{"id":1154318,"date":"2022-07-28T08:58:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T15:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/?p=1154318"},"modified":"2024-08-22T14:55:52","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T21:55:52","slug":"best-film-schools-us-and-canada-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/best-film-schools-us-and-canada-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before we start our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada 2022, let’s be upfront: You don\u2019t <\/span>need <\/span><\/i>to go to film school. <\/span>But it\u2019s still the most efficient way to do all of the things you\u2019ll want to do to become a filmmaker: learn to use all kinds of equipment, understand every aspect of moviemaking, find inspiring collaborators, make sense of the financials, and impress industry veterans eager to help you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be expensive, in an industry where nothing is guaranteed. So we\u2019ve made sure the following list includes not just institutions with a proven record of educating Oscar-winning filmmakers, but also those far outside New York City and Los Angeles where you can learn filmmaking from some of the best, at reasonable costs. We\u2019ve even found some well-priced schools within New York and L.A.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you decide to go to film school or not, we hope this list helps you think about what kind of education you need, and want. \u2014\u00a0Joshua Encinias, Caleb Hammond, Deirdre McCarrick, Tim Molloy and Margeaux Sippell.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. West and Northwest<\/b><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AFI Conservatory\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Los Angeles)<\/span><\/p>\n

Counting David Lynch, Patty Jenkins, Andrea Arnold, Terrence Malick and John McTiernan among its alums, the MFA in Directing at The AFI Conservatory is one of the most impactful film programs in the country. It also offers a two-year MFA degree in cinematography, directing, editing, producing, production design or screenwriting. AFI fellows make between three and 10 films over the two-year program, and students learn about the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition. Directing head Adam Salky helps fellows through the entire process with the help of guests such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Guillermo del Toro and Matt Reeves. Fellows\u2019 thesis films are screened as part of the annual AFI Fest, and they are connected with influential artists and key industry players. Just this year, AFI alum Si\u00e2n Heder\u2019s feature CODA<\/em> won Best Picture at The Academy Awards. Last year it won big at Sundance and was acquired by Apple for $25 million. Oh, the places you\u2019ll go, indeed.<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING VISUAL DESIGN TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ArtCenter College of Design\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Pasadena, California)<\/span><\/p>\n

Attending a film school within an art and design college means ArtCenter students flourish in a culture of using stellar visuals to communicate their ambitious ideas \u2014 and to leave audiences in awe. Alums include action maestros Michael Bay and Zack Snyder. The school offers both an MFA and BFA in film, which will lure any artist with an eye for technical precision. It offers a hands-on production program where students learn through creation, and shapes each student to form a cohesive vision for balancing life, work, and managing a career as a filmmaker. And the knowledge students will gain comes fresh from film sets: \u201cAll our instructors are working professionals, which means their war stories are hours old, not years old,\u201d says Ross LaManna, chair of the undergraduate and graduate film departments.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING ANIMATION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

California Institute of the Arts\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Santa Clarita, California)<\/span><\/p>\n

For students who thrive in experimental, creatively rich environments fit for the likes of Tim Burton (\u201879), CalArts can\u2019t be beat. It\u2019s also second to none if you\u2019re interested in animation and respect the craftsmanship of films like Frozen, WALL-E, The Lion King<\/em> or Toy Story<\/em>. \u201cYou can learn technical skills almost anywhere, but I think only CalArts seeks out students with something to say and helps them find ways to say it. You\u2019re not just encouraged to take risks here\u2014you\u2019re expected to,\u201d says writer-director Tariq Tapa (\u201908). It offers programs in character animation, experimental animation, film and video, and film directing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING PRODUCING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of California, Los Angeles<\/span><\/p>\n

UCLA\u2019s two-year producers program is an intimate, prestigious opportunity that ensures hands-on attention from a host of seasoned Hollywood veterans who teach and guest lecture. Past mentors have included Frank Marshall and Matthew Weiner. Lisa Reeve manages the program and runs the UCLA film & television internship program, helping students score great opportunities at nearby production companies and studios. From executive producer and TV writer Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The New Girl<\/em>), to vice president of Legendary Pictures Josh Feldman, past producers program graduates can be found all over the industry. (Case in point: 2006 and \u201907 producers program graduates Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian, and Nate Bolotin teamed up to produce 2011\u2019s Indonesian action thriller The Raid<\/em>.) Each year the producers program puts on the Transforming Hollywood conference, which encourages dialogue between creators, producers, executives and top researchers to examine how transmedia works and what it means.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION AND FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

California State University, Northridge\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Los Angeles)<\/span><\/p>\n

