Study-option-specific evaluation criteria
Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option. The applications to Master’s Programme in Film and Television - Film Directing will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
Phase I
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Artistic and/or design practice
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What is evaluated
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Demonstrations of artistic work or assignments
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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The artistic quality, vision and uniqueness of audiovisual works, and bold and strong visual and dramatic storytelling skills. The ability to think analytically, recognise and communicate one’s personal processes. Experience in directing actors and in the processes of fiction.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Portfolio
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Suitability
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What is evaluated
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Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies and communication skills.
The need for studies as a director and/or researcher (academic background).
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Bold visual and dramatic thinking, ability to use one’s personal experiences and insights in an artistic process. Motivation and willingness to study and to complete studies in target time.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Motivation letter
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Relevance of previous studies
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What is evaluated
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Content and quantity in relation to the applied study-option-specific requirements
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Degree related to film, theatre or (audio)visual arts
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)
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Academic performance
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What is evaluated
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Grades of the previous degree(s), artistic quality of the degree(s), duration of previous studies/degree
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Degree related to film, theatre or (audio)visual arts
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)
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Other areas of competence
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What is evaluated
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Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications, non-formal education, competitions.
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Experience as a director: the ability to direct actors and tell stories using audiovisual means. Broader experience in the film and television sector, its funding mechanisms in particular.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Curriculum vitae
The committee does not assess or consider letters of recommendations.
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Phase II
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Suitability
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What is evaluated
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Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills/ assessment of second phase assignments.
The need for studies as a director and/or researcher (academic background).
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Verbal expression of one’s artistic ambitions and dramaturgical thinking. Group work skills, the ability to accept feedback and work under pressure, group leadership skills. A knowledge of film history, the Finnish and international field of film and television drama, theatre and literature is considered an advantage.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Interview
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Artistic and/or design practice
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What is evaluated
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Demonstrations of artistic work or assignments
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What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements
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Visionary and dramatic storytelling skills, written expression, strong visual skills and a sense of rhythm. The ability to direct and verbalise the emotions of the actors/performers. The ability to observe one’s surroundings and interpret them in a cinematic form, the ability to produce and analyse text, uniqueness.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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second-phase assignments
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What we look for in an applicant?
We expect our Master's students in Film Directing to have originality, bold visual and dramatic storytelling skills, readiness for analytical thinking and openness to learning. Knowledge of film history, Finnish and international film and television field as well as theatre and literature are considered an advantage. The applicant is expected to have directed actors or performers and directed at least one film (short and documentary films are also taken into account) and/or episodes in narrative television series. We also expect the applicant to be familiar with the field of film and television and especially its financing mechanisms.
The admission commettee will take into account those applicants who don’t have a BA degree, but sufficiant amount of experience in the field of film as well as those who have a degree in other fields than film and audiovisual arts. The committee does not assess or consider letters of recommendations.
Evaluation criteria
Bold visual and dramatic thinking, ability to utilize their own personal experiences and insights in the artistic process, need for studies and willingness to study full time.
The overall assessment also emphasizes possible research interests, written expression skills and the suitability to be a director.
In the second stage, the evaluation criteria consists of communication and social skills, ability for empathy and alienation, stress tolerance and ability to receive feedback.
The talented students who are selected for the major in Film Directing want to develop their directing skills and deepen their understanding in film and narrative TV as an artform as well as learn about the history and theory of the various genres of fiction film and the narrative audiovisual field in general.
Evaluation process
The applicants will be first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option.
The selection process for applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases:
Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria
- Artistic practice/Portfolio
- Suitability/Motivation letter
- Relevance of previous studies
- Academic performance
- Other areas of competence
Bold visual and dramatic thinking and the ability to use one’s personal experiences and insights in an artistic process are emphasized alongside the applicant’s motivation and willingness to study. The overall assessment also takes account of the applicant’s possible research interests, written expression skills and suitability to be a director.
Only the applicants who fulfill the requirements/are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to phase II in the selection process.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria
- Suitability/Interview
- Artistic practice
In Phase II, the evaluation criteria consist of assessing artistic vision, communication and social skills, the ability to tolerate stress and the ability to finish studies in target time. The ability to empathise and to come up with new ideas, as well as the ability to receive feedback are also assessed.
The invitation to Phase II will be sent to the applicants at latest 7 days in advance. Selected applicants will need to accomplish a pre-assignment handed in by a given date before the phase II interview. This pre-assignment consists of a written and an audiovisual part which are evaluated and discussed during the interview.
After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.
Study-option-specific documents requested
The documents requested from all applicants are listed on the Aalto University website (https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes). In addition, applicants to this study option are requested to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
Portfolio
The applicant is required to have directed fiction films. Documentary films, short films or episodes of narrative TV drama will also be taken into account. Your portfolio should include at least one, maximum two films directed and selected by the applicant. The films need to have been publicly screened at a film festival (online festivals are taken into account) or broadcasted on television. A video recording of a theatrical play can be considerened as one of the films.
Please submit your films either as password protected Vimeo links or QuickTime files and ensure that they can be screened on the most common Macs and PCs. In addition, send in a description of each film (why you have selected it, a synopsis or a description of the artistic intentions of the work). The maximum total length of the descriptions is one A4 sheet.
The maximum size of the file is 1.0 GB. Name the file Portfolio-lastname-firstname.pdf. If your portfolio contains password protected video links, include the password(s) in your portfolio. If a portfolio is not uploaded to the online application form by the deadline, the application will be rejected.
CV
The application must include a CV with your personal details, education, work experience, completed films (with your professional roles specified), festivals and other artistic work, awards, grants, workshops, positions of trust and other background information relevant to the application. Before sending in your application, please upload your CV as a single PDF file into the application system.
Motivation letter
In the motivation letter, describe why you are applying to the major and specify what are your special interests including areas of research in the specific educational field. Also, you should specify the strengths of your directorial skills, areas of interest and your views and artistic visions as a film director. Additionally, you should explain how film directing studies at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture could support your intentions mentioned above. As part of artistic orientation, you should also describe your potential career plans after the graduation.
The maximum length of the motivation letter is 4000 characters. The motivation letter is part of the online application form.
Language of application documents
The application documents must be submitted in Finnish (Swedish) or English
