Are you looking for the best film schools? If yes, you’ve come to the right place. Though not required for a job in the entertainment business, attending one of the best film schools may give prospective filmmakers an essential professional springboard.
You may study the fundamentals of your trade there, network with individuals who may become future partners, and even obtain real-world experience before receiving your certificate. So let’s have a look at what the best film schools are.
List Of The Best Film Schools
- American Film Institute
- California Institute of the Arts
- Los Angeles Film School
- USC School of Cinematic Arts
- London Film School
- Toronto Film School
- Vancouver Film School
- Concordia University
- Sydney Film School, Australia
- City University of Hong Kong’s School of Creative Media
Best Film Schools
1. American Film Institute (AFI)
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a non-profit film organization in the United States that teaches filmmakers and celebrates the history of the motion picture arts. AFI is sponsored by individual donations as well as public membership fees. Despite its changes in leadership, the school is one of the best film schools in the world.
The American Film Institute is a well-known film school in Los Angeles that is an excellent choice for students who have previously earned an undergraduate degree. The MFA programs at the institution include Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting.
These programs are challenging, as students cooperate with their peers to make four to ten films over two years at the school. Still, they also depart with multiple projects under their belts and important real-world filmmaking experience.
Students may create up to four personal films during their studies and get help from visiting industry gurus such as 12 Years a Slave filmmaker Steve McQueen. The American Film Institute’s graduates include South Park producer Anne Garefino and Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, who received 27 Emmy nominations in 2017.
2. California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, or CalArts, is located approximately 30 miles north of Los Angeles and offers more than a dozen degree programs in the media, literary, performing, and visual arts. The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in cinema, including a BFA and MFA in Film and Video, a BFA in Character Animation, and an MFA in Film Directing.
Because of CalArts’ closeness to Los Angeles, students may take advantage of internships and networking opportunities to get a head start in the business after graduation. CalArts’ six schools provide comprehensive degree programs in the visual, performing, media, and literary arts, with hands-on experience and customized faculty mentorship at every level.
Tim Burton, an early CalArts alumnus, has been followed by prominent Disney animators, including Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), Brad Bird (The Incredibles), and Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee (Frozen). CalArts offers BA, MA, MFA, and DMA degrees in film studies (Doctor of Musical Arts).
3. Los Angeles Film School
Choose the Los Angeles Film School if you are fresh out of high school and want to work in the film business but lack suitable background and experience. The LA Film Institution, one of the best film schools, is regarded as one of the finest for individuals just beginning in this field.
The Los Angeles Film School is a for-profit institution in Los Angeles, California, that offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in entertainment-related fields. The Los Angeles Recording Institution is part of the school, certified by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
It has a low yearly cost and provides full scholarships to all students in their third year. Students must be 18 years old or older to be admitted to the school and audition. With lessons in camera operation, sound engineering, lighting, and editing, the school aspires to deliver education that fits the expectations of today’s industry.
The school provides online programs in Digital Filmmaking, Entertainment Business, Graphic Design, Music Production, and Animation in addition to the programs provided at its Hollywood location. One of the school’s facilities is the historic RCA Building, which was a recording studio for performers such as Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. Annual tuition rates, including books, technology, and other fees, are expected to range from $30,000 to $87,000 for both local and foreign students.
4. London Film School
The London Film School (LFS) is a film school located in a converted brewery in Covent Garden, London, next to Soho, a center of the UK film industry. It is the UK’s oldest film school. Pursue a graduate degree from the London Film School or LFS to sharpen your filmmaking abilities in the heart of Europe’s film industry.
The London Film School is routinely regarded as the best filmmaking school in Europe and one of the world’s best film schools. LFS provides a variety of postgraduate degrees, including an MA in Filmmaking, an MA in Screenwriting, and, in collaboration with the University of Exeter, an MA in International Film Business and a Ph.D. in Film by Practice.
The LFS Workshops label also provides a variety of short and part-time professional development courses. LFS attracts students from all over the globe and is expressly designed as an international community; around 70% of its students are from countries other than the United Kingdom. LFS is a ScreenSkills-approved training provider. If you attend this school, you won’t regret it.
As of 2019, Tisch alumni included 22 Academy Award winners, 17 Emmy Award winners, 12 Tony Award winners, and four Grammy Awards winners. The school has over 25,000 graduates working in the arts and allied fields, with more alums in Broadway theater than any other theater school in the United States.
5. USC School of Cinematic Arts
Many of Hollywood’s most famous filmmakers began their careers at the University of Southern California’s USC School of Cinematic Arts. The USC School of Cinematic Arts, which receives millions of dollars in annual funding from people like George Lucas, provides world-class media facilities, including an IMAX theater and research center, making it one of the most cutting-edge film institutions in Los Angeles.
The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) has seven academic divisions: Film & Television Production; Cinema & Media Studies; John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts; John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television; Interactive Media & Games; Media Arts + Practice; Peter Stark Producing Program.
