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Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A non-profit university with on-campus and online degree programs

Home of Consciousness-Based Education

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

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Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A non-profit university with on-campus and online degree programs

Home of Consciousness-Based Education

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Request Info > Apply > Visit Us >
Request Info > Apply > Visit Us >

MFA in Documentary Filmmaking & Social Transformationonline

Tell stories that matter

Become a transformative storyteller with MIU’s 2-year online MFA in Documentary Filmmaking & Social Transformation. Learn to craft compelling documentaries that illuminate universal human experiences and inspire global change.

Through a blend of hands-on practice and expert mentorship, you’ll transform real-world challenges into engaging, impactful stories that resonate with global audiences. Develop a strong foundation in ethical nonfiction storytelling, refine your production, filming, and editing skills, and gain insights into succeeding in the documentary film industry.

Join a supportive creative community

Collaborate with a cohort of passionate, like-minded filmmakers committed to making a difference. Together, you’ll network, grow, and support each other as you hone your craft and bring your creative visions to life.

Let creativity flow with meditation

Unlock your creative potential through the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM), a cornerstone of this unique program. Backed by hundreds of research studies, the TM technique is proven to enhance brain function, reduce stress, and boost creativity and learning ability. Discover how inner growth fuels your creative process.

Immersive residencies

Each semester begins with an intensive residency featuring lectures, panel discussions, master classes, and workshops led by university faculty and internationally acclaimed documentary filmmakers. These residencies allow you to meditate, reflect, and focus on your creative journey while gaining practical experience in documentary filmmaking.

  • First Residency: Held in-person for U.S. students at the MIU campus in Fairfield, Iowa.
  • Subsequent Residencies: Three online residencies offer flexibility while maintaining a rich, interactive experience.
  • Final Residency: Held in June of the second year, this residency focuses on the business of documentary filmmaking and includes a public screening of student work for the Fairfield, Iowa, community.

Distance learning with a personal touch

Our online program blends flexibility with individualized mentorship. Following each residency, continue your coursework online with the guidance of a dedicated mentor. Over four semesters, you’ll:

  • Engage in rigorous coursework designed to refine your storytelling skills.
  • Participate in dynamic online discussions and collaborative projects.
  • Benefit from a personalized learning experience tailored to your creative growth.

Instead of traditional grades, we use narrative evaluations, providing in-depth feedback that helps you focus on your development as an artist. This unique approach frees you to concentrate on creating meaningful work.

Get started by contacting Adriene

Adriene Crimson, admissions counselorAdriene Crimson is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Adriene will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with the program director or faculty.

Contact Adriene >

Contact Adriene >

International applicants may connect with us through our international inquiry form.

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Degree requirements

To graduate, students must complete all coursework, earning a minimum of 59 credits over the two-year program. By the end of the program, students will have produced the following:

  1. Long-Form Documentary (30 minutes or longer): A polished documentary reviewed by a panel of faculty and outside reviewers based on these criteria:
    • Production Value
    • Storytelling
    • Balanced and Ethical Perspective
  2. Business (Production side):
    • A professional website
    • Project proposal
    • Pitch deck
    • Trailer
  3. Portfolio: a minimum of two additional short films (5-20 min) and other short productions.
  4. Final Presentation: Students present and screen their final project, and portfolio, and reflect on their personal growth throughout the program in front of a panel of faculty and guest faculty.

Featured courses

Advanced Practices in Documentary Filmmaking

This MFA-level course immerses students in the complete process of creating a short documentary, from concept to final edit. Working in small teams under industry-experienced mentors, students refine storytelling skills and experiment with diverse styles, from traditional to experimental formats.

Key focus areas include:

  • Development: Researching ideas, refining voice, and crafting treatments
  • Production: Advanced cinematography, sound, and problem-solving with limited resources
  • Post-Production: Editing, narrative structure, pacing, and sound design for impact

Weekly workshops and peer reviews foster collaboration, culminating in a finished documentary suitable for festivals or portfolios.

Transcendental Meditation and the Creative Process

Fundamental to the Documentary MFA, this course explores the link between the practice of the Transcendental Meditation® technique (TM®) and the creative process. You will discover how to use TM to develop a unique and authentic voice as a filmmaker by diving within to explore the creative process from the depths of the transcendental Self. Interactive exercises, readings, and group discussions help you integrate personal experiences and creative intuition with an intellectual inquiry into higher states of consciousness. The result is a profound understanding of your unique potential as an artist and filmmaker.

Featured faculty

Stuart-tanner-16-14-2

Stuart Tanner

Stuart-tanner-16-14-2

Stuart Tanner is an award-winning investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and writer with extensive experience working for major broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel Four, and National Geographic. His films, produced across more than 20 countries, focus on current affairs and have earned international acclaim, including the Foreign Press Association’s Story of the Year and the Amnesty International Press Award.

More

Tanner’s notable works include Children of Vengeance, a critically acclaimed film on Palestinian militias during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; The Enemy Within, which examines religious persecution in China; and Diana: Witnesses in the Tunnel, an investigation into the events surrounding Princess Diana’s death. Other key projects include Profits of Doom, exploring the World Bank and IMF’s impact on developing nations.

His most recent award-winning documentary, Peace with Nature in Costa Rica, highlights the country’s innovative approach to restoring forests and biodiversity through progressive policies and education. Beyond filmmaking, Tanner has written for leading UK newspapers and appeared in international media, combining journalistic rigor with compelling storytelling to illuminate critical global issues.