Students at Cal State Northridge\u2019s Cinema and Arts department can take advantage of the school\u2019s extensive relationships with studios, networks and production companies to gain access to internships and jobs, and tap into experienced faculty members who belong to organizations such as the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America and the American Society of Cinematographers. They can also congregate with other student filmmakers and film enthusiasts at the CSUN Cinematheque, a screening program in the Elaine and Alan Armer Screening Room, a 130-seat motion picture theater on campus that is the only venue of its kind in the San Fernando Valley. Opportunities for collaboration abound.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada continues on the next page…<\/p>\n

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OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapman University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Orange, California)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts program at Chapman University strongly believes in personal mentorship and a hands-on curriculum. Nine MFA programs can be completed in two to three years, and students in each discipline work on each other\u2019s productions. A faculty of active producers and executives keep the learning and work running smoothly. In 2021, Dodge opened a career center run by Joe Rosenberg (a professor at the college and former CAA agent who handled clients such as Michael Bay, David Fincher and Ridley Scott) and Susan Finch (who teaches acting and previously worked in casting and publicity for Francis Ford Coppola). The team places students in internships, helps with resume building and job placement, conducts free professional development workshops each semester, and has built an impressive, expansive alumni database. Dodge also follows \u201cextreme protocols for safety,\u201d says Stephen Galloway, the college\u2019s dean. \u201cWe would not allow a shoot without every aspect of safety being covered.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING SCREENWRITING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Loyola Marymount University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Los Angeles)<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s something for almost every type of student at Loyola Marymount\u2019s School of Film and Television, which offers a B.A. and a minor in animation, film, television and media studies, recording arts, and screenwriting, as well as an MFA in film and television production, writing and producing for television, and writing for the screen. The screenwriting program focuses on longform storytelling and helps students build up a portfolio of feature-length screenplays, while the MFA Writing and Producing for Television program trains students to become Hollywood\u2019s future showrunners, focusing on character development and story structure. LMU takes advantage of its L.A. location to emphasize mentorship and building connections early.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada continues on the next page…<\/p>\n

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OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

San Francisco State University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The foggy setting of Vertigo<\/em> and The Game<\/em> is also home to reasonable tuition and a uniquely broad MFA track. The Master of Fine Arts in Cinema offers rigorous, professional training in cinema production that also emphasizes history, theory and aesthetics. SFSU is also part of the Western Regional Graduate Program which allows MFA students from 16 states and territories the ability to enroll as non-residents while paying the lowest in-state tuition costs. And SFSU\u2019s on-campus club, Cinema Collective, meets weekly and helps student-filmmakers gain tangible tools through pitch deck and screenwriting workshops, as well as invaluable inspiration and feedback through film screenings.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Santa Monica College<\/span><\/p>\n

(Santa Monica, California)<\/span><\/p>\n

Located just blocks from the ocean, SMC is the perfect school for those seeking an affordable but robust education near the heart of the industry. California is known for strong community colleges, and SMC is one reason why: There is a well-worn path of aspiring filmmakers who save money by attending SMC for two years, collecting filmmaking and general education classes before they earn a B.A. elsewhere. SMC credits transfer to University of California or Cal State schools. Salvador Carrasco, head of SMC\u2019s Film Program, has created an associate\u2019s degree and certificate program that charges in-state tuition of only $46 per unit. In their first three semesters, students receive \u201cboot camp\u201d-style hands-on training,\u00a0 Carrasco says. A fourth semester is dedicated to making a collective short film sponsored by SMC, Keslow Camera, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.\u00a0 \u201cWe want our students to stand out based on their talent, attitude, hard work and reliability, none of which have anything to do with socioeconomic background,\u201d says Carrasco. Amen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Southern California\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Los Angeles)<\/span><\/p>\n

The largest private employer in Los Angeles also houses one of the oldest film schools in the country. Its unimpeachable results speak for themselves, with an endless list of notable alums: Jon M. Chu, Ron Howard, Judd Apatow, Ryan Coogler, Rian Johnson, Matt Reeves and Jason Reitman are among many who went through the school\u2019s prestigious directing program. John Ira Palmer, who graduated from the program in 2017 and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the school, tells MovieMaker: \u201cOne of the best things the School of Cinematic Arts offers its directors is a deep dive into the collaborative process and all aspects of filmmaking, so you leave with a solid understanding of all the creative tools at your disposal and the ability to communicate effectively with everyone on your team.\u201d Palmer is also a founding partner and producer \u2014 along with Sean Penn and John Wildermuth \u2014 at Projected Picture Works.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Stanford University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Stanford, California)<\/span><\/p>\n

An MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University is one of the most exclusive film degrees in the country. Films from the program have gone on to screen and win awards at major festivals like Sundance, SXSW and Tribeca, and have been featured in <\/span>The New Yorker<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>The New York Times<\/span><\/i>\u2019 OpDocs section, and on PBS\u2019 <\/span>POV<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Independent Lens<\/span><\/i>. The Documentary Film program values independent media with an emphasis on artistic expression, aesthetics, social awareness, and an articulated perspective. Over two years, students direct four films in collaboration with their peers. By the end of the program, they are prepared to teach at the university level, and hold innovative careers in mass and independent media.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Colorado Denver\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you attend the Film & Television department at the University of Colorado Denver, you could find yourself with a paid Hollywood internship or even headed to Mumbai, India to work on Bollywood productions with Whistling Woods International. The Hollywood internships are competitive and go to 15 qualifying students. (Faculty member Eric Jewett \u2014 1st AD on shows such as Dexter<\/em> and True Detective<\/em> \u2014 coordinates the Hollywood-based projects for the university.) CU Denver\u2019s Film & Television is a production-based BFA program. Undergraduates take two film history and two film theory courses, but the bulk of their coursework involves creative writing and productions. Upper-level programs receive up to $3,500 for productions, to give students experience with budgeting and expenditures on set. CU Denver Film & Television produces cinematographers, producers, and many small production company owners in the industry. While actors also come through the program, most alums find work in the production side of the industry. In-state tuition is a reasonable $11,804 per year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada continues on the next page…<\/p>\n

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U.S. Midwest and Southwest<\/b><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia College Chicago\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Chicago)<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Cinema and Television Directing MFA program at Columbia College Chicago, master\u2019s candidates learn to craft character-driven narratives and become leaders. Graduates include Janusz Kaminski, long-time cinematographer for Steven Spielberg on Saving Private Ryan<\/em>, Schindler\u2019s List<\/em>, and Lincoln<\/em>, as well as Lena Waithe, the Emmy Award-winning writer, actress, and producer known for Dear White People, Master of None, The Chi<\/em> and Queen & Slim<\/em>. Students become thoughtful filmmakers by training in Columbia\u2019s Media Production Center and through constant collaboration with their peers. It has a massive alumni base, and its Semester in L.A. is one of the only year-round academic programs on a Hollywood lot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DePaul University\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Chicago)<\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in taking an ARRI Alexa Mini for a test drive, or mixing in a top-notch studio? You\u2019ll love the facilities and equipment at DePaul\u2019s School of Cinematic Arts. Students have access to DePaul\u2019s 32,000-square-foot professional production facility at Cinespace, next door to the production of high-profile series like Chicago P.D. Cinespace includes three professional soundstages, green-screen cycloramas, a scenic shop, ARRI and RED cameras, a grip truck, stop-motion and motion-capture stages, high-end editing suites, and mixing studios. For more\u00a0<\/span>real-world experience, students can get involved in Project Bluelight, a professional motion picture production company within the DePaul Cinematic Arts program. It was founded in 2004 with the twin goals of creating high-quality independent films and providing film production experience for DePaul students. It draws on actors in DePaul\u2019s Theatre School, alumni of which include Gillian Anderson, Ann Dowd, Joe Keery, Kiki Layne and John C. Reilly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY TRAINING\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Missouri, Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Columbia, Missouri)<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you heard of the Missouri Method? It\u2019s the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism\u2019s name for its approach to a real-world journalism education. From the minute they arrive in the program, students learn theoretical and field documentary practices they immediately apply toward a competitive portfolio. Robert Greene (Kate Plays Christine<\/em>, Procession<\/em>) is an associate professor and the filmmaker-in-chief, and Emmy winner Stacey Woelfel is a professor emeritus and the director. Both founded the Jonathan B. Murray Center. Students in the program work closely with their instructors so the final products are professional and ready for public consumption when complete. The program relies heavily on connections to the documentary community through its visiting artist program, which brings in important filmmakers and other documentary experts. The program welcomes both undergrad and graduate students, and has an active alumni network based in New York City that extends across the country and the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING AUDIO PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Northwestern University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Evanston, Illinois)<\/span><\/p>\n

