Best Film Schools in the World Rankings

Making great movies is something one needs to improve upon. It takes great training, practice, and commitment.

Great movie makers around the world are the ones who have really learned from the best coaches around the world.

In this article, you will find the best film schools where you can take your training.

Movies can do more than make you laugh. Of course, movies need to be funny, but even so, they encompass much more than just humor. 

Movies can make you laugh while exposing some disturbing truths about life and our society.

You would require the best training to make a great actor or filmmaker. So this article has been written to help you find the best schools where the outstanding actors and filmmakers you see on the screen come from.

Take your time and read to the end.

Table of Contents

Why Film Making? 

Movies or films are an essential part of society. They are usually some sort of art used to imitate, exaggerate, and enlarge life’s vast myriad of experiences.

Most times, they expose certain events we may not have seen or known that are imminent in our society.

Generally, films can influence our attitudes, lifestyles, and values. Below are some ways films and movies influence our lives.

  • Movies that capture past happenings teach us about the history and enlighten us about things that were before us. Moreso, it teaches us about certain geographies where those movies are shot.
  •  Every movie or film has some moral it teaches, influencing our character.
  •  Some movies and films come as documentaries, and they inform and enlighten us. For example, films on autobiographies and biographies of great philosophers and thinkers shed light on their ways of living, providing us with a vast treasure of knowledge.
  •  Good music is good food for the soul. Therefore, film music delights us, enriches us, and helps us to relax.

Some moviemakers got their film making abilities as natural gifts, while some got theirs through training and mentorship. But it will be an advantage for you if you add some professionalism to your great acting skills. That is why you will need to get a degree in filmmaking.

You should check out; 21 Best Film Schools In California | 2024

Is a Film Degree Worth It?

Filmmaking is a strange beast, and there’s no other art form quite like it.

It involves the culmination of both creative prowess and technical expertise; throws in the need for extreme organization and planning skills, good communication, and even the ability to draw up financial plans. And it’s easy to see how overwhelming it can be for someone just starting.

As such, one of the first (and most difficult) questions you’ll have when pursuing a career in filmmaking is if film school is worth it.

Here, we consider why the answer could be ‘yes’ depending on your goal.

Don’t fail to read; Easiest Film Schools to Get Into in 2024 | Best Guide

#1. It Builds Resourcefulness

 Filmmaking is expensive. There are no two ways about it. The gear is expensive, and location permits can be costly.

But many rental houses and locations will offer significant discounts to film students you wouldn’t get if you turned up as your independent self.

Film school can also teach you how to make the most out of a small amount of gear so that you don’t need to spend any more money at all.

#2. Builds Good Network

As with most professions, you need to build a good network of people in the industry.

Going to film school allows you to learn from others who have already experienced real-world production and made mistakes so that you don’t have to.

You’ll also get to meet many new up-and-coming filmmakers at a similar level to your own with whom you can work on projects.

It can also help you get internships, crew experience, a job after graduating, and valuable feedback on your work.

#3. Creates Opportunity

Film school isn’t just one thing. You can attend many different types of programs covering an array of topics.

Some are all theoretical, and some are practical, while others are a hybrid of the two.

You can also read; Best Film Schools in Georgia in 2024 | Requirements, Cost, Programs

What Can I Do with a Film Making degree?

Pursuing a degree in filmmaking empowers you with a combination of theoretical and technical skills that are needed in careers in the creative industries.

It is important to note that careers within the film industry are terribly competitive, and consequently, one would need resilience and determination to succeed in the niche.

If you want to pursue a career in movie-making, the following listed roles are some of what you may become with your degree in filmmaking.

  • Broadcast presenter
  •  Program researcher broadcasting/film/video
  •  Television camera operator
  •  Television/film/video producer
  •  Television production coordinator
  •  Advertising art director
  •  Community arts worker
  •  Marketing Executive
  •  Runner broadcasting/film/video
  •  Movie/Film director
  •  Brand Ambassador
  •  Actor/ actress
  •  Scriptwriter

Check out; Top 15 Best Film Schools in Canada | UPDATED

How Long Does it Take to Get a Filmmaking Degree?

