Best Film Schools In Canada

Film schools are universities that teach students the filmmaking craft, including film production and screenwriting. Schooling in the best institutions can greatly shape your creative career, which is why choosing the best Canadian film schools to study in is important. Here we will see about Best Film Schools In Canada

The Best Film Schools in Canada are the universities that have the highest-ranking film-related degrees based on their teaching, research facilities, industry success, and other criteria.

These schools’ rankings are reviewed yearly. Hence, the listed film schools could be higher or lower in the rankings as time passes. Having the list of the best film schools in Canada is great for anyone planning a film or related career; because where you study law could greatly influence your success when you graduate.

Top Film Schools In Canada

University of British Columbia:

The UBC Theatre and Film school offer a diverse array of degrees across Theatre and Film. It also allows students to study across other disciplines in their partner universities. This school aims to develop students’ creative, critical, and intellectual thinking skills as they begin a career in theatre and other related arts.

This film school offers courses that not only teach students the fundamental principles of ‘film’ but also industry practices and practical experience to prepare students for a variety of careers no matter where their interests may lie. Some other things you should know about the university are

It is ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world and the most international university in North America.

It has a student-to-staff ratio of 18.9 to 1

The courses offered by UBC’s Film school programs are:

Acting,
Costume and Set Design
Curating,
Cinematography
Filmmaking and Media Production
Theatre production,
Writing,
Motion Picture Directing
and
Sound
Post-Production

Ryerson University:

This school has the popular 4-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film Studies. It combines theory and practical work, with a little more concentration on the latter. Students take fundamental film theory tutoring at the start of their programs. Some of the courses offered by the film course include:

Cinematography
Directing
Design composition
Screenwriting
Business of film.

In the last few years of the program, students will focus more on making short films and videos, especially their “thesis film projects” in the fourth year. Students who need film or video equipment for school projects can borrow it from the school’s “film cage.” The faculty offers a great many highly experienced professors

Some of the university’s famous alumni are: Jeremy Podeswa and Bruce McDonald, both of who are filmmakers.

York University:

This University works with renowned and experienced professionals to train students for the creative industry. The Film Department at York University is home to Canada’s oldest film schools. The university has a four-year BFA, Bachelor of fine arts. This program focuses on film production.

The university offers over 450 first degrees, 75 MFA, MA, and even Ph.D. students. Some courses of the film degree include:

Intro to Film making
Film craft
Editing skills
Production
Management
Production Planning
and other courses are available.

Through field placements, internships, and the Institution’s partnerships

Students get real-world experience, learn about career options, and make useful connections with potential employers.

Producer Niv Fichman and cinematographer Paul Sarossy are two well-known people who went to this university.

Fanshawe College:

This University offers a practical advanced filmmaking program to give students the skills needed for the film and television industry. The university is located in Southwestern Ontario and boasts about 43,000 students.

The film program will expand your theoretical and practical knowledge in many ways:

It also allows students to work on a film crew and see the available career opportunities.
The film college works with film professionals to walk students through the difficult processes.
Brock University and Fanshawe College have worked together to establish an agreement. This agreement gives learners the opportunity to earn double degrees from both institutions. i.e., an undergraduate degree in Film Studies and a master’s degree in Advanced Filmmaking.
Students can choose to begin their studies at either of these universities.

The Humber College:

This college’s film school offers numerous programs, including certifications, diplomas, and degrees across many disciplines, including:

Creative arts
Media and Performing arts
Cinematography
Sound editing
Picture editing and Videography

It offers a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Production, a 4-year program. It also offers a short advanced diploma which is a 3-year program. Some notable facts about the university include:

It is the largest college in Canada; and can be founded in Canada’s largest city, Toronto

It is ranked as the 4^th best film school in Canada.

The university has almost 30,000 full-time students and almost 60000 part-time students.
It gives students placement programs that last 2-4 months.

George Brown:

This college’s film school is among the top institutions in North America and Canada. The college is fueled by a passion for developing world-class film engineers and designers to cope with world demand. Some courses of this film school include:

Audio design and Production
Sound design theory
Sound editing
Post-production techniques

The George Brown college works with other media firms to expose their students to improving short clips, games, and animation. Also, the Video Design & Production diploma program gives students the same exposure but in a shorter period. Some courses offered by this program include :

Film Directing
Video Editing
Visual effects(VFX)
Audio Production
Digital Storytelling
Digital video technology
Digital Production

Vancouver Film School:

This university is the most well-known film school in Western Canada. It was established in 1984; and operates across a diverse range of film fields, including television content, film creation, games and animation, video design, and digital applications

The university maintains a connection with its alumni so the pros can teach new students. Some courses of this film school include:

Production and Production Design
Makeup Design
Sound design
Writing
Movie Directing
Cinematography
Post-production techniques

The school offers 1-year diploma and pathway program to Bachelor’s degrees in any of its partner universities. The university also offers short specialization programs in:

Cinematography
Directing and Producing
Post-Production techniques.

