15 Best Film Schools in the World in 2018

Dear film lovers and future film students, today’s list of the best film schools in the world in 2018, is completely dedicated to you. So, my advice is that you read the article as you look at the movie – don’t stop until you reach the end.

David Lunch, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton and many other film directors, were once in the same position of a starter, as you might find yourself. It is one hell of a road to take to be even near those names. Out of many students who study to become film directors, just a few of them get broadly known and successful. We can say it depends on the talent, but I must add that sometimes that is not as important as the opportunities you can get while studying. Opportunities are just not the same everywhere. If you are studying in one of the best film schools in the world, as time passes, you will realize that you are in the best position, in comparison to your colleagues in Asia, some parts of Europe and let’s say Balkans. In the US you have the freedom to shoot whatever pops into your mind and to very easily get financial support for it. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the US constitution, and it is, indeed, respected! Moreover, as you will see, soon enough, some of the best film school in the world are precisely in this part of the globe.

Even though the American film industry is very popular and rich, in my opinion, it cannot even compete with European movies regarding quality. European movies have a story in which you don’t know the end from the very beginning. Easy as that! And of course, some of the best film schools are in Europe, as well. Moreover, in the lists of top 100 film schools, usually within the first five places is some European film school, such as, for example, La Fémis in Paris. For other ones, you can check out our previous article — 10 Best Film Schools in Europe. On the other hand, we could say that Canada is somewhere in between Hollywood and Europe. Some of the top film schools in Canada are also on our today’s list, as well as in our previous articles. Don’t be lazy to read all about 7 Best Film Schools in Canada.

Our list of best film schools in the world in 2018 is a result of detailed online research and obtained information from sources such as Top Universities for the year 2018, EducationStoryBlocks and Film Lifestyle for a few previous years, and The Hollywood Reporter, among others. We took the most repeated suggestions for the best film school in the world in this year. In the same time, we tried to keep the openness and diversities; therefore we have best film schools from different continents. There is no particular ranking as they are all very good and respected. However, in order to have it clearer while reading, we put schools in little groups according to the continent they belong to. Furthermore, the continents go in alphabetical order. So, first we have America (the US and Canada), then Australia, Asia and finally Europe.

So, let’s see the top film schools in the world. Enjoy!

15. CalArts School of Film and Video

This LA film school is most famous for an extraordinary and, at the same time, peculiar film director – Tim Burton. He found the inspiration for fairy-tales films such as Alice in Wonderland and Edward Scissorhands, among others, precisely in this school. The tuition fee is $48,660 for all students excluding M.A. in Aesthetics and Politics students. If you are into animations, this school is the best choice in the whole Hollywood.

14. USC School of Cinematic Arts

Probably the most important alumni from this school, regarding the film achievements, is George Lucas – director of Star Wars! This school was established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been ranked as one of the best film programs in the world on several occasions. Tuition fee is $48,347 for undergraduates and $34,079 – $49,601 for graduates.

13. Kanbar Institute of Film & Television

On the 13th place on our list of best film schools in the world in 2018 is Kanbar Institute of Film&Television — one of the rare American film schools out of LA! It is based in the New York City, and it is a part of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Among world-class alumni are Martin Scorsese and creator of US TV series Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan. Moreover, in the last year, six members of this school were nominated for an Oscar. The tuition fee is $26,451 for all students.

12. American Film Institute (AFI)

Among the top film schools in the US is American Film Institute. Some of the most famous film directors such as Darren Aronofsky, who made Black Swan, was once part of this institution. Also, South Park producer Anne Garefino is one of the alumni along with, one and only, David Lunch. Another interesting and important thing to mention is that students are enabled to produce around four films during their studies, which is quite an opportunity! Tuition fees include production materials as well, and they are $57,340 for 1st-year students and $59,348 for 2nd-year students.

