How to apply
BFA Film Production and Film Animation
BFA in Film and Moving Image Studies
MA in Film and Moving Image Studies
PhD in Film and Moving Image Studies
Undergraduate admissions requirements for the Film Animation and Film Production programs in the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema.
Applications for Fall 2024
Fall 2024 admissions for all cinema programs are now closed.
Fall 2025 admissions for the BFA in Film and Moving Image Studies, Film Production and Film Animation programs will open in October.
Please note that there is no winter entry into Cinema programs.
See below for details and portfolio submissions.
Admissions process overview
Step 1: Complete Concordia's online admissions application
Step 2: Create your portfolio
Step 3: Write your letter of intent
Step 4: Submit your materials
Step 1: Complete Concordia's admissions application
All new applicants must complete Concordia University's online admissions application before submitting a portfolio.
If you are already a student at Concordia please review the following instructions:
Other faculties
Concordia students currently enrolled in another faculty (Arts and Science, Gina Cody School, or JMSB) choose one of the following, according to your situation:
- Apply for a Degree Transfer
- Add a Double Major
- Add a Minor (submit the request form to undergrad.cinema@concordia.ca)
The deadline to submit this request is March 1 each year.
Concordia students enrolled in the Faculty of Fine Arts
- Request a program transfer (see Student Academic Services)
- Completed Transfer Forms should be submitted to undergrad.cinema@concordia.ca for applications to the Major or Minor
Step 2: Create your portfolio
Each work included in your portfolio should be presented with care. Take the time to document your work properly and collate individual works into a portfolio that is assembled into a structured and cohesive portfolio submission.
If you are applying to both the Film Animation and Film Production majors, you must provide one portfolio and an individual letter of intent for each program.
All portfolios must be submitted through the department's web application below.
The department reserves the right to refuse any portfolios that do not conform to the guidelines.
What to include in your portfolio
- Include between 15 (minimum) and 30 (maximum) portfolio items
- Of these, include a minimum of 5 life drawings (figure drawings from a live model) are strongly suggested. Rough sketches and finished poses are both acceptable.
- One self-portrait is highly recommended. Self-portraits may be figurative OR abstract/experimental, and can be created in any medium of your choice.
- Storyboards, animated videos (2D or 3D) or Gifs are accepted if they represent the student’s strongest work.
- A maximum of one (1) live action video and maximum of four (4) photographs, if applicable.
- Avoid submitting "cartoon" character designs unless the you have an established illustration or animation practice, or the work is clearly original and demonstrates maturity of cinematic/artistic vision.
- Each portfolio item must be a single digital file
- Portfolio items must be in supported still image, video/moving image, or audio formats
- Each portfolio item must be accompanied by a brief description (one to 20 words) indicating the medium used (e.g. charcoal on paper, oil painting, digital photography, stop-motion animation)
- For artwork that was created in a team or collective environment, the applicant must indicate exactly what their role was in the creation of the work (director, animator, character design etc.)
- A maximum of 2 letters of recommendation may also be uploaded into the portfolio (not required).
Be sure you submit
An original, varied, Fine Arts portfolio which demonstrates the your unique, personal artistic vision, maturity, creativity, and skill.
High-quality scans or photographs of:
- drawings
- paintings
- sculptures
- collage
- sketchbook pages
- mixed-media art
- fibres/textiles
- ceramics
- installations
- sound art
- performance art or puppetry
- graphic design or illustrations
- print media
- original comics, graphic novels or artist books
- any other relevant original artwork produced by the applicant not described by the above categories
All other artwork should be handcrafted and demonstrate applicant’s unique, personal artistic vision.
We do not want
- Drawings/images copied from, adapted from, or derivative of recognizable/pre-existing animated or fantasy characters, superheroes, celebrities, magazine photographs or established studio-based animation styles.
- Artwork created in or copied from pre-existing animation/comic/cartoon/ commercial styles.
- Scripts or creative writing samples.
- Team projects unless your role is a clearly identifiable creative contribution.
- Generalized applications, especially if you are applying to several different programs. Build your portfolio for the program you are applying for!
Your moving image portfolio should feature only your best work. Portfolio items may be in any supported audio/video format. The H.264 compression profile is recommended.
Your moving image portfolio should include 1 or 2 items:
- Maximum length each of 5 minutes
- Use excerpts from longer works – the jury will not watch past 5 minutes
- Maximum video size of 500MB, or linked to Slideroom from Youtube or Vimeo
- Indicate your principal role in the creation of the work
- Optional:
- Add comments or relevant information about the work
- Letters of recommendation in the portfolio
- Additional creative works if they are representative of an existing practice or training (e.g., photography, graphic arts, design, etc.)
We do not want
- A single 10-minute moving image; include 1 or 2 items that are no longer than 5 minutes each
- Scripts or creative writing samples.
- Generalized applications, especially if you are applying to several different programs. Build your portfolio for the program you are applying for!
Step 3: Write your letter of intent
A letter of intent helps those considering your application to learn more about who you are as an artist and a student, how you express yourself in writing, and what your goals are within the program.
Your letter of intent must:
- Indicate the program to which you are applying
- Be one page in length (250-500 words), written in English or French with attention to grammar, punctuation and quality of writing
Film Animation
- Describe your academic trajectory: are you applying directly from high school, CEGEP, or returning to school as a mature student? How did you hear about Concordia’s Film Animation Program?
- Describe who you are as a fine artist, and why you would be a good fit for the Film Animation program. Explain your reasons for choosing Film Animation as a primary form of artistic expression
- Describe your reasons for applying to a Fine Arts based animation program rather than an industry-oriented animation program.
- Describe your past artistic achievements, short and long-term goals, expectations of the Film Animation program, and your artistic trajectory as a maker of independent animation.
- The Grant Munro Entrance Scholarships in Film Animation are reserved for candidates from communities who are, at the time of their admission, underrepresented in higher education. Indigenous artists, visible & cultural minorities, refugees or applicants from other such underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Grant Munro Scholarships are valued at up to $8000. Two scholarships are awarded each year. Applicants are encouraged to include a brief autobiographical paragraph within their letter of intent in their portfolio indicating how the scholarship would impact their studies.
Film Production
- Indicate your reasons for applying to the School of Cinema
- Describe your expectations of the program
- Explain your reasons for choosing cinema as your primary form of artistic expression
- Discuss the work of specific artists – in any creative field – that have had an impact on your work and explain why
- Describe your past achievements and your short and long-term goals as a maker of moving images.
Step 4: Submit your materials
Applicants must submit the portfolio directly to the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema via the online Slideroom portal.
BFA Film Animation - Closed for Fall 2024. Fall 2025 admissions will open in mid-October.
BFA FIlm Production - Closed for Fall 2024. Fall 2025 admissions will open in mid-October.
All submissions must be finalized by the March 1st deadline.
Required
- Portfolio
- Letter of intent