Students don’t just talk about it, either - they’re required to complete a field study, putting their knowledge and skills as writers to work in service of something they personally value. What really distinguishes this program is its emphasis on social justice, which, if you haven’t noticed, is a major theme in projects getting the greenlight from studios and indie film investors. Photo by Colette Freedman, courtesy of Antioch.Īn MFA semester consists mostly of working from home - or wherever students like to write - with an intensive 10-day hybrid residency of online and in-person classes, followed by a five-month online project period, during which each student works under the supervision of a faculty mentor. (L-R) Angela Carlyle, Ty Halton, Emily Hagopian take part in a screenwriting workshop at Antioch, one of our Best Film Schools in the U.S. The many notable alumni illustrate the strength of the curriculum, and the school is committed to decreasing the gap between students and professionals through its Bridge to the Future office, which helps recent graduates find career-launching opportunities.

Their thesis films screen at AFI Fest, one of the world’s most respected film festivals. AFI offers a practical curriculum centered on learning through doing, which guarantees that fellows make at least three films, if not 10, by the end of the program. Wally Pfister ( Inception), Rachel Morrison ( Black Panther) and Robert Richardson ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) are among the cinematographers who graduated from the AFI Conservatory, a two-year program offering MFA degrees in cinematography, as well as directing, editing, producing, production design, and screenwriting.įellows accepted into one of the world’s most prestigious filmmaking academies have access to state-of-the-art camera equipment, sound stages and AVID editing rooms, and are regularly introduced to influential artists in the field and major industry players, often alumni, who speak, mentor and teach.

Columbia university notable alumni film