Film schools and programs

Directories (such as the British Film Institute (BFI) Year Book) contain listings of film schools in Europe.

The National Film and Television School in the UK offers short courses as well as degree programs at www.nftsfilm-tv.ac.uk. The London International Film School can be found at www.lifs.org.uk

International workshops and conferences are offered by some of Europe's screen organisations. In 2004 the Berlin International Film Festival at www.berlinale.de will again run a parallel event called Berlin Talent Campus #2. This event aims to attract up to 1000 international film students to its program of screenings and workshops led by film professionals from all areas of filmmaking.

The European Film College at www.efc.dk, based in Denmark, runs an eight-month foundation course open to students from all over the world, which offers training in all aspects of the art and craft of film, TV and multimedia. In the summer, EFC runs seminars and workshops for industry professionals.

The American Film Institute Conservatory at www.afi.com/education/conservatory has postgraduate courses designed for developing the skills and talent of filmmakers with graduate qualifications and five years industry experience.

The University of California, Los Angeles at www.tft.ucla.edu, along with numerous other American universities, offer degree programs in film. The New York University Tisch School of Arts at www.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home and the New York Film Academy at www.nyfa.com accept applications from abroad.

Guilds, associations and organisations such as the Independent Feature Project at www.ifp.org in New York offer film courses. The Sundance Institute at www.sundance.org runs conferences, screenwriters' and filmmakers' labs, and feature film programs that support emerging filmmakers as a vehicle to develop and refine new work.

Video in Studios at www.videoinstudios.com in Canada offers facilities, workshops, exhibition opportunities and volunteer programs for members.

A supermarket of great opportunities for filmmakers in the US and Canada can be found in J Mackman 1997, Filmmaker's resource: the Watson-Guptill guide to workshops, conferences, artists' colonies, academic programs, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York USA. Another useful publication is E Pintoff 1994, Complete guide to American film schools and cinema and TV courses, Penguin, New York USA. Try the AFTRS and AFI Libraries for a copy and other related titles.

Many academic libraries hold a copy of CollegeSource, produced by the Career Guidance Foundation in the United States at www.collegecatalogs.org/home.asp. This is an international calendar (previously available on microfiche as The College Catalogue) available in an online format (subscription only) and CD-ROM, which lists media production courses available predominantly in the US but also internationally (contact your closest university).

The AFC website provides links to international directories and journals.

Some embassies and consulates provide scholarships and exchange programs for study or work in their country. Contact them direct for further information on what is available.


Overseas students studying in Australia

Immigration and visa information for overseas students considering studying film (or any other course) in Australia can be found on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs website at www.immi.gov.au/students

In addition to visa information the site provides details about health, useful contacts, forms and booklets as well as statistics.