California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) - Program in Film and Video Reviews & Admissions Statistics

Website
https://calarts.edu/filmvideo
Location
24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355, USA
Degrees Offered
  1. 4 Year BFA
  2. 3 Year MFA
Concentrations
  1. Film & Television Production
Undergrad Tuition Range
$50k to $60k
Undergraduate Deadlines
Monday, December 1, 2025 11:59 PM PST
Graduate Deadlines
Monday, December 1, 2025 11:59 PM PST

Reviews summary

Excellent 0
 
 0%
Good 2
 
 100%
Average 0
 
 0%
Poor 0
 
 0%
Terrible 0
 
 0%
Overall rating
4.00 star(s) 2 ratings
Affordability
1.50 star(s)
Alumni Network
3.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.50 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.50 star(s)
Professors
4.50 star(s)
Scholarships
3.50 star(s)
100% are recommending this film school.
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CalArts Film/Video Undergrad
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • You're making films starting your first week
  • Freedom to explore whatever you want
  • Faculty that are committed to having regular meetings
  • A diverse student body
  • Supportive of interdisciplinary projects, however you must initiate it
  • Many unique resources you won't find elswhere
Cons
  • Too expensive
  • Faculty are running out of steam
It's primarily an art school, with the resources of a film school. Some moderately up-to-date equipment, a lot of super rare analog equipment you won't have a chance to work with elsewhere.

Some faculty positions are constantly in flux, such as the Cinematography position, they can't seem to get it right. The sound department seems very robust, everyone in there is highly skilled. The animators are amazing, take some of their classes (Experimental Animation, not Character)

Have an idea of what kind of filmmaker you want to be and write it down somewhere before attending - there's a ton of amazing work being made or attempted here, but some find they're caught in a popularity contest instead of staying true to themselves. There's the potential to mold any experience you want out of CalArts, truly, but it will take self-initiative. Particularly if you want to be making narrative films - and if so, befriend the MFA Film Directing students, they are narrative focused.
Affordability
1.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
2.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
4.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
2 members found this helpful.
Last edited by a moderator:
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A
alexisryu
Are they at least generous with financial aid?
CalArts Film/Video Undergrad Experience
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • They have knowledgable faculty
  • Extensive film/video library collection
  • Access to visiting filmmakers with opportunities for one on one workshops with them.
  • Collaboration between undergrad and graduate film students is frequent.
  • Interesting array of film classes. Undergrads can take graduate level classes for credit.
  • Undergrads are assigned a film/video faculty mentor throughout their time at CalArts.
  • RED RAVENS are available in the cage to borrow for film shoots
  • Consistently working on new films/work
Cons
  • Faculty can be more diverse
  • Tuition is expensive
  • Further removed from Los Angeles
  • Tuition raised every year
  • Very limited scholarships
CalArts' Film program is known to be more experimental; however, I wouldn't say it focuses solely on art-house cinema or experimental cinema, but presents it in the curriculum as a method of filmmaking. I learned a lot of filmmaking theory while at CalArts through watching making films and dissecting the filmmaking styles I liked and disliked. It was a formative 3 years for me that taught me a lot about filmmaking and the filmmaker I wanted to be. I would highly recommend this program to those who want to do narrative work as well! They have great equipment and mentorship opportunities.
Affordability
2.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
4.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
2 members found this helpful.
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: AdrianC

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