Northwestern\u2019s master\u2019s degree in Sound Arts and Industries teaches students the art and science of sound, preparing them to work across many fields of sound production. \u201cThey are ready to add their voice to a new wave of sound art that is echoing across media industry sectors from podcasting to Hollywood sound design to major museum exhibits,\u201d says professor Jacob Smith, the department\u2019s director. Its Hobson\/Lucas Soundstage is a newly renovated 1,700-square-foot sound studio and performance space, the Northwestern SoundTank is a computer editing lab with 12 workstations, and the Virtual Sound Room (ViSoR) is packed with microphones, speakers, and subwoofers using studio simulations to mimic real-world scenarios. Throughout the program, staff coordinate to put students to work with \u201calumni and industry advisors that include executives at major Hollywood film studios and Academy Award-winning sound designers,\u201d says Smith. The school encourages collaboration across the MFA in Documentary Media and the MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Community College<\/span><\/p>\n

Gone are the days when Oklahomans had to go east or west to work on top-notch television and films: OCCC graduates and students worked on Martin Scorsese\u2019s Killers of the Flower Moon<\/em>, and are currently working on Paramount\u2019s series Tulsa Kings, starring Sylvester Stallone. With just under 200 students, this hands-on program boasts faculty members like Gray Frederickson, who won an Oscar as co-producer of The Godfather Part II<\/em>. In 2015, Francis Ford Coppolla workshopped his concept of \u201cLive Cinema\u201d \u2013 a movie performance piece created in real time \u2013 on OCCC\u2019s soundstage, working with its students. The Digital Cinema Production Program lasts two years, and after one semester, students have access to some of the best, industry-level digital camera and lighting equipment, as well as sound and editing equipment and software. All courses are taught by working professionals. With inflation touching everyone in the country, OCCC is far more affordable than many film programs, at $125 per credit hour. The soon-to-launch workforce development program at the new million-square-foot Prairie Surf Studio in Oklahoma City means plenty of film production opportunities when the program ends. The school likes to say that students bring their dreams, and OCCC brings everything else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING SCREENWRITING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Texas at Austin<\/span><\/p>\n

UT Austin pulls from the area\u2019s vibrant moviemaking community for guest speaking opportunities, so students will learn from locals like Richard Linklater and Jeff Nichols, among others. \u201cI feel like I found my voice in Austin while learning the fundamentals of film craft. UT\u2019s program is really great for students who want the freedom to make their own work within a structured environment. The program is also incredibly affordable,\u201d says UT Austin MFA graduate Katherine Propper. Originally from Los Angeles, she now lives in Austin, making award-winning work. With a few exceptions, students can be teaching assistants in their second year, which affords them in-state tuition rates \u2014 that lowers tuition costs down to an unbeatable $597 per semester. Austin is one of the top cities on our 2022 list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker<\/a>, and the school offers screenwriting MFA students passes to the Austin Film Festival\u2019s annual Screenwriters\u2019 Conference, run by one of our 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada continues on the next page…<\/p>\n

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U.S. Northeast<\/b><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Boston University<\/span><\/p>\n

Boston University\u2019s Film and Television program in the College of Communication is all about versatility, turning its students into Swiss Army knives capable of producing incredible works of art. Case in point: both Safdie brothers are alumni. Students can expect a broad foundation, with an opportunity to choose a focus on Production, Screenwriting, Film and Television Studies or Management\/Producing. Boston was the number five big city on our 2022 list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker<\/a>, so students can easily find opportunities to gain experience on films shooting on location. Major recent projects have included Don\u2019t Look Up<\/em>, but students can also stay on campus and hone their skills at the student-operated station, butv10, or the in-house, student-run agency, Hothouse Productions.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM, MUSIC AND MEDIA PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema<\/span><\/p>\n

(Brooklyn College\/CUNY)<\/span><\/p>\n

The Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema will soon begin its seventh year \u2014 situated within the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Steiner Studios, making it the only film school in America on a working film lot. Many students in the program grew up in New York City and can take advantage of the $10,567 per semester tuition, in addition to scholarships. The school\u2019s executive director is Richard Gladstein, the former dean of the AFI Conservatory and twice Academy Award-nominated producer who famously helped discover Quentin Tarantino and produced his debut Reservoir Dogs<\/em>, as well as Pulp Fiction<\/em> and several others from Tarantino, along with hits including The Bourne Identity<\/em> and The Cider House Rules<\/em>. \u201cWe like new talent. We like nurturing new voices,\u201d says Gladstein. Students in the graduate program will make at least four films while they are enrolled. History and criticism are integral to the program, but the education is primarily hands-on production. Feirstein has first-rate camera, grip and electric gear, four sound stages, construction equipment, seven Avid Everywhere post-production suites, DaVinci Resolve color grading suites, as well as 5.1 sound mixing and recording studios. Its advisory counsel and mentors to the students include John Turturro, Stephen Daldry, Stephen Soderbergh and Randall Poster.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING WRITING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia University<\/span><\/p>\n

