Filmmaking & Entertainment
September 7, 2026 2026-09-17 5:09Filmmaking & Entertainment
Film and Entertainment Programs
Two routes into film and entertainment
One is a terminal graduate degree built around the film you produce. The other finishes an undergraduate degree you have already begun. Both are taught online, in live classes led by people working in the industry.
A production-centered MFA in which you work across screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing and production. 14 terms for 12 courses and a thesis — 9 core courses, 3 elective courses and a 2-term thesis project — carry you from development through to a finished thesis film of your own. Live classes are taught by working professionals and often include a guest from the industry. A one-week hands-on residential in Hollywood or Tokyo is required to graduate.
Entry: an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0, a resume, and a 300–400 word statement. No entrance examination and no portfolio required.
Entry: 60 undergraduate units of completed undergraduate courses.
Compare Film & Entertainment Programs
See Film & Entertainment programs side by side and find the option that best matches your goals.
| Program | Level | Duration | Credits | Entry requirement | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmaking | Master’s | About 3 years | 56 units | — | $37,975 |
| BA in Creative Communications — Film & Entertainment | Bachelor’s Completion | About 2 years | 60 units | Existing college credit, such as an associate degree or enough undergraduate courses | $25,975 |
MFA or BA: which one applies to you?
The two programs sit at different levels and answer different situations. This is the quickest way to see which one your background points to.
| MFA in Digital Filmmaking | BA in Creative Communications | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Master of Fine Arts — a terminal degree | Bachelor’s degree completion |
| Who it is for | Graduates and working professionals moving into film, or further up in it | Anyone who started an undergraduate degree and wants to finish it |
| What you produce | A thesis film of your own, developed across two terms | Coursework across four areas of competence, concentrated in film and entertainment |
| Credits | 56 units | 60 units at Anaheim, of 120 for the degree |
| Length | About three years | About two years, or under one with the full 90 transfer credits |
| In person | A one-week residential in Hollywood or Tokyo, required to graduate | None — studied entirely online |
| Live classes | Weekly, often with a guest from the industry | Weekly with the first hour led by the professor” to “Asynchronous” |
How a film degree works online
Filmmaking is a hands-on discipline, and studying online does not mean learning only from recorded lectures or textbooks. Anaheim University’s film programs combine live instruction, practical assignments, individual feedback and independent production, so you develop the creative and the technical side together.
You attend live classes with working film and entertainment professionals, shoot and cut your own material, and have it critiqued by faculty with credits of their own. MFA students take this further, developing, writing, directing and editing an original thesis film as the culmination of the degree.
The MFA also has a one-week residential held in Hollywood or Tokyo. The bachelor’s completion program has no residential component.
Where a film degree takes you
The MFA is the terminal degree in filmmaking, and it is the qualification normally expected to teach film at college level. Beyond teaching, it is the credential for the roles the program trains you in — writing, directing, producing, cinematography and editing — across independent production, commercial and branded content, streaming and broadcast.
The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Communications is broader, covering film, entertainment and media, and it completes an undergraduate degree that many employers treat as a threshold requirement regardless of the field you enter.
Two institutes behind the programs
Akira Kurosawa School of Film
Carrie Hamilton Entertainment Institute
The Carrie Hamilton Entertainment Institute was founded in 2010 by legendary actress Carol Burnett in memory of her daughter, the actress Carrie Hamilton. It houses the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Communications and its Film and Entertainment concentration.
Why students choose Anaheim University
Live Online Classes
Participate in scheduled classes and discussions with experienced instructors and industry professionals.
Hands-On Production
Apply filmmaking concepts through practical assignments and production work rather than relying solely on theory.
Faculty Feedback & Mentorship
Receive guidance and feedback as you develop your creative and technical filmmaking skills.
Your Own Film
MFA students develop, write, direct, and edit an original thesis film as the culmination of their program.
Who teaches the film programs
David Desser, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus and Founding Dean of the Akira Kurosawa School of Film. Has taught at the University of Southern California and UCLA.
Vikram Channa
Associate Dean of the Akira Kurosawa School of Film, and a Vice President at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Henryk Cymerman, MFA
Cinematographer. His credits include Star Trek: First Contact.
Alison Marek, MFA
Award-winning writer and director. MFA, New York University.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really learn filmmaking online?
What is the residential, and is it compulsory?
What equipment do I need, and what does it cost?
You supply your own production equipment. The program catalog puts the required equipment at approximately $800, separate from tuition. Check the current catalog before you enroll, since specifications change.
Do I need a showreel or portfolio to apply?
No. Neither program requires a showreel, portfolio or work samples, and there is no entrance examination. The MFA asks for official undergraduate transcripts showing a GPA of at least 3.0, a resume, and a 300–400 word statement explaining why you have chosen the program and how it supports your career goals. Applicants whose first language is not English also provide evidence of proficiency.
Will I make my own film?
In the MFA, yes. The program ends in a two-term thesis project in which you develop, write, direct and cut a film of your own. The Bachelor of Arts is coursework-based across four areas of competence rather than built around a single capstone film.
What is the difference between the MFA and the BA?
How much credit can I transfer in?
How long does each program take?
The MFA takes about three years, with a maximum of four years from matriculation. The bachelor’s completion program takes about two years, or under one with the full transfer credit, and allows up to five years from matriculation.
Are the film programs accredited?
Anaheim University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. Accreditation is institutional, covering the university and the programs it offers.
What does it cost, and is financial aid available?
Tuition is charged course by course rather than as a single fee, so the cost is spread across your studies, and current figures for each program are published in its catalog. Anaheim University does not participate in federal or state financial aid programs, so US federal loans and grants are not available — worth establishing before you apply.
Can I study while working full time?
Yes. Both programs are built for people in work: courses run in nine-week blocks with one live class each week, and a new term starts every ten weeks.
Can I study if English is not my first language?
Yes. Both programs ask for evidence of English proficiency — the MFA accepts TOEFL 530 paper-based or 71 internet-based, IELTS 6.5, or TOEIC 800; the bachelor’s asks for TOEFL 61 internet-based, IELTS 6.0 or TOEIC 625. Each catalog lists what it accepts.
Can I enroll from any US state?
Not currently. Anaheim University does not accept students residing in a number of US states and territories, and the list is published on each program’s entrance requirements page. Check it before you apply, or call Student Services on 714-772-3330 to confirm your state. Students outside the United States are unaffected.
When can I start?
A new term begins every ten weeks, so there are several entry points across the year rather than a single annual intake.
Talk to a Film & Entertainment Advisor
Not sure which creative program is right for you? Speak with an advisor to compare undergraduate and graduate study options in Film & Entertainment and find the path that best matches your experience, creative interests, and academic goals.
