Filmmaking (Cinematography)

If you are passionate about pursuing a career as a cinematographer in an environment that promotes innovative filmmaking, this programme is for you. With its unique blend of hands-on workshops, studio and location filming exercises, and high production value collaborative film projects, the MA Filmmaking (Cinematography) elevates your skills as a moving-image storyteller to the level of Director of Photography.

What we offer

The MA Filmmaking (Cinematography) is a pathway of the Goldsmiths MA Filmmaking. It is housed in a new purpose-built media facility with state-of-the-art teaching spaces including film and photography studios equipped with Arri cameras and lighting.

You'll learn sophisticated camera, lighting and gripping techniques, and will perform all camera department roles from Director of Photography to Camera Operator, Focus-puller, Gaffer, Camera Assistant, Spark and Grip. You’ll work on a number of exercises and films per term in your specialist role, culminating in a major film production towards the end of the degree. Throughout the degree, you’ll also gain parallel experience in related cine roles by crewing for your fellow cinematographer classmates.

In addition to developing professional-level skills in your specialist craft area, you’ll attend classes in related disciplines such as Directing and Editing and advance your collaborative skills by working with students across all specialisations, including writers, producers and sound designers. The horizontal framework is designed to stimulate collaborative practice by introducing you to a breadth of filmmaking knowledge combined with a high level of expertise as an accomplished cinematographer.

Expert guidance

Experienced tutors and industry guests provide expert guidance designed to enhance the flow of your individual research, experimentation and artistic achievement. Recent guest speakers include Barry Ackroyd BSC, Cesar Charlone ABC, Jess Hall BSC, Martin ‘Teddy’ Testar BKSTS, Adam Scarfe (DoP), Howard Davidson (Gaffer), Steve MacCarthy (Operator) and our very own Witold Stok BSC.

You'll be able to join the British Society of Cinematographers Club as student members and have the opportunity to interact with the world’s top cinematographers during our annual trip to the world’s largest cinematography festival Camerimage in Poland.

You'll leave the MA with a diverse portfolio of moving-image work that spans fiction and documentary, as well as hybrid and experimental genres. The programme will prepare you to enter the global job market, armed with an enhanced understanding of your practical, intellectual and creative capacities as a cinematographer. You will also develop a variety of transferable intellectual, organisational and communication skills to equip you for a broad range of employment opportunities across the arts and media landscape.

Our students say:

“I won the NAHEMI Best Cinematography award at Encounters International Short Film Festival for my Goldsmiths graduation film. Yet, before enrolling on the MA, I had little previous experience of cinematography. I knew I was fascinated by cinematography and I understood that lighting, in particular, was a painstaking skill."

“Since I graduated from the MA, things have gone really well. So far this year, I've done nineteen short films and two feature films, one of which was picked up at Cannes. It’s all a bit manic and I have no social life, but I love it! So, I would just like to thank the Goldsmiths staff again for taking a chance with me, and accepting me onto the programme.”

“I always used to think of filmmaking as a craft, but after making my graduation film at Goldsmiths, my vision has shifted and I am now convinced that filmmaking is truly an art. It’s not just about planning sophisticated camera moves or complex editing; it's about linking creative techniques to tell a powerful story in ways that people can experience for themselves and literally ‘feel’.”