(New York City)<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia is sometimes called \u201cthe story school\u201d because of its intense focus on story. \u201cWe believe this \u2018future-proofs\u2019 our students, because storytelling skills are endlessly adaptable, and forever in demand,\u201d says Film chair Jack Lechner. \u201cThey can be scaled down to a web series, or scaled up to a studio tentpole movie or streaming series.\u201d The Film MFA offers a Creative Producing track that lasts three years and a Screenwriting\/Directing track that lasts three or four, and students take first-year classes together and eventually work together on projects. Robust industry outreach and mentorship programs connect Columbia students and graduates with alums, as well as filmmakers, producers, executives, agents and managers.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING CRITICAL THEORY\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dartmouth College<\/span><\/p>\n

(Hanover, New Hampshire)<\/span><\/p>\n

Dartmouth, which counts Shonda Rhimes and Mindy Kaling among its alums, takes an unsurprisingly intellectual approach to the study of film. Its department of Film & Media Studies embraces a diversity statement that calls \u201ccinema itself a colonial construct,\u201d and vows to \u201ccontribute to an equitable and just world.\u201d It also describes Film and Media Studies as \u201cparticularly key to contemporary social change,\u201d noting movies\u2019 history of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and powerful potential to correct them. New Hampshire is a lovely place for introspection and deep study, but students can also get a taste of the film industry up close and personal with a Los Angeles study program that offers them work experience and research opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Emerson College<\/span><\/p>\n

(Boston)<\/span><\/p>\n

Emerson is extremely internship-focused and encourages students to focus on extracurriculars\u00a0<\/span>and independent filmmaking. It offers bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees in film, sound design, and writing for film and television, among other media disciplines, and many Emerson professors currently work in their fields, giving students the benefit of learning the most up-to-date practices being used in the industry today. Additionally, students can submit to the student-exclusive Emerson Film Festival, and the school offers state-of-the-art filming equipment. Though based in Boston, Emerson has a thriving Los Angeles program in which seniors live at Emerson\u2019s Hollywood campus and take classes while doing internships. Many then find industry jobs through the vast alumni network playfully known as the Emerson Mafia.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New York University<\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have to tell you that NYU, located in bustling Greenwich Village, is one of the top film schools in the world: NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduates include Joel Coen, Spike Lee, and\u00a0<\/span>2021 Best Director winner Chlo\u00e9 Zhao, whose Nomadland<\/em>\u00a0won Best Picture. Lee is now an NYU professor. Offering a film and TV program for both undergrads and grad students, NYU trains filmmakers not just to make films, but to stand out. Faculty, staff and students produce over 5,000 films a year. In the graduate program, students participate in an intensive three-year conservatory that focuses on storytelling and helping writer-directors develop their voices along with technical skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING ANIMATION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rhode Island School of Design<\/span><\/p>\n

(Providence, Rhode Island)<\/span><\/p>\n

This school where Gus Van Sant and Seth Macfarlane earned their BFAs offers students a Film\/Animation\/Video curriculum in live action, animation, or a combination of the two, and encourages students to work across genres and mediums. You can thank RISD not only for the creator of The Family Guy<\/em> and its many offshoots, but also for much of the look and feel of The Simpsons<\/em><\/a> \u2014 RISD graduates were crucial to the development and evolution of Springfield. Speaking of towns we love, Providence is a terrific place to learn, and regularly turns up on our annual list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING<\/span><\/p>\n

Syracuse University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Syracuse, New York)<\/span><\/p>\n

The BFA in Film degree at Syracuse University emphasizes original thought and independent film, with a special emphasis on aesthetics. The Department of Film and Media Arts teaches students to think clearly, critically, and skillfully as they learn scriptwriting, budgeting, pre-production directing, sound design, and 2D and 3D animation, among other disciplines. The Syracuse International Film Festival provides students opportunities to work and network with industry professionals, and the school offers off-campus learning programs in Los Angeles, as well as Prague, Czech Republic, and Bologna, Italy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING TRAINING IN FILM HISTORY<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesleyan University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Middletown, Connecticut)<\/span><\/p>\n

