Read part one of our interview here:
CU Denver Film & Television Program Admissions: Tips from David Liban, Department Chair (Part 1)
The University of Colorado Denver is one of the best institutions in the Western US for undergraduate filmmakers. Located in the Mile High City, CU Denver is only a short drive from the acclaimed Red Rocks Amphitheatre concert venue, picturesque hiking trails, and some of the world’s best skiing...
- Alexa P.
- Category: Admissions Interviews
How much prior filmmaking experience do applicants need?
DL: I think it's helpful if applicants have edited or shot films in high school; I would clarify that in their cover letter. Let us know that you've done that sort of thing. I don't want to scare away people who have never created films because students start from square one when they get here anyway.
Does CU Denver's film program have a waitlist?
DL: I have to say that, once we started our secondary application, it weeded out the ability to even have a waitlist. We really don’t have a need for a waitlist because we take pretty much anyone who qualifies from their secondary applications. And since we've started this secondary application, the types of films and the sheer amount of work put out by our student body has gotten better and higher in volume.
How large is the average cohort?
DL: With the space and the number of faculty we have in our film program, a healthy number of film students can go up to about 250. But we usually start out with 100 to 120 students. When they find out that filmmaking is hard, that number usually dwindles to about 70. By the time they get to be juniors and seniors, we see that number level off to about 50 students per class. I think that a lot of people don't understand how hard it is to make movies until they do it!
With diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives under intense scrutiny across higher education, what does representation and belonging look like at CU Denver's film program in 2026?
DL: Decisions are made entirely on the basis of the quality of their application and GPA. It's all about their ability to...
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