Film School in Los Angeles CA, Best Film School Hollywood, AFI Conservatory

A Training Ground for Filmmakers

At the AFI Conservatory we believe in filmmaking first. Filmmakers come to AFI because they are guaranteed to make movies, and to master not only the tools, but also the art of storytelling. AFI isn’t like any other graduate film school in Los Angeles or the nation. Think of us like the most prolific content creators in Hollywood. Fellows collectively create up to 175 films a year across six disciplines in the master’s degree program: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting.

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A Bridge to the Film and TV Industry

As a top-ranked film school located in Los Angeles, the AFI Conservatory MFA program is more than an academic experience in the art of moviemaking — it’s about connecting you with influential artists in the field, and with key players in the industry, to get your career off the ground right after graduation. Through a carefully curated series of programs and opportunities that happen year-round right in the middle of Hollywood, you will have the best possible launchpad for success.

Scholarship Opportunities

The AFI Conservatory offers scholarships to help incoming and current AFI Fellows pay for their MFA film school education. Scholarships are based on merit and financial need. Several scholarships are available for Fellows from underrepresented communities, specific nationalities and Conservatory disciplines.

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Alumni Recognition

Last Five Years

After their MFA film school training, AFI Conservatory filmmakers go on to make enormous cultural impact that resonates and endures far beyond the halls of AFI.

Academy Awards^®

Nominations

Wins

Emmy Awards^®

Nominations

Wins

Major Festivals

350

Alumni on

481

Films