New York Film Academy

What is the history of New York Film Academy?

New York Film Academy (NYFA) began in New York City in 1992 and later expanded to Los Angeles. Founder Jerry Sherlock established it around an intensive, hands-on approach to learning filmmaking. Despite its name, NYFA is not part of New York University or a public university system.

The institution now offers degree programs as well as shorter workshops and conservatory-style training. Its Burbank location is the Los Angeles campus of the same institution, not a separately accredited college. That distinction matters when comparing campus services, programs, and published institution-wide statistics.

What are the faculties and departments at New York Film Academy?

NYFA organizes its education around film, media, and performing arts rather than a broad set of traditional university departments. At the Los Angeles campus, areas of study include filmmaking, acting for film, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, photography, and animation or visual effects. Program availability and credential levels vary by subject and campus.

Students can pursue selected undergraduate and graduate degrees, while workshops and other nondegree programs offer a different length and type of training. A prospective applicant should compare the specific credential, curriculum, equipment access, and required projects for their intended program; a short workshop is not interchangeable with a degree.

What is the location of New York Film Academy?

NYFA's Los Angeles campus is in Burbank, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Burbank's concentration of studios and production businesses is relevant to students interested in screen industries, but proximity alone does not provide access to jobs or productions.

Students should plan for travel across a spread-out region. Public transit is available in the area, although travel times depend heavily on the destination and schedule; some students may find a car useful. NYFA also operates in other locations, so applicants should confirm that their chosen program and intake are offered in Burbank rather than assuming every NYFA course is available there.

What is the mission and vision of New York Film Academy?

NYFA describes its educational approach as "learning by doing": students develop creative and technical skills through practical work alongside instruction. That philosophy helps explain the emphasis on exercises, productions, performances, and portfolio material in its programs.

The stated approach is an institutional goal, not evidence that every student will receive a particular professional outcome. Applicants comparing programs should examine how much supervised production time, individual feedback, and access to facilities their specific course includes.