California Film Schools and Colleges

Degree Programs: Film, Cinematography, Digital Video, Video Editing, Video Production, Special Effects, Animation...
Major Cities: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fremont, Fresno, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Oxnard, Sacremento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana
ZIP Codes: 90078, 90230, 90899, 91030, 91207, 93454, 93381, 93409, 93625, 93888, 94005, 94135, 94237, 84595, 96155, 94534, 95113, 95134, 95903...

California is the most populous state in the U.S., and the third largest (Alaska and Texas are bigger). Over a quarter of a million students graduate from a California college or university each year, and many of these students quickly find jobs in the state's robust and varied economy.

The film and TV production industries are one of the mainstays of California's economy; Los Angeles and Hollywood are the places to be for aspiring directors, actors, set designers, etc. Excellent opportunities abound for all types of artists in this state, since financial aid, quality apprenticeships, and supporting grants are widely available.

National Programs: The following schools are accepting students from across the country.

New York Film Academy

New York Film Academy

Master's | Associate's | Short-term programs

Learn how to write, shoot, direct and edit your own films during an intensive degree program a the New York Film Academy, named the best hands-on film school in the world by top filmmakers. Students have the opportunity of studying at NYFA schools all around the world, including New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Abu Dhabi and more! Learn more »





About: This summer, the New York Film Academy will return to Disney Studios in Florida to offer our intensive hands-on workshops. Students in the New York Film Academy program at Disney Studios will have the extraordinary experience of shooting their films on professional movie sets and realistic international environments. They will shoot on the Disney Studios lot with its fully dressed sets including Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Chinatown, New York and London street sets Request Information



About: At The Art Institute of California - Hollywood, you will find like-minded students-artists who think like you and are excited by the energy you bring. Many of our students come right out of high school, while some have tried different college programs and others are embarking on a career change. What draws these individuals to The Art Institute of California - Hollywood, is a passion for their art - as well as the desire to channel that passion into a career. Request Information



About: A rewarding career in the arts begins with talent - and you've got it. Now you just need the right education. At The Art Institute of California - Sacramento, you'll have an opportunity to get the art and design education you need to break into a career in the creative and applied arts. Our school occupies approximately 45,000 square feet, including classrooms, studios, laboratories, offices, student lounges, a library, and an exhibition gallery. Class size is limited to 35 students in lab sessions and 40 students in lecture sessions. Request Information



Brooks Institute

Santa Barbara, CA US

About: Brooks Institute is proud to have trained some of the leading visual artists of yesterday and today, and we look forward to inspiring the next generation. We offer a variety of focused Bachelor of Arts degree programs for anyone who aspires to a career in photography, visual journalism, filmmaking, or graphic design. Request Information



About: The world is changing so quickly that today we have jobs that didn't exist even five years ago. Most people can't even imagine what career fields will open in the next five years. But at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, you have your fingers on the pulse. We can lead the way to creative career opportunities by providing art and design education. Request Information



About: At The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, you will join a community that's committed to offering you a nurturing, stimulating environment where you are free to explore your artist's imagination and to stretch your talent and skills. Here you can meet like-minded students who share your passion for the creative world and the drive to learn. Artists who think like you and are excited by the talent you have and challenged by how you will apply it. Request Information



Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA US

About: Founded in 1929, Academy of Art University offers AA, BA, BFA, MA, MFA and M.Arch degrees and portfolio development and certificates in fourteen diverse art and design majors. The Academy offers a unique environment of working professionals who are dedicated to passing on their knowledge and expertise to the artists and designers of tomorrow. Not only is Academy of Art University's San Francisco location both beautiful and exciting, but it is strategic in its proximity to the centers of many creative industries. The Academy's Career Services Department offers assistance to students and alumni in establishing connections with these companies. Academy graduates have been hired by prestigious firms worldwide, including Disney, Sega, Pixar, Hewlett-Packard & Hallmark Cards. Request Information



About: At Columbia College Hollywood we believe that the best filmmaker is one who understands all aspects of filmmaking. Writers, directors, production designers, actors, editors, cinematographers, composers, and sound people all benefit from understanding what¿s involved in writing a script, the kinds of choices a cinematographer confronts, how actors reveal subtext, how sound and music can enliven and transform a scene, the way images are assembled in the editing room. And the best way to understand these things is to do them. Columbia College is about hands-on learning! Request Information



The Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, CA US

About: The Los Angeles Film School integrates hands-on filmmaking experience with a state-of-the art curriculum to provide instruction like no other school can. Located in Hollywood at historic Sunset and Vine, the Los Angeles Film School is just minutes from the Walk of Fame, Mann¿s Chinese Theatre, and the Kodak Theatre. Professional filmmakers, with credits from movie such as Spider-Man, The Matrix, Blade Runner, and Fight Club, teach students production and post-production techniques and the art of shooting 35mm, digital, and high definition films using state-of-the-art lighting and sound recording. The premier curriculum includes directing, producing, screenwriting, production design, sound design, and cinematography. Instruction is very hands-on ¿ students have access to a camera within the first week of enrollment and produce more films in a single year than students at most other schools produce in four. The Los Angeles Film School prides itself in its program where students learn filmmaking by making films. Request Information



