SVA MFA Social Documentary Film

Home
United States
New York, NY
SVA MFA Social Documentary Film

SocDoc is an MFA in documentary with mentorship from experienced, working filmmaker faculty in NYC. Make Films. Make Change.

Join our Community of Award-Winning Filmmakers

SVA’s MFA Social Documentary Film students work collaboratively with our faculty of active professional filmmakers to direct several documentary shorts culminating in their individual thesis film. Guest lectures, internships, and film festivals introduce students to the wider film and television industry - all in the heart of New York City, the most

robust documentary community in the world. Program alumni have won Student Academy Awards and Student Emmys, been distributed theatrically, broadcast on television, and shown in festivals worldwide. SocDoc will not only teach you how to tell a great story - we will guide you toward a career in the thriving documentary film industry.

05/13/2024

See SocDoc Alum Cathy You's CHINATOWN AUXILIARY today!

For Manhattan’s Chinatown residents, the U.S. at first felt foreign and unwelcoming. By joining a volunteer NYPD force, they found a way to both assimilate and protect the few blocks that they were able to call home. Meet these officers in filmmaker ’s Chinatown Auxiliary, premiering May 13 on WORLD’s Local, USA.

01/12/2024

⏭Apply by MONDAY! Apply to School of Visual Arts SocDoc now to be considered in our primary round of application review, and to be be eligible for Department Scholarships of up to $25,000!

Join a dedicated cohort of filmmakers and learn from SocDoc’s award-winning faculty, who are making the top films & series now, to give you an understanding of the industry as it applies to your own films. WE want to make it about you - DM us with any questions about submitting, Learning at SocDoc, or anything else ✨

01/04/2024

School of Visual Arts SocDoc has a whole new slate of Continuing Ed classes for 2024! Take one for taste of doc production, or take all three if you want to fast forward to non-fiction expert!

🎦 CREATIVE WRITING FOR DOC FILMMAKERS
Mon 7-9pm, Feb 5, 12 & 19, 2024 (online) with SocDoc Faculty and producer Rose Vincelli Gustine

🎦 THE ONE PERSON CREW
Sat & Sun, Feb10 & 1 1, 10a-4p daily (in person at SocDoc, Chelsea, NYC) with alums Erik Spink & Amitabh Joshi

🎦 PRODUCING SHORT FORM NON FICTION
Tues, Feb 13-April 9, 6-9pm (8 weeks, online) WITH Erik Spink & Amitabh Joshi

To register for class AND SocDoc's application Q&A session Jan 10:
https://sva.edu/events/mfa-social-documentary-virtual-application-q-and-a-1-10-24
https://shorturl.at/DGOW8

12/18/2023

Apply now to be a part of School of Visual Arts MFA Social Documentary Film's award-winning community of filmmakers. Graduate with an understanding of all aspects of the documentary industry, from producing to cinematography, editing to distribution. Apply by January 15 to access scholarships of up to $25k http://sva.edu/mfasocdoc

12/05/2023

New film! Just polished a video celebrating the success of School of Visual Arts SocDoc's alumni. We love to see your films out in the world, and we love to have been a part of your achievements.
Edited by E. Donna Shepherd (faculty emeritus)
Produced by Erik Spink (2013), Rose Vincelli Gustine, Christa Majoras,
Casey Schreiner, and Maro Chermayeff (department staff)
Sound & AP: JohnMichael Mitchell (2022)
Camera: Weixin Zhuang (2020), Brian Inocencio (2017)
Additional Editing: Mengyu Yan (2023)
Production Assistance by Niko Chen (2025)
Want to be a part of this filmmaking community of hard-working, prolific creatives? Apply now for Fall 2024 and access up to $25k in scholarships. https://sva.edu/academics/graduate/mfa-social-documentary-film/apply?parentId=1403

Thanks to alums Adam Evans, Bao Nguyen, Brian Inocencio, Adam Banicki, Andrea Cordoba, Jenni Morello and Adaeze Elechi!

11/25/2023

👀 BTS of a new SocDoc project you'll be seeing soon! Featuring Department chair Maro Chermayeff speaking on the founding of SVA's SocDoc program. Alums produced with on camera duty. Look out for more to come!