About two hours from New York City, this prestigious Connecticut school really knows its movie history. Its College of Film and the Moving Image includes the Department of Film Studies, Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies, and the Ogden and Mary Louise Reid Cinema Archives. CFILM cares deeply about not just making films, but understanding and preserving film history, and supports that goal with a major and minor in film studies, an elementary school outreach program, and a deep emphasis on historical and cultural analysis. The Basinger Center includes the student-run Wesleyan Film Series, which programs films for four nights of every week school is in session. The Reid Cinema Archives, meanwhile, contains a plethora of primary historical records, serving as the main repository for documents about Frank Capra, Elia Kazan, Ingrid Bergman, Raoul Walsh, Gene Tierney, Kay Francis, and more. Also, recent graduate Jack Fessenden, director of Foxhole<\/em>, \u00a0took part in this recent MovieMaker<\/em> panel discussion<\/a> with four filmmakers ages 18-22 on the future of film.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Southeast<\/b><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS AND MARKETING TRAINING\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Florida State University, College of Motion Picture Arts\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Tallahassee, Florida)<\/span><\/p>\n

FSU\u2019s College of Motion Picture Arts offers both a BFA and MFA in motion picture arts, with program offerings in production, animation and digital arts, writing, as well as a film studies minor. The college also features the Torchlight Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, designed to supplement students\u2019 education by teaching them about emerging business practices of the industry. Students involved in the Torchlight Center program can take coursework in movie financing, distribution, and marketing, and then intern to gain real-world experience. Through Torchlight, students have helped present, market, publicize, promote and distribute films including Sex Ed, The Debt, Cold Water<\/em>, and more. FSU is also focused on building up Florida\u2019s film community, using the Torchlight Center to encourage faculty to produce their projects in Tallahassee. The College of Motion Picture Arts boasts that 100% of student films get funding, and touts its 5:1 student faculty ratio.<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING FILM AND TELEVISION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Full Sail University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Winter Park, Florida)<\/span><\/p>\n

Full Sail University has over 40 years of experience in-person and online in shaping the next generation of creators. Its accelerated degree programs allow undergraduate students to earn their degree in 20 months, and graduate students to earn their degree in a year. Degree program offerings include the Film Production MFA, Film Bachelors, Digital Cinematography Bachelors, and Computer Animation Bachelors. Through a program called Project LaunchBox, students receive exactly what they need to create and build their portfolios. The equipment and software in Project LaunchBox is unique to each degree program and reflects ever-changing industrial standards. The university\u2019s campus is equipped with a Hollywood-style backlot, dubbing stage, production studios and more. Additionally, in March, Full Sail opened one of the\u00a0<\/span>first, largest and most technologically advanced virtual production studios on any university\u00a0<\/span>campus \u2014 Studio students to gain real world industry knowledge utilizing the latest technology, while also attracting professional projects to the region,\u201d says Rick Ramsey, Full Sail\u2019s education director of Visual Arts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING CONTENT CREATION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ringling College of Art and Design\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Sarasota, Florida)<\/span><\/p>\n

Undergraduate students at Ringling get to choose between two paths: Narrative or Branded Entertainment. Narrative focuses on the storytelling aspect of filmmaking and how it leads to the visual evolution of a movie, with students learning about each step of the production process, including screenwriting, cinematography, directing, editing, production design and producing. The Branded Entertainment path is for those interested in video production and content creation, focusing on how to engage the audience\u2019s passions with high-quality, dynamic content. Ringling\u2019s campus boasts an 8,400 square foot soundstage, and students get down to business quickly, creating three to five films in their first year of school. They\u2019ll also have the chance to work with industry leaders and make connections with Ringling alumni who have gone on to find careers at Netflix, Comedy Central, MTV and NBC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING FILM STUDIES\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Savannah College of Art and Design\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Savannah, Georgia)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSavannah is a city built for film,\u201d says Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean at the School of Entertainment Arts at SCAD. The picturesque community looks like a living film set, and has stood in for countless other great cities and towns. It\u2019s also home to the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, a major Hollywood destination on the awards campaign trail. It puts students front and center and places great emphasis on helping them learn from visiting A-listers. For example, director Barry Jenkins attended the festival in 2018, and the following summer he filmed his Amazon series The Underground Railroad<\/em> in Savannah, hiring 70 SCAD students and alumni. SCAD offers a rolling admission process because the school is a large, fine-tuned machine, running at the speed of Hollywood. The program\u2019s motto is \u201cWe learn by doing,\u201d and it delivers with excellent production spaces, VR stages, and technology. Recent award winners include Emily Dillard and Nicola Rinciari, 2020 B.F.A. recipients in film and television whose Our Side won a College Television Awards Emmy in the scripted series category. And since 2015, Savannah has been consistently ranked as one of the top four smaller cities and towns on our annual list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING PRODUCER TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of North Carolina School of the Arts\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Winston-Salem, North Carolina)<\/span><\/p>\n