About: The Art Institute of California - Sunnyvale is located in Santa Clara County, California, an area that makes up the world's premiere technology corridor, Silicon Valley. Sunnyvale's local population is only about 150,000, but the surrounding region is home to well over 2 million people. Students are only an hour's drive from the Pacific Ocean and Sunnyvale is also close to California's historic redwood forests. The city is bordered by the San Francisco bay to the north, Mountain View to the west, Santa Clara and San Jose to the east, and Cupertino to the south. The city is ranked as one of the safest in the country by the Morgan Quitno Safest City Award program and students enjoy a year-long mild climate. Request Information



About: Since 1980, Platt (Media Arts) College has offered a fast-paced and challenging curriculum which focuses on current techniques in 3D Animation, Digital Video Production, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Web Design. Earn your Bachelors of Science Degree in Media Arts in just 2 1/2 years and Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Graphic Design or Multimedia in as little as 15 months. Specialized Diplomas in 3D Animation, Digital Video Production and Web Design. Morning, afternoon and evening courses available. Career Services Department provides job preparation and job placement assistance. Financial aid is available to qualified students. NO application, out-of-state, lab or printing fees. FREE Parking to all students. Request Information



About: Get your ticket to culinary career success at The Art Institutes with hot industry based culinary programs in 35+ US cities. Programs include: culinary arts, restaurant management, culinary management, and catering managment. Highlights: experienced faculty, emphasis on personal instruction, and modern facilities. Request Information



About: In about one year you could be prepared to launch your career in Film & Television Editing, Audio Engineering, or Graphics Animation & Effects. At Video Symphony you will receive much more than a traditional classroom experience, you'll use the same equipment as professionals, learn the programs most favored in the entertainment industry, and be taught by veteran instructors who work in Film & TV post production. Request Information



San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco, CA US

About: Founded in 1871, SFAI is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of art in the US. SFAI is internationally renowned for leading the investigation and definition of contemporary art and the role of artists in global society. SFAI emphasizes vision, imagination, intellectual development, hands-on experience, and engagement with the world. Art making is defined by a broad spectrum of forms, philosophies, and aesthetic approaches, and does not presume distinctions between fine and applied art or the arts and other disciplines. Inspiration can come from anywhere: popular culture, art history, nature, politics, religion, science, cross-cultural experiences, community relationships. The faculty encourage students to be self-motivated and self-directed, and provide guidance and support. Artistic, personal, and intellectual development is fused so that the process of making work is a life-enriching experience and prepares students for a creative life. Ideally located, the main campus on Russian Hill overlooks the San Francisco Bay and the Graduate Center on Third Street is in the heart of an artist loft district. SFAI offers BA, BFA, MA, and MFA programs, and innovative Summer MFA, post-baccalaureate, and pre-college programs. Request Information



California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA US

About: An arts education has never been more valuable than it is today. In these extraordinary times, visual communication has an increasingly important influence on the global community. Artists, architects, and designers are pivotal to the very shape of our future. At CCA we believe art can make a positive difference in the world and that learning about the world will contribute to the expansion and deepening of the arts. We offer an interdisciplinary curriculum that balances tradition with innovation; that combines theory and practice; and that connects art, design, and architecture with each other and with the important issues of our society. At CCA, your studies will be both broad and deep, and you will discover and rediscover the relevance of everything you have learned through daily application. The Bay Area is bursting with cultural energy, and the CCA campuses in Oakland and San Francisco offer lively, diverse environments in which to interact with others who share your passion. Our world-class faculty of practicing artists, architects, and designers are dedicated to providing you with the tools, knowledge, and resources that will help you find your own path to success. We invite you to join CCA and be part of this dynamic community! Request Information



Academy of Digital Animation

Ridgecrest, CA US

About: Twenty students are selected for an intensive, one year, 1080 hour digital animation academy set in a production studio atmosphere. The curriculum focus is to develop professional skills in pre-production, story-telling, character animation, digital effects, animation programming, technical direction render management, and game design, while each student works alongside experienced industry artists. Each graduate of the 36 unit Certificate Program and/or 60 unit Associate Degree in Science in Media Arts produces a DV/VHS demo reel, CDROM, and alumni web page. Designed by industry experts, this academy is specifically tailored to prepare digital animators to enter the workforce in character animation, special effects, technical direction, or game design. Request Information



About: The California State Summer School for the Arts is a rigorous, preprofessional training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age. CSSSA was created by the California Legislature in 1987. It is held annually for four weeks in July/August on the campus of The California Institute of the Arts, in Valencia. Students receive college credit for succesful completion of the program in their respective artistic disciplines. Request Information



About: A 21st century art program that develops students who are creative,\naware, responsible individuals capable of effectively expressing their\nvalues in the media of their choice. Major options include traditional\nmedia, photography, multimedia, digital graphics, and art history.\n\nFacilities include state-of-the-art digital media software and hardware. Request Information



About: Cogswell College, a prestigious WASC institution in Silicon Valley, offers a BA in Computer and Video Imaging (CVI) and a BA in Digital Motion Picture. The CVI degree offers specializations in Character Animation, Digital Illustration, Digital Motion Picture, Game Design, Modeling and Animation, Technical Director, Web Design, and Web Development. \n Our alumni hold positions at companies such as ILM, Pixar, PDI, Sony, Foundation Imaging, and many web and computer game production companies. \n We are dedicated to maintaining small classroom sizes with maximum exposure to software, techniques, and quality instruction it takes to make your portfolio shine in these competitive and exciting fields. Online applications are available. Request Information