Some notable alumni of Vancouver Film School are Kevin Smith, an American Filmmaker, and a South African-Canadian film director, Neill Blomkamp.

Concordia University:

Founded in 1976, this university is the most reputable in Quebec, Canada. Its ‘Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema accepts around 200 students yearly who come to study film. It offers different BFA degrees for any learning path you choose. Some courses offered by this film school include:

Film production
Film Studies
Animation

Some notable alumni include Canadian animator Steven Woloshen and Canadian Film writer and Director Gary Burns.

Simon Fraser University

This university’s film school is called the School for the Contemporary Arts. Their teaching spans various disciplines and combines theoretical and practical approaches. The university features a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts program(BFA), which encourages students to create their own films while studying.

Some of its other film programs include BFA, with a Major in Film, an extended minor in film, and a film and video studies minor.

Toronto Film School:

This University offers short diploma programs and is one of the highly reputable applied arts schools in the world. Its diploma programs train students for careers in acting, film production, graphic design, and screenwriting.

The university comprises a faculty staff with experience in the film industry; because the university emphasizes it.

Some courses offered by this film school include:

Screenwriting
Editing
Movie budgeting and scheduling
Audio Production
Camera and film set practices

Also, the film school allows students to apply for a work placement after completing a short film production diploma. You could earn a diploma in as quick as one year or 18 months.

Red Deer College:

Located in Alberta, Canada, it has over 20 years of experience in film production and programming; it was established in 1964. At this college, you’ll have access to some of the college’s quality facilities, including:

The university’s 100-capacity cinema
Sound stage
Equipment storage

Red Deer College offers a 4-year Bachelor of Applied Arts program across fields such as:

Film Production
Theater
Live entertainment

Some courses offered in this program are Introduction to Film, Cinematography, Post-production techniques, and Visual fundamentals.

Towards the end of their studies, scholars will focus more on acquiring industry work experience. This is achieved by working on film projects” in the fourth year.

Sheridan College:

Located in Western Toronto is one of the most well-known schools for creative programs. Its top film production facilities attract instructors and students from all over the world. Hence, students will learn in the best environment and be trained by seasoned professionals.

The college offers a 1-year advanced television and film production program. Some courses in this program include:

Film directing.
Screenwriting and editing
Sound and Production design
Cinematography
Post-production techniques

The college also offers a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television, and students get to choose some extra courses, including editing and writing. In the final semester, students specialize in script writing, directing, drama production, or sound.

Students will also focus more on acquiring industry work experience. This is achieved by working on portfolio projects between the 6^th and 7^th semesters and a 3-4 work placement.

Students of Shediran College constantly win awards for their work at the North American Film Festivals.

The National Institute of Image and Sound:

This film school is not a faculty of any university. It is a non-profit professional training center in Montreal; it also offers film, television, and interactive media programs. Founded in 1990, this institute has offered pieces of training that have helped prepare students for the ever-changing film industry.

Some important facts about the INIS include:

It has featured expert film production professionals like Linda Dubuc to mentor students.
It received its funds from the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications.

University of Manitoba:

Located in Winnipeg, Canada, this public university offers two major film studies programs:

A 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree with s major in film studies
An advanced 4-year bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies

The film faculty staff teaches students a variety of courses, including:

International Cinematography
Film making
Video gaming
Film aesthetic practices

The university also grants students access to film production equipment such as Digital cameras, sound recording setups, and others.

Capilano University:

This university is the home of the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation and is found in North Vancouver. The common program is the four-year Bachelor’s degree in Motion Picture Arts. This film school is fueled by the university’s passion for practical work experience. At this university, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including:

3D Laboratories
3D Cameras and setups
A sound stage for practicing.

The university’s excellence at providing new and improved film solutions is why it is the center of the country’s West Coast Film Industry. Some courses offered by this film school include:

Screenwriting
Sound recording and editing
Cinematography
Technical directing
Advanced editing and Production

Conclusion

These best film schools in Canada offer world-class facilities and have produced some of the finest directors, producers, and actors. Hence, studying at any of these universities will greatly improve your overall skill set and career success.

FAQ

How can I apply to study at a Film schools in Canada?

Getting into these universities is easy if you satisfy the respective requirements. The most common requirements for a film school application are a tailored personal statement, letters of recommendation, a resume/creative portfolio, and a few other documents, including visual samples.

How do I know the right film school to choose?

Once you decide on the aspect of film you wish to develop yourself in, you should begin searching for universities that will help you achieve your dreams. There is no one-size-fits-all university. You will have to choose the best university to maximize and add to your skills and knowledge.

How much do film schools in Canada cost?

Tuition fees vary. Typically, residents could pay at least CAD$7,000 annually, while international students may pay about CAD$20,000 per year. However, short programs like diplomas may not cost as much. Also, these costs vary per university, as more popular universities tend to charge more.

Tuition fees do not cover living costs, feeding, utility transportation, and accommodation costs. All these extra costs are important and should be budgeted for.