Getting your filmmaking degree may take an average of 5 years to complete training. But you must understand that your activity continues after you leave school.

You would require many more years of intensive training from directors and mentors to thrive and succeed in your career walk.

On average, you may require 10 to 15 years to acquire all the necessary training to be a successful filmmaker.

Looking to pursue a filmmaking degree in Canada? Here is a list of the Top 15 Best Film Schools In Canada | UPDATED

How Much Does it Cost to Study Film Making?

In your ambition to become a filmmaker, one thing that poses a significant threat and challenge to you is the cost of attending a film school.

Usually, attending film school is very expensive. One may worry about why it costs so much to participate in a film school.

Now, this is why: film schools are different from conventional schools. Film schools have their particular kinds of equipment that they use in filmmaking.

Furthermore, the school has to re-create the type of environment in which you would be working as a film director, film producer, film editor, production designer, etc.

You must understand that these facilities must be simulated and equipped with all the equipment and software you’d be using in the “real world.” Try creating a pictorial representation of such training; this can be very costly.

Additionally, if the school is a private institution, it won’t receive state funding to offset its costs, so the prices will inevitably be passed to the students.

In short, attending a filmmaking school is quite expensive. Usually, it costs around $20,000 to $70,000 per year to participate in a film school.

On average, you can expect to pay up to $200,000 to complete your bachelor’s program in filmmaking.

See also; 17 Best Colleges with Film Production Majors in 2024

Film Making Degree Salary 

How much you will earn as a filmmaker largely depends on your experience level, reputation, and the size of the projects you are involved in the industry.

According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, directors and producers in the motion picture and video industries earned an average annual income of $115,920 as far back as 2011. The median income of all producers and directors was $70,660 in the same year.

A senior-level filmmaker earns $ 51.41 per hour and an average of $106,939 per year, while a top-level filmmaker earns $ 72.75 per hour and $151,310.

Where Can I Find the Best Film Schools in the USA?

There are plenty of schools worldwide where you can pursue your filmmaking degree.

According to a report on ceoworld.biz, the USC School of Cinematic Arts has been recognized as the best film school in the world. At the same time, the American Film Institute (AFI) and UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television placed second and third, respectively.

What are the Best Film Schools in the World?

Find the other best film schools in the world in the list below;

  • USC School of Cinematic Arts, United States
  •  American Film Institute (AFI), United States
  •  UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television at the University of California
  •  California Institute of the Arts (Calarts), United States
  •  National Film and Television School (NFTS), United Kingdom
  •  New York Film Academy (NYFA), United States
  •  NYU Tisch School of the Arts, United States
  •  Toronto Film School, Canada
  •  Sydney Film School, Australia
  •  Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), India

#1. USC School of Cinematic Arts

Location: London

USC has been confirmed to be the only movie school in the world where students can acquire all the major disciplines of the Cinematic Arts. The school offers an excellent interdisciplinary learning experience.

At USC, students attend about seven classes that teach on films, television, and interactive media. They are exposed to the latest technological developments and storytelling methods in the industry and have the opportunity to meet and network with some of its most successful mentors.

USC has superb faculty and resources that is known to have the greatest strength as their underlying philosophy states that the best education comes from creating an environment where theory and practice are in constant interaction.

This school offers courses in screenwriting, directing, cinema and media studies, video editing, etc.

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#2. American Film Institute (AFI)

Location: United States

The American Film Institute is the second-best film school in the world. At the AFI students are guaranteed to learn how to make movies, and also to master not only the tools but also the art of storytelling. AFI is sure different from any other film school.

The most prolific content creators in Hollywood are graduates of this school. Fellows collectively create up to 175 films a year across six disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting.

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#3. UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television at the University of California

Location: United States

UCLA’s vision for theater, cinema, and television is to be a leading multidisciplinary international professional school that develops excellent humanist storytellers, industry leaders and scholars whose diverse and innovative voices highlight change for a better world.

At UCLA students can find numerous programs in this school. Such programs are online programs, summer programs, professional programs.

With TFT Online, students choose where, and when to work on assignments while still meeting predetermined deadlines. Courses are open to UCLA TFT majors and minors as well as students around the world.

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#4. California Institute of the Arts (Calarts)

Location: United States

CalArts is one of the best film schools located in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles. The school has been ranked as one of America’s top colleges for students in the arts by Newsweek/The Daily Beast.

CalArts offers rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six Schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater. CalArts has continually championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions.

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#5. National Film and Television School (NFTS)

Location: United Kingdom

The National Film and Television School is another top film school in the world. The school runs more than 30 MA, Diploma, and Certificate courses as well as numerous short courses across a range of film, television, and games disciplines.

Furthermore, there are lots of ‘behind the camera courses’ than any other film school, including core craft areas such as directing and cinematography. They also have specialist areas such as script supervision and production accounting.

Industry professionals teach students at NFTS, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and once-in-a-lifetime masterclasses from world-renowned film, TV, and game makers.

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Find the other top film schools here:

Kindly visit these schools using the given official site links to learn more about their programs.

Best Undergraduate Film Schools 

You are looking for where to pursue undergraduate studies in filmmaking? Below are some of the best places to find the programs you require.

  • University of Southern California (USC) 
  • University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 
  • American Film Institute (AFI) 
  • California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) 
  • NYU Tisch School of the Arts, United States
  • New York University 
  • Columbia University 
  • Loyola Marymount University

Best Graduate Film Schools 

Most of the schools discussed above are excellent schools for filmmaking. While some are known for their outstanding undergraduate curriculum and degree program, others are best for a graduate degree in filmmaking. The best graduate film school’s list will include:

  • University of Southern California (USC) 
  • University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 
  • American Film Institute (AFI) 
  • California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
  • NYU Tisch School of the Arts, United States  
  • New York University 
  • Columbia University 
  • Loyola Marymount University

Best Online Film Schools 

There are not so many online film schools you can find. Because acting and filmmaking require hands-on training, you will really need to have practical sessions where you will learn from mentors and other advanced professionals.

Nonetheless, we have found three schools where you can pursue your acting and filmmaking degree online. See them below.

Kindly visit these schools to learn more about their programs.

Best Film Schools in the World: Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a degree in film making?

A bachelor’s degree program in filmmaking usually lasts about five years, but you would require 10 to 15 years to have all the experience needed to become a professional filmmaker.

How much does it cost to attend a film school?

Usually, it costs around $20,000 to $70,000 per year to attend a film school. On average, you can expect to pay up to $200,000 to complete your bachelor’s program in filmmaking.

How much can I earn as a film maker?

According to a report by careersexplorer,  there are currently an estimated 134,700 filmmakers in the United States. The filmmaker job market is expected to grow by 12.2% between 2016 and 2026.
How much you earn as a filmmaker depends mainly on your experience. A junior-level producer or director would earn between $69,000 to $70,000, but a senior-level filmmaker earns $ 51.41 per hour and an average of $106,939 per year, while a top-level filmmaker earns $ 72.75 per hour, $151,310.

Can I attend a film schools online?

Yes, you can become a filmmaker online. There are few schools where you can find online filmmaking programs. Arizona State University – Scottsdale, Lamar University – Beaumont, and The University of Montana – Missoula is the best online filmmaking school. Furthermore, you can take online courses in filmmaking on platforms like Udemy, Futurelearn, etc.

Conclusion

The entertainment world is exclusive, engaging, and fun. Becoming a filmmaker is one lucrative career that will launch you into one of the fast-growing industries; the entertainment industry.

Earning a degree in filmmaking from one of the best film schools in the world gives you an edge over your colleagues.

It equips you with the right skill, attitude to work, and undying passion that you need to excel in this field.

According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the next decade will be the peak demand for film and video editing jobs. It is said that the market will grow even faster than the national average. 

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