If you haven't yet - register for our next info session on 11/28! To get the on the zoom: see our link in bio.

11/24/2023

And thats a wrap on DOC NYC 2023! It was an excellent two weeks of of Visual Arts SocDoc students, alumni and faculty premiering films, participating in panels, and screening new docs. Shout out to current students LuLu Men and Tabitha Yong for premiering their shorts, and Amitabha Joshi (class of 2011) and Justin Ervin (2012) for speaking on directing and cinematography on the DOC NYC PRO panels.

Congrats also to Faculty Sabine Krayenbuhl Saunders and her film OBSESSED WITH LIGHT, DP'd by camera faculty Bob Richman, which had it's North American premiere on November 11th. Camera faculty Peter Chelkowski screened his film ONE WITH THE WHALE, and closing night of DOC NYC featured SOUTH TO BLACK POWER, directed by faculty Sam Pollard.

Also, two alumni received awards from the festival. Sarah Rachael Wainio (2016) is a Documentary New Leader, while Inaya Graciana Yusuf (2014) is one of the festival's 40 Under 40, celebrating emerging talent!

Join the SocDoc community and get your film into fests like DOC NYC - our next info session is 11/28! To register: https://shorturl.at/tQSZ3

10/31/2023

Alum Sosena Solomon (2011) sat down with our students to talk about her time at SocDoc, and the value of taking risks in your filmmaking. Sosena is currently working with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York creating in-gallery content that will reframe the Museum’s African art galleries, in partnership with World Monuments Fund

This video is fully produced by our current students! Join the one-of-a-kind SocDoc community and gain the skills to make your own films. Apply Now! Online Info Session Nov. 28 - attendees get application fee waiver! https://shorturl.at/kltBM

Cinematographer - Lin Chen
Director - Tabitha Yong
Gaffer - Lu Yao
Sound Mixer - Niko Chen
Producer & Editor - Melodie Rosen

10/25/2023

SocDoc is all over DOC NYC this year! Two current students have shorts in the fest: JUST STORY HOUR by Lu Yao (2024), is part of the Doc NYC U student program, while Tabitha Yong's (2024) PIGEONS MATE FOR LIFE has its world Premiere in the Shorts Competition.

Faculty Sabine Krayenbuhl Saunders's film OBSESSED WITH LIGHT, about wildly original performer Loïe Fuller has its North American premiere. And, camera faculty Peter Chelkowski is screening ONE WITH THE WHALE, an Indigenous story of resistance. Closing night of DOC NYC will highlight SOUTH TO BLACK POWER, directed by faculty Sam Pollard. The film is based on Charles Blow’s book "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto".

Look for us at the festival and check out the rest of our DOC NYC news --> https://shorturl.at/glyFM
School of Visual Arts

10/20/2023

🎬 Limited seats left for the INTRODUCTION TO THE DOCUMENTARY INTERVIEW on Nov 11+12 ! Taught by SocDoc Alums Erik Spink and Amitabh Joshi, co-founders of Vacant Light productions, this weekend workshop will introduce the uniqueness of a documentary interview and what sets it apart from journalistic or broadcast interviews. Hone your skills in producing, sound and lighting in a single weekend.
Register now! https://shorturl.at/dfzJ4

10/12/2023

Applications are OPEN for SVA's Social Documentary MFA program! Gain invaluable hands-on technical filmmaking skills, join a community of award-winning alumni, and gain access to all NYC has to offer to kick your filmmaking career into gear. Apply now - SocDoc is offering scholarships up to $25,000

If you have any questions, reach out to us to schedule a meeting or even a tour of the department!

10/06/2023

🎥 Activate your documentary filmmaking future! Info Session about SVA MFA Documentary online Oct 11 gives you the chance to hear more about our program, and how it can propel your creative career. New for Fall24 - Scholarships of up to $25k per year! RSVP https://shorturl.at/eJORX✨💫

Address

136 W 21st Street
New York, NY
10011

Telephone

+12125922919

Website

http://mfasocdoc.sva.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SVA MFA Social Documentary Film posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to SVA MFA Social Documentary Film:

Shortcuts

Want your university to be the top-listed University in New York?