National Film and Television School (NFTS)

If you want to be a professional film producer, there is no better entryway into the industry than NFTS in the UK!!

I graduated from MA Producing at NFTS, and it remains one of the best experiences of my life. NFTS doesn't teach filmmaking, it makes films. The school runs like a studio in miniature: ten students per discipline, ten fully funded films a year, with students never putting in a penny of their own money. Classes are led by working producers, not retired ones. The internships at leading production companies built real relationships and, for many of us, jobs after graduation. Tuition is 26.000 GBP, halpf what you need to pay in the US. The most important film school in the UK, and one of the best in the world. NFTS doesn't prepare you for the industry. It puts you in it.

I'm currently in my first year of a 2 year MA at the NFTS. I saw these relatively negative reviews about the NFTS before I applied, but I can now confidently say that applying to the NFTS is the best choice I made in a long time.

I tried to think for a long time about the cons, but I really couldn't come up with anything else than these two.

The school's reputation is just completely unrivalled by any other UK film school. When going to industry events we are often the only students there, since other schools are just not really as interesting.

The main strength is the quality and variety of courses. Some courses are unique to the NFTS and not given anywhere else in Europe. The education is excellent and leaves nothing to wish for. I'm in a class of 6 people, this makes it possible to get a very personal form of mentoring. The NFTS seems to do everything it can to provide the tools, knowledge and mentoring to make alumni successful, which is mutually beneficial.

I'm sure I forgot a lot of names, but a few of the people we met the past 6 months include Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Louis Theroux, Alex Garland, Paul Greengrass, David Yates and Paweł Pawlikowski. Having the opportunity to ask questions to these people is not only helpful but also inspiring. Since we sign NDA forms at the beginning of the year these guests feel like they are able to talk about things they would normally never share to the public, and some of these insights truly change how you look at the industry.

In terms of employment: I got a really nice part-time job offer at a UK film company in the first 3 months of my study at a networking meeting the NFTS gave us access to. I took this, and am besides this currently doing a 6 month paid internship at a major studio. This makes me very comfortable in stating that I'm not worried about getting work after I graduate.

All in all, I think the school is as good as it gets. Go there, be inspired by all the Bafta awards displayed and the alumni on the walls, and do apply. You won't regret it.

I went on a 2 year long Digital effects MA course and now I'm 6 months after graduation. I already have 9 months of work experience and am working at Foundry at the moment.

First year is full of exercises (3D modelling, motion capture, motion control and so on) - working on-set with the other departments (DPs, Art, etc) is one of the best things at NFTS because you get a sense of how the industry works.

Second year is where you specialize (3D, 2D or Colour Grading) and when you start to be more responsible of your actions. You don't have classes but rather work on Graduation Films (which everyone takes very seriously) and you become the adult artist that's ready to be soon employed.

The DFX course (but I'm sure others too but to relevant locations) includes trips to FMX in Stuttgart, BFX in Bournemouth. Also some practical effects, and blowing up a couple of things (more for reference).

I'm happy with my time at NFTS and I would do it again anytime. They were quite good at teaching though so I don't need to go back.

This wasn't my experience at all!! I'm not sure we went to the same NFTS.

I can't speak more highly of time at the NFTS. I almost went to the LFS then realised it was twice as expensive as the NFTS and that there was no gaurantees I'd get to direct all the projects I worked on.

The tutors were really helpful, the equipment was very good and the other students were all really talented and committed. I didn't have much to do with Nik Powell or Jon Wardle (those two meetings you had were assessments!!), but when I did they were always really helpful.

Sorry you had a bad experience but I don't know anyone personally who went to the School who has anything other than good things to say about the place