherlock designed a school that was not only affordable but more importantly, was founded on the principle of learning by doing.

Inspired by the idea that to learn how to make movies, one must actually make movies, Sherlock and his colleagues designed a truly unique curriculum. Blending a mixture of traditional film school instruction with a new approach, the Academy emphasizes coursework based around students actually going out and shooting films as part of their coursework. Students write, produce, direct, and edit their own original films while also serving as crewmembers on their fellow classmates’ films to gain extensive on-set experience.

This commitment to learning by doing applies to all of the programs the Academy now offers, with students working with industry standard equipment in world-class facilities. At the Academy, students can choose from a wide range of visual and performing arts programs that includes Filmmaking, Acting for Film, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Broadcast Journalism, Cinematography, Digital Editing, Documentary Filmmaking, Game Design, Graphic Design, Musical Theatre, Photography, Producing, and Screenwriting.

The New York Film Academy is expanding its curriculum as well as its global presence, with five established campuses and many destination programs worldwide. At NYFA campuses in New York City, Los Angeles and South Beach, Miami, campuses students can earn their degree, while at NYFA Gold Coast, Australia, students can immerse themselves in long- and short-term conservatory programs and workshops.

NYFA New York City Campus
By volume alone, New York is indisputably the greatest center of independent film production in the world. The city is the iconic location for thousands of great films like The Godfather, West Side Story, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and acclaimed television series like Law & Order, Mad Men, Girls, and 30 Rock. Like so many other filmmakers, novelists, and playwrights, our students find that New York helps shape their artistic vision. The city is not only a setting for their stories, but also an active element in the lives of their characters. All told, New York City--dynamic, diverse, and always alive--is the perfect training ground for filmmaking and the related arts. The city will challenge and stimulate you on every shoot, every step of the way.

Our New York campus overlooks the Statue of Liberty at the southern tip of Manhattan, in the historic Financial District. A short walk north takes you into Tribeca, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Tribeca, Little Italy, or SoHo. Harlem, or Coney Island, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge are all a short train ride away. Our extensive facilities provide a haven from the hustle and bustle, and at the same time, give you a springboard from which to dive straight into the thick of the city's life.