Storytelling meets entrepreneurship in UNCSA\u2019s MFA in Creative Producing program, which is especially well-suited to professionals who can commit to a master\u2019s program while continuing to work. Tuition for students in the B.A. and MFA programs is less than half that of many other top-tier film schools, and the degree programs now provide a cash budget and all equipment needed for every senior student thesis project. The Creative Producing program teaches students about every aspect of the story development process, from concept to draft, with workshops to develop familiarity with the script-to-screen process. Students also learn copyright law as it pertains to movie acquisitions, writing business plans, distribution, and exhibition. Jeff Nichols, Danny McBride, and Brett Haley are just a few of the university\u2019s notable alumni who visit the school for distinguished visitor lectures and have been known to hire students to work on their projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada<\/b><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Capilano University<\/span><\/p>\n

(North Vancouver, British Columbia)<\/span><\/p>\n

Capilano University promises students in its Motion Picture Arts program that they will \u201clearn how to tell stories that evoke emotions and change lives.\u201d Every element of the program prepares students to develop professional and respectful cross-cultural collaborations. Students have access to resources ranging from an 8,000-square-foot sound stage to 3D camera rigs and a 3D editing lab. They can choose from several different directions in filmmaking, including writing, editing, and production. Its also a major draw for those looking to concentrate on below-the-line fields such as lighting\/grip work, costuming, animation (2D and 3D), visual effects, games and virtual reality. Vancouver is of course home to productions from all over North America and the world, ensuring job opportunities galore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING ANIMATION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Concordia University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Montr\u00e9al, Qu\u00e9bec)<\/span><\/p>\n

Every visual medium in 2022 is permeated by animation, from movies to VFX to pre-production, gaming, and more. Concordia is very on top of this reality: The BFA in Film Animation is an interdisciplinary program that marries story, design, sound, and more with the art of animation. \u201cRecently we transformed to a full-digital workflow,\u201d says professor Luigi Allemano. \u201cBut the architecture of the program was founded in analog techniques.\u201d Students in the program work with clay, paint, drawing and other physical materials while editing on computers, so they are ready to go work for Disney, another animation powerhouse, or anyone else. \u00a0Its sprawling campus \u2014 you’ll see Concordia buildings all over beautiful downtown Montreal \u2014 also hosts plenty of events for the Fantasia Film Festivals, one of our all-time-favorite film festivals<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Simon Fraser University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Vancouver, British Columbia)<\/span><\/p>\n

Undergraduates earning a BFA in Film learn 16mm film on Bolex and Arriflex cameras, as well as how to use optical printers and hand-process film. Why? Because the institution believes that learning through film rather than digital video encourages discipline and proper technique. Students are welcome to move into digital in their third year. Simon Fraser trains students in every aspect of the art and craft of filmmaking: For example, those who want to become editors will also learn to direct and write. Simon Fraser also places a strong emphasis on cinematography because of its commitment to film as a visual medium, and not just a source of entertainment. To that end, students have access to a wide assortment of excellent cameras.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING SCREENWRITING TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto Film School\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Toronto, Ontario)<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto is a thriving film center that is only getting hotter \u2014 it\u2019s currently the No. 2 city on our list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker<\/a>. Toronto Film School\u2019s Writing for Film & TV program is having a big moment as well \u2014 it\u2019s led by Michelle Daly, who managed the creative development and production of hit shows Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/em>, Kim\u2019s Convenience<\/em>, Baroness von Sketch Show, Workin\u2019 Moms, TallBoyz<\/em> and This Hour Has 22 Minutes<\/em> during her time as head of comedy at CBC, Canada\u2019s public broadcaster. The school\u2019s faculty includes industry veterans who offer not only the rules of the craft and tips on industry standards, but also real-world insights and credibility. Classes are designed to closely replicate professional writing rooms, and students also gain valuable experience in table reads and the art of showrunning. They also learn to pitch, write, produce and edit for all formats, and emerge from the program with finished scripts to show off their skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto Metropolitan University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Toronto, Ontario)<\/span><\/p>\n

TMU\u2019s forward-thinking approach is well represented by Walter Woodman and Patrick Cederberg, members of the shy kids filmmaking collective whose 2013 short film \u201cNoah\u201d won many awards and has been one of the most inspirational shorts in the screenlife film format, in which entire stories unfold on a computer screen. In their third years, TMU students can pursue an Integrated Digital course of study to focus on digital media. Toronto Metropolitan University was formerly Ryerson University, but changed its name this year to distance itself from 19th century education figure Egerton Ryerson due to his connection with the Canadian residential school system and its regretful history of \u201cassimilating\u201d Indigenous children. The name change reflects the school\u2019s commitment to a better future.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of British Columbia\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Vancouver, British Columbia)<\/span><\/p>\n

