Top 8 Film Schools in New York City

If you are ready to show off your creativity to the world, then perhaps you would like to learn about the top 8 film schools in New York City.

In general, you will find two opinions in the film industry. Some people say it is better to just get hands-on experience than to spend thousands of dollars on film education in a school. The other opinion is that getting a degree would mean that you have truly committed to your passion of filmmaking, and mistakes made during classes will save you from making costly mistakes in the real world. Now neither opinion can be dismissed, and both have their fair share of supporters. Regardless of which opinion you approve of, in both cases, hard work, dedication, and a highly competitive nature is required in the industry. Unless you are committed to your passion of filmmaking, it is going to be quite difficult to make it in the film industry.

If you are harboring the idea of enrolling into a film school, then I must say that apart from professional training, you will also be able to make contacts with people from the industry, which is definitely going to be helpful in later years for getting employment. Like any other industry, people value experience. Whether you have a degree from a reputed school or not, if you have enough experience to show, you are likely to get jobs in the industry. However, getting the first few jobs in this highly competitive field of work could prove to be a bit tricky, this is why you need to make contacts and show them your capabilities in every given opportunity. If you do decide to enroll in a film school, then you will have plenty of opportunities to show off your skills to the people in the industry. If you would like to study abroad and pursue filmmaking as a career, then I would like to recommend our article of the 10 Best Film Schools In Europe to you.

Now that said, all I can surmise from the research I have done, is that attending a film school in New York City can be extremely challenging, yet at the same time quite a rewarding experience. If you think you have what it takes to survive in this highly competitive industry, then I suppose pursuing your career through a reputed film school is something you should consider seriously. It is true that there are many great talents out there who have never been to a film school, so it can be said that going to a reputed film school is not mandatory to become a success in the industry. However, on the other hand, there are many who have been to film schools and are now leading the industry.

Let’s talk about the methodology. To come up with this list of top 8 film schools in New York City, we consulted the vast database of Class Curious, a pretty awesome website for looking up all sorts of classes and courses in and around NYC. We also relied on a Google Search, and then put the list together. The schools mentioned in this list are the top of the crop, in our opinion, but are not ranked in any particular order. There are some other options available, but if you wish to pursue a career in filmmaking, then these 8 are your best bet in New York City.

Without any further delay, let me show you the top 8 film schools in New York City, where you will get the best education regarding filmmaking.

8. New York Film Academy

Address: 17 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

New York Film Academy is a non-profit institution. The quality of film education that you can get there is the reason it made it on our list today. New York Film Academy boasts to be a place for the new generation of storytellers and visual artists. Highly praised by people, this institution is a great place to acquire education, if you wish to pursue a meaningful career in filmmaking. They have a wide variety of courses on offer, and we suggest that you take a look at their offerings, and then decided for yourself.

7. Digital Film Academy

Address: 630 9th Ave #901, New York, NY 10036

At number 7 on our list of top 8 film schools in New York City, we have the Digital Film Academy, which is of course inside the city limits of NYC. The selling point of Digital Film Academy is its affordability. We are not concerned with pricing for this particular list, however, resources are rather limited. It is only natural if you did not have a huge budget for college. Anyway, you can probably strike a good bargain if you go after the Digital Film Academy. This institution is great for film education, and it is probably the most affordable on the list. If budget is a concern for you, then by all means, apply here.

6. Columbia University School of the Arts

Address: 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027

We are continuing our list of top 8 film schools in New York City with Columbia University that does not need an introduction. Columbia University is highly regarded as one of the best educational institutions throughout the country, and the faculty of Columbia University School of the Arts is one of the best in the entire country. The faculty includes professionals esteemed both in Hollywood and also in the independent film industry. Learning from people of such caliber is definitely a worthwhile experience. However, gaining admission to the Columbia University School of Arts is not going to be very easy.

5. Tisch School of the Arts

Address: 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Before I even begin talking about Tisch School of the Arts, I would like to mention that Martin Scorsese graduated from here. Need I say more? To be honest there are other widely celebrated film personalities who graduated from here as well. In fact the list will be too long If we mention all the names who have made it really big in the world after graduating from Tisch School of the Arts. Tisch has been leading the film education industry since the mid-1960s, and it is one of the oldest institutions to make our list today. Without a doubt, Tisch is a very good choice for a degree in film education, which is why it is on our list of top 8 film schools in New York City.

4. The Independent Film School

Address: 462 Broadway, Ste 500WS, New York, NY 10013

As the name suggests, this film school operates rather independently. The founder and owner of The Independent Film School will coach you personally, if you choose to take film lessons there. It all began in 2006 from a small workshop that merely involved 8 people at the beginning. However, over the years The Independent Film School has become a phenomenon rather than a tiny workshop, thanks to the innovative way of teaching and great successes of its students. It’s definitely a good place to start your film education.

3. The Cinema School

Address: 1551 E 172nd St, Bronx, NY 10472

The Cinema School that ranks third on the list of top 8 film schools in New York City offers a much more personalized learning experience for students, and the methods, used by the teachers who are also professionals, are more of a hands-on approach. Here the students get the chance to work on film projects of their choice and are provided with guidance in a highly personalized manner by industry professionals. The approach to film education here is rather unique.

2. Film Connection Film Institute

Address: 1330 Avenue of the Americas, 23A, New York, NY 10019

In our opinion, the Film Connection Film Institute is one of the best options for film education out there.  Low tuition fees, on the job learning methods and access to film professionals at all times are just some of the key features that you can expect from Film Connection Film Institute. On top of that, you will get assistance from the Institute after you graduate, as the first job is always the hardest one to get. As I mentioned earlier, the low tuition fees mean you can graduate from here debt free, that is a huge plus in our book. You should seriously consider this institute, if you wish to pursue film education.

1. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema

Address: 25 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

We have reached the end of our list, and the last entry to our list of top 8 film schools in New York City is Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. It is at CUNY (City University of New York) and part of Brooklyn College. The fall 2017 session applications are now open, however, their MFA directing program is now full. There are several avenues of approach to film education, such as directing, producing, cinematography, screenwriting, post-production, or digital arts. Regardless which or how many of these you are interested in, Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema has got you covered.

This concludes our list of top 8 film schools in New York City. Good luck with the application process!