The USC School of Cinematic Arts is overseen by dean Elizabeth Monk Daley, who holds the Steven J. Ross/Time Warner Chair and is the university’s longest-serving dean, having led the cinema school since 1991.
Those interested in starting their education at USC can choose from a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a BA in Cinema & Media Studies, BA in Animation & Digital Arts, BA or BFA in Cinematic Arts, Film & Television Production, BFA in Writing for Screen & Television, MA in Cinema & Media Studies, MFA in Animation & Digital Arts, MFA in Writing for Screen & Television, MFA in Producing, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design or Sound USC, like UCLA, offers a Ph.D. program in Cinema & Media Studies to those who are interested.
6. Toronto Film School
The Toronto Film School is a for-profit post-secondary educational institution located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The film, entertainment, fashion, design, and video games are among the creative diploma programs available at the institution. TFS also offers part-time and online diploma programs in addition to full-time programs.
The Toronto Film School is one of Canada’s best film schools. The Toronto Film Institution is a career-focused school with a solid dedication to delivering real industry expertise. Its curriculum ranges from film and television production to interior design. The Toronto Film School’s programs last between one and two years, and all students finish with a diploma.
7. Vancouver Film School
The Vancouver Film School (VFS) is a private art and entertainment school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1987 and has gained worldwide acclaim. The Vancouver Film School has six buildings on campus spread around Downtown Vancouver. As part of the school’s 20th-anniversary celebrations in 2007, one million dollars was put aside in scholarships for incoming students in August 2006.
Film Production, Makeup Design for Film & Television, Acting for Film & Television, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Digital Design, Classical Animation, Foundation Visual Art & Design, Game Design, Entertainment Business Management, Sound Design for Visual Media, and Writing for Film & Television is among the one-year post-secondary programs offered by the school.
VFS now offers a four-month Acting Essentials course and a six-month Digital Character Animation curriculum. To apply to VFS, you must be a high school graduate or at least 19 years old. VFS students study all areas of filmmaking, including camera, sound, lighting, editing, and screenplay.
8. Concordia University
The Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University is Canada’s biggest university-based center for studying film animation, film production, and cinema studies. The institution offers over 45 programs and degrees, ranging from its academic division to its commercial section, with over 2000 MMHSC students and over 500 foreign students from 75 nations on campus.
It is one of nine departments in the university’s Faculty of Fine Arts, which provides world-class programs in visual, performing, cinematic, design, digital, and therapeutic arts. The acclaimed Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema offers a BFA with majors in Film Animation, Film Production, and Film Studies, an MFA in Cinematic Arts, and MA and Ph.D. degrees in Film Studies.
Aside from cinema studies, the art department provides other degree programs in fields such as contemporary dance, jazz studies, studio painting, and many more.
9. Sydney Film School, Australia
Australia is a popular study-abroad location, and those interested in film studies should explore the prestigious Sydney Film School (SFS), which was formed 14 years ago. It is a private film school that offers two one-year courses: the Diploma of Screen and Media and the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media.
The Sydney Film School has been in operation for 14 years and provides undergraduate and graduate film studies programs. The institution assists students in honing their abilities in writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. The Diploma program is an introductory curriculum for students with no prior filmmaking experience that covers all aspects of filmmaking.
The Advanced Diploma is intended for more in-depth study and includes specializations such as Production and Cinematography, among others, to help students improve their skills. International students are expected to pay roughly $19,000 in tuition.
10. City University of Hong Kong’s School of Creative Media
The City University of Hong Kong’s School of Creative Media may be the right alternative for students seeking educational opportunities in Asia. It is a well-known media institution that offers a variety of programs such as Digital Media and Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, and Film and Television Production.
It is the region’s first such school, providing multidisciplinary training programs in various fields, including computer science, fine arts, visual design, creative writing, cultural studies, and digital technology. The institution provides BA and BSc in Creative Media, BAS New Media, MA and MFA in Creative Media, and Ph.D./MPhil programs.
Study abroad exchange programs and internships are interwoven into the programs, allowing students industry experience. Admissions are stringent and may involve written examinations, interviews, and portfolio submissions to determine the applicant’s fit with the institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LA Film School Legit?
Yes, it is. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges has granted the Los Angeles Film School (ACCSC) accreditation. The US Department of Education recognizes ACCSC as a nationally recognized accrediting organization.
What Is CalArts Well-Known For?
California Institute of the Arts is recognized worldwide as a game-changer in professional artist education.
Is The American Film Institute Recognized?
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission has accredited the AFI Conservatory.
References
- https://www.topuniversities.com/courses/communication-media-studies/top-film-schools-around-world
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/top-25-american-film-schools-ranked-1134785/1-usc-2/
- https://www.careersinfilm.com/best-film-schools/
- https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/top-ten-film-schools-in-the-world-articlepage-1799
