I am a 21-year-old Peruvian boy and I’ve been a movie fan practically all my life. However, I can remember perfectly the moment when I could witness the multicolored magic of my favorite film. It taught me about the fools who dream have certain craziness inside their hearts that ache and break in order to see the world not the way it is but the way it should be, and how this exceptional point of view can take us toward spectacular places and chances. This lesson I got from “La La Land” may be the only resource I have to try summarizing my experience in Florence. A city widely known as the birthplace of Renaissance and that has inspired artists from different fields for many decades and even centuries. From this very personal perspective, I believe the branch of the New York Film Academy located in Florence is the perfect place to start making your dreams come true. Being able to find programs of 4, 8 and 12 weeks, you really can reach your whole potential as an actor or director in progress. I was in the 4-Week Acting for Film program and it’s probably true that it’s a short one, but I could honestly say that during that time I reached the principal goal of this institution that is being able to tell stories. This unique learning process was supported by different world views the faculty and staff members had from their native countries; all of the time with the same passion for teaching and sharing. They have been working in the industry as filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors for years and due to their experience, I learned from day one by doing, through a rigorous and fun training that made everybody — actors, directors and teachers — work together by developing projects for each week’s assignments using modern equipment, contemporary tools and ideas; and as a consequence, we created an international network of contacts. To many people, Italy is the home of cinema because not any country can give ideas or let the inspiration exalt the feelings from an actor or director’s heart and mind the way Italy can. But talking about Florence, I could say it’s a magic framework since it shows culture and innovation at the same time, and immersion inside an environment where your creativity is free to flow. It’s probably the only city in the world where you can find two different viewpoints such as romanticism and gothic. These have inspired many forms of art, and cinema hasn’t been the exception with great examples like “Room with a View” from 1985, “Portrait of a Lady” from 1996, “Hannibal” from 2001, “Eat, Pray, Love” from 2010 and “Inferno” from 2016. Me and my other 28 classmates from countries such as Mexico, Ukraine, Luxembourg, the UK, Switzerland, Hungary, the U.S and Spain were involved in traditions and customs all the time. I was bringing stories and characters to life that showed the culture and wonders from Florence and even real Italian citizens turned into our scene “partners”. We weren’t only a new generation of actors and directors, we were also a modern version of “The Grand Tour” phenomenon looking for a once in a lifetime experience that we could take and live during every moment we were filming or studying. NYFA Florence is a new branch of this renowned institution that not only offers knowledge, but also personal growth, real feelings and ideas to tell stories using the diversity of its students to its advantage. A branch that started knocking down barriers and usual conventions where there’s only room for dreams and art. Florence gave me the necessary tools to start developing my own projects in my country, to tell stories about the context that is around me in order to improve the society I live in, for everybody, without any difference. NYFA Florence taught me to use the art of cinema as a channel to express the real human values and feelings that we need the most during the dark times we might face. Finally, the New York Film Academy located in Florence taught me cinema is a way of loving every aspect that this world can offer us.

Thank you, Cristina (Martin). I’m in NY now but I really enjoyed your class and it has inspired me to take more acting classes in NY with NYFA. Your authentic approach to acting really spoke to me from my gut to how I act.

I am extremely happy at NYFA and I couldn’t be more excited about studying here! This Academy was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me and I am very grateful for everything I’ve been learning in here. I feel myself growing and improving each day, each class, and that is priceless.

Thank you for creating this wonderful, safe and demanding work environment at your school. I am delighted that I get to learn from such great instructors.

Please Note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes nor does it have a career placement office. The success of our alumni is a testament to their hard work, talent and circumstances.

I would like to thank you for this experience, the first semester has offered me great teachers, classmates, and personal and professional growth. I’m very happy with the program.