Amine Kouider

Amine Kouider

Amine Kouider

Amine Kouider is an award-winning filmmaker, Chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts and New Media, and a founding member of David Lynch Foundation Television. He has worked as the producer, director, director of photography, and editor on projects around the world, including subjects such as high-security prisons, street children in Colombia, homeless men in New York City, refugees in Uganda, Buddhist nuns in Thailand, and Pandits in India.

Cost & Aid, 2025-26

MFA in Documentary Filmmaking & Social Transformation

This two-year low-residency online program features one on campus ten-day to two-week residency per year. The tuition listed here is for one year (two semesters) at the current year rate, subject to change in future years. The tuition includes the housing and meals for the residency at no extra charge.

One Academic Year Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees$24,190
Low interest federal loans -$24,190
Your payment $0
Optional: additional low-interest federal loans?-$17,000

Additional Financial Aid Information

  • Federal Student Loans
    • Your FAFSA automatically qualifies you for the majority of federal student loans for this program. The remaining portion is composed of Federal Graduate PLUS loans that require “no adverse credit” or an endorser. Repayment begins after your enrollment ends.

  • Education Tax Incentives
    • There are a variety of money-saving tax benefits to assist in reducing the cost of education expenses. More about education tax benefits.
  • Veterans
    • Veterans should contact the VA for information on Veterans Education Benefits. Veterans eligible for BAH monthly benefits: The VA utilizes a scale of credits per block of courses; therefore, the VA sometimes pays part-time benefits for an individual month while the university delivers full-time federal aid for an entire semester. Our Veterans Certifying Official is our Director of Financial Aid.

Loan Repayment Options

  • Standard
    • Payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).
  • Extended
    • Payments may be fixed or graduated and will ensure that your loans are paid off within 25 years.
  • Graduated
    • Payments are lower at first and then increase, usually every two years, and are for an amount that will ensure your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).
  • Income-Based
    • Your monthly payments will be either 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income (depending on when you received your first loans), but never more than you would have paid under the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.
  • Income Contingent
    • Payments are recalculated each year and are based on your updated income, family size, and the total amount of your Direct Loans. Any outstanding balance will be forgiven if you haven’t repaid your loan in full after 25 years.
  • Income Sensitive
    • Your monthly payment is based on annual income, but your loan will be paid in full within 15 years.
Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.

Entrance requirements

To apply to the MFA in Documentary Filmmaking, applicants must:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent: Submit transcript(s) showing an earned bachelor’s degree in film, media, or related fields. Alternatively, an applicant’s portfolio may be sufficient to be accepted into the program if it demonstrates significant experience and skills in filmmaking.
  • Résumé: Provide a current résumé that details relevant degrees, coursework, professional experience, awards, and accomplishments.
  • Portfolio: Submit a portfolio of work in film or media-related fields. Applicants lacking technical skills in areas such as camera operation, lighting, or video editing will be required to complete technical film courses before starting the program.
  • Statement of Purpose: Write a statement (minimum one page) explaining why they are interested in joining the MFA in Documentary Filmmaking.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Provide two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their academic or professional work.
  • Interview: Participate in an interview with the Program Directors and Faculty.

Additional requirements

Before your first class

All MIU students practice the Transcendental Meditation® technique. If you have not learned it yet:

  • Once accepted as a US student, the cost of TM instruction is covered through a grant offered by MIU
  • Students are required to learn the TM technique before starting the first class
  • Contact your admissions counselor for details
  • Find information on the TM technique or search for a TM teacher at TM.org

FAQ

  • Do I need prior experience in filmmaking before enrolling?
    • Yes, prior experience in filmmaking, including skills such as camera operation, sound recording, and video editing, is required. This program focuses on advanced technical courses.

    If you don’t have experience in this field, we recommend taking classes from our undergraduate program in Cinematic Arts and New Media. Courses like Cinematography, Video Editing, Field Recording, Documentary Filmmaking, and The Art of Story will provide the foundational skills you need to excel in this MFA program.

  • Do you provide equipment for the program?
    • No, we do not provide equipment. Our classes use up-to-date, industry-standard software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, which you will need to purchase. The subscription costs $19.99/month for the first year and $29.99/month in subsequent years.

    In addition to the software, you’ll need to purchase your own equipment, including a computer, camera, lighting, and sound gear. We will provide links to help you find options that suit your budget. For assistance with financing these purchases, contact your financial aid officer to explore additional grants or loans.

    During the in-person residency portion of this program, we will provide film studio and sound studio access for some of the creative work done.

  • How many hours per week should students expect to spend on this program?
    • This is an immersive, project-based full-time program. While class webinars and required group sessions are designed to accommodate working schedules, students should expect to dedicate 30 to 40 hours per week to coursework and projects.
  • Is there an in-person component to the program?
    • Yes, for US students, the program begins with a 10-day intensive in-person residency, on the MIU campus in Fairfield, Iowa. Room & board during this residency is covered by tuition; students are responsible for their own transportation costs.
  • What kind of studios and equipment are available during the on-campus residency?
    • We have a professional state-of-the-art film/video, photography, and sound studio, as well as podcast recording rooms and a media lounge available during the on-campus residency.
  • How does the online part of the program work?
    • Online coursework takes place in small affinity groups under the guidance of a dedicated mentor who supports your progress. Mentors provide feedback on your projects and lead interactive workshops featuring guided exercises, documentary analysis, screenings, and group discussions. These sessions are designed to equip you with the essential tools to develop your ideas into compelling, marketable documentaries.
  • Do I need to learn Transcendental Meditation before starting the program?
    • Yes, all MIU students are required to learn the TM technique before starting their first class. If you have not learned it yet, the cost of TM instruction is covered for US students through a grant offered by MIU.

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