THE 15 BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM SCHOOLS

AUSTRALIAN FILM TELEVISION AND RADIO SCHOOL

AUSTRALIA

AFTRS counts a who’s who of regional cinema among its alumni — Oscar-winning auteur Jane Campion (The Piano) and Hollywood director Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games) are grads — and offers industry-driven programs covering every aspect of filmmaking. Its On Country Pathways Program trains emerging First Nations creators in remote communities.

BEIJING FILM ACADEMY

CHINA

The academy grants bachelor’s, master’s and even Ph.D. degrees in film, and virtually every major Chinese filmmaker has passed through its halls, including Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern) and Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine).

ECAM

SPAIN

Spain is one of the few regions that can boast of a production boom — Netflix has invested heavily in the country — and Madrid-based ECAM has been one of the main beneficiaries. Their school-to-studio pipeline is exemplified by Goya-winning director-writer team Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Isabel Peña, who met at ECAM and went on to produce the acclaimed Spanish series Antidisturbios.

ESCAC

SPAIN

Catalan’s premium film and TV training ground — located in the city of Terrassa, north of Barcelona — boasts Oscar nominee Juan Antonio Bayona (Society of the Snow, The Impossible) among its alumni and prides itself on a balance of film theory and practical training. The school also offers a one-year introductory filmmaking course in English and a bilingual stunt academy.

FAMU PRAGUE

CZECH REPUBLIC

Two-time Oscar winner Milos Forman (Amadeus) and Polish auteur Agnieszka Holland (Green Border) are grads of FAMU, which remains the gold standard of European film schools and includes accredited programs in English in directing and scriptwriting.

HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS

HONG KONG

Hong Kong’s premier performing arts conservatory offers practice-based programs in directing, acting, cinematography, producing and more. Uniquely interdisciplinary, the academy brings together filmmakers, actors, musicians and designers under one roof.

KOREAN ACADEMY OF FILM ARTS

SOUTH KOREA

KAFA has been a springboard for the nation’s cinematic New Wave since its founding by the Korean Film Council in 1984. The elite two-year academy keeps class sizes small (about 30 students) and offers intensive training in directing, cinematography, producing and animation. Parasite director Bong Joon Ho is a KAFA graduate who went on to win Korea’s first Palme d’Or and Oscar.

LONDON FILM SCHOOL

U.K.

London Film School alumni did more than just shine at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, as Carla Simón debuted the poignant Romería and Oliver Hermanus grabbed attention with the buzzy gay romance The History of Sound. In June, news broke that LFS has officially partnered with the prestigious Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL

U.K.

NFTS highlights from the last year include a 10 million pound ($13.5 million) government commitment to expand its historic campus, four NFTS alumni nominated at this year’s Oscars and a history-making Cannes Film Festival world premiere of Ether — the only time a first-year student has secured a debut on the Croisette.

SAM SPIEGEL FILM SCHOOL

ISRAEL

The country’s premier film school continued with its program for Palestinian and Arabic-speaking students, now in its fourth year, ensuring Sam Spiegel remains one of the only institutions in the region where Jewish, Muslim and Christian students — both Israeli and Palestinian — study, live and create side by side.

TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

JAPAN

Geidai (as the school is nicknamed) emphasizes cross- disciplinary collaboration, with student directors, animators and composers working together on projects. Notable recent alumni include Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car).

TORONTO FILM SCHOOL

CANADA

With local production booming, TFS’ continuing focus on below-the-line film and TV talent this year included a $2.5 million collaboration with Sony Canada, allowing students to work with new cameras and production gear in the classroom before reaching U.S. production hubs for major streamers in Toronto.

UNIVERSIDAD DE CINE

ARGENTINA

Arguably the best film school in South America, the Buenos Aires institution offers undergraduate degrees in everything from directing and producing to scriptwriting and animation, though applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries need to provide a B2 level Spanish language certificate to be considered.

VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL

CANADA

During the 2025 awards season, VFS boasted 107 alumni credits at the Oscars and 398 at the Emmys. New additions to VFS include foley artist Diane Schimpl joining as a sound design instructor.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON (TE HERENGA WAKA)

NEW ZEALAND

Victoria University of Wellington has emerged as a rising force in film education thanks to its Miramar Creative Centre — a purpose-built facility launched in 2017 in partnership with Peter Jackson‘s Weta and Park Road studios. Coursework spans directing, VFX and animation, with master’s degrees that draw on the country’s Hollywood-connected screen sector. — M.G.