Best Directing Program

American Film Institute​

AFI Conservatory

AFI Conservatory

First established in 1967, the American Film Institute is world renowned for producing pioneers and trailblazers in the film industry. As a not-for-profit, private graduate film school, the AFI Conservatory teaches multimodal pedagogy in hands-on courses led by industry experts. Film students...

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AFI is a no-brainer for aspiring directors who aim to join the ranks of the Hollywood greats. The conservatory has produced some of the best directors in the business, from Terrence Howard to David Lynch.

The program is exclusive to graduate-level students and one of the more expensive in the country for a two-year conservatory ($100K total before additional fees and COL). AFI's Directing program has an acceptance rate of less than 1% due to its outstanding networking opportunities and high-level instruction. AFI is widely considered an ideal fit only for serious aspiring directors: Classes run 12-14 hours per day, six days per week.

The FilmSchool.org Application Database found that only 18% of our members are admitted annually.

Before you apply, read our exclusive interview with AFI’s Admissions Department.

AFI Conservatory Acceptance Rate (All Programs/All Years)
41%
Admitted
212 out of 517
13.7%
Waitlisted
71 out of 517
45.3%
Not Admitted
234 out of 517
Awaiting Results Admitted Waitlisted Denied


Runner-up: University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts​

USC School of Cinematic Arts

USC School of Cinematic Arts

For more than 90 years, the University of Southern California has trained the next generation of prolific filmmakers. As the nation's first institution of higher learning to offer a bachelor's degree in film, the School of Cinematic Arts remains at the forefront of emerging filmmaking trends...

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USC is in the lap of Hollywood and uniquely connected to the industry, with both BFA and MFA film students attending Hollywood premieres for free and attaining coveted internships at studios such as Lionsgate and Pixar. Not only that, but the SCA is renowned for being the only film school to teach BFA students all seven disciplines of the cinematic arts. By learning the fundamentals of both film theory and getting hands-on practice with state-of-the-art equipment, students set themselves up for successfully running a set. USC’s First Jobs program helps many BFA graduates find their footing.

MFA students can also pursue an emphasis in Directing. Students have access to the 20th Century Fox soundstage, the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, and the Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre Complex.

The FilmSchool.org Application Database found that only 27% of our members are admitted annually to the MFA in Film and Television Production, while 29% of our members are admitted annually to the BFA program. Read our interview with Nolan, a BFA student at USC SCA.

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