UBC\u2019s acclaimed Department of Theatre and Film, established more than 50 years ago, invites undergraduates to pursue either a B.A. or BFA. The first emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills around the theory, history and significance of film, while the second focuses more on practice, combining it with theory. Alums include director, actor and stunt performer Nicholas Harrison, who recently authored the book Safe Space: A True Story of Faith, Betrayal, and the Power of the Force, a heartbreaking and hopeful exploration of how Star Wars helped him deal with childhood abuse. He now teaches at Capilano University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"Best\n

OUTSTANDING TRAINING IN VIRTUAL REALITY\/AUGMENTED REALITY\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vancouver Film School\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Vancouver, British Columbia)<\/span><\/p>\n

VFS\u2019s curriculum includes film, animation, video game production, VR\/AR development, motion and interactive design, programming, and art\/production foundation. It offers 12 advanced production diploma programs that take a year or less, and the one in VR\/AR design and development takes only eight months. VFS also recently began offering new accelerated Pathway programs, such as one with MetFilm School, allowing students to obtain a master\u2019s degree in as few as two years. District 9 Oscar nominee Neil Blomkamp is among VFS graduates who embrace cutting-edge technology as a storytelling tool \u2014 others have created VFX for Game of Thrones, Sonic the Hedgehog, Wonder Woman<\/em>, and more. VFS is also notable for its one-year, full-time Makeup and Design for Film & Television program, which allows students to work with seasoned and active makeup professionals and do mentorships at local FX shops.<\/span><\/p>\n

OUTSTANDING FILM PRODUCTION TRAINING\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

York University<\/span><\/p>\n

(Toronto, Ontario)<\/span><\/p>\n

York\u2019s BFA in Production teaches every element of \ufb01lmmaking, from cinematography, editing, and sound to screenwriting, directing and producing. Students work in \ufb01lm and digital across many formats, in state-of-the-art facilities, with an emphasis on small classes that start around 25 students in the \ufb01rst year and scale down to as few as 10 in the third and fourth years. That means plenty of one-on-one time with faculty mentors.\u00a0 York is especially proud of the Cinema and Media Studies component in the BFA in Production, which helps students not just to make \ufb01lms but to understand their medium in historical and theoretical context.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before we start our list of the Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada 2022, let’s be upfront: You […]","protected":false},"author":1214,"featured_media":1154319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"disable_comments":false,"tpd_featured_posts_arr":"","hide_featured_img_single_post":false,"msn_featured_video":[],"_msn_custom_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41838,41706,41836],"tags":[16062,39975,39976,12543],"feeds":[],"class_list":["post-1154318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film-school-lists","category-film-schools","category-lists","tag-best-film-schools","tag-best-film-schools-in-the-u-s-and-canada","tag-best-film-schools-in-the-u-s-and-canada-2022","tag-feature"],"primary_category":{"term_id":11,"name":"Movie News","slug":"news","taxonomy":"category","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/category\/news\/"},"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=675,height=450,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MM144_Best-Film-Schools_675x450px-TEXT.jpg","fimg_url_thumb":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=675,height=450,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MM144_Best-Film-Schools_675x450px-TEXT.jpg","featured_img_medium":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=675,height=450,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MM144_Best-Film-Schools_675x450px-TEXT.jpg","author_name":"\u0637\u0627\u0642\u0645 \u0645\u0645","author_avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/68b66020c23de01e3844160a1d94d4db?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_link":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/author\/mm-staff\/","post_categories":["Movie News"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada 2022","url":"http:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/best-film-schools-us-and-canada-2022\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/best-film-schools-us-and-canada-2022\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=675,height=450,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MM144_Best-Film-Schools_675x450px-TEXT.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=675,height=450,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MM144_Best-Film-Schools_675x450px-TEXT.jpg"},"articleSection":"Film School Lists","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"\u0637\u0627\u0642\u0645 \u0645\u0645"}],"creator":["\u0637\u0627\u0642\u0645 \u0645\u0645"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"MovieMaker Magazine","logo":"https:\/\/www.moviemaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/mm_site_logo-2.svg"},"keywords":["best film schools","best film schools in the u.s. and canada","best film schools in the u.s. and canada 2022","feature"],"dateCreated":"2022-07-28T15:58:02Z","datePublished":"2022-07-28T15:58:02Z","dateModified":"2024-08-22T21:55:52Z"},"rendered":"