11. Toronto Film School

Toronto Film School is one of the best film schools in Canada. Its curriculum offers a variety of choice within the subjects, concentrated mostly on providing practical knowledge. Programs last between one and two years. The tuition fee is US$16,955 for a one-year program, while for the two-year program it is $24,000.

10. Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA)

We are continuing our list of best film schools in the world in 2018 with KAFA, which is situated in South Korea, and it is established in 1984 by the Film Promotion Committee for the cultivation of film professionals. It makes the core of the nation’s film industry. They foster individuality, small-scale cooperative education and they are production-orientated. The number of students in 2017 was 320.

9. Steve Tisch School of Film and Television at the University of Tel Aviv

In the Middle East, Steve Tisch School of Film and Television is considered to be among the top schools for film education. It offers many opportunities for developing proficiency in film and television production as well as for studying cinema history, cultural theories, and film criticism. Moreover, the whole Tel Aviv University is ranked as the 11th top university in the world.

8. Beijing Film Academy

One of my favorite among best film schools in the world in 2018 is Beijing Film Academy. Why? Because is the only film school in enormous China! Moreover, it is one of the best in the whole region of Asia. It offers courses taught in Chinese, but in English as well. For international students, the tuition fee is $12,720 per year.

7. Sydney Film School

Sydney Film School ranks 7th on our list of best film schools in the world in 2018. It is not just among the top film schools in Australia, but globally as well. Each year, its production houses produce around 200 short films, while at the same time they offer training and education in the field. Courses could be taken individually, or by applying for a full two-year program.

6. University of Television & Film Munich (HFF)

The University of Television and Film Munich upholds a tradition of comprehensive training in many aspects of movie-making such as creative design, film craft, and technology, as well as the media science and business. By German law, all universities are free, so you have one worry less while applying! In the same time, this is the only film school in the list which is free.

5. Lodz Film School

Another one of the best film academies in Europe is Lodz Film School, or the Polish National Film, Television and Theater School. This institution helped the most in establishing the Polish cinema industry, which is, by the way, very good one! Besides regular studies, it also offers part-time, postgraduate and Ph.D. courses, ranging from two to five years of study. The tuition fee is $9,940 – 14,920 per year for all students.

4. National Film and Television School (NFTS)

When it comes to the best film schools UK and National Film and Television school are on the 4th place on our list. This school is established in 1971 at Beaconsfield Studios in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Its courses are almost 100% practical, and students produce around hundred films per year. In 2014, in the Hollywood Reporter’s Top 15 International film schools, it made it to the number one. Also, the BBC stated that the NFTS was the “leading center of excellence for education in film and television program making.” Tuition fee for it is $17,800 per year for domestic students at MA programs and $37,700 per year for international students at MA programs.

And now, let’s see the top three best film schools in the world in 2018, shall we?

3.  London Film School (LFS)

Even older than previously mentioned school in the UK is London Film School, established in 1956. It changed its name over the years until 2001, when it got the current one. LFS is the only graduate-only film conservatoire specifically constituted as an international community. It is very interesting that around 75% of its students are not domestic ones! The tuition fee is $78,043 for all students, regardless where they come from, for the two-year program.

2. La Fémis

La Fémis ranks second on our list of best film schools in the world in 2018. It is the state university in Paris which is the best in France and among the top ones in Europe. In 2014, The Hollywood Reporter ranked it third in the world! Its alumni have won three most prestigious film prizes — Cannes Film Festival’s Golden Palm, Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion and Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear. One of the most famous alumni is certainly Francois Ozon. The tuition fee for this school is just $517 for domestic students, while for the international ones is $15,334.

1. Academy of Performing Arts’ Film and TV School (FAMU)

Finally, on the top of our list of the best film schools in the world in 2018 is FAMU — the oldest film school in the world! It was established in 1946 in Prague, Czech Republic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, some years before, it was number one film school in Europe. It offers courses mostly in Czech, but there are some in English, as well. Also, the good thing is that it is free for Czech students, while for international ones the tuition fee is $45,674. One of the most famous directors that finished this film school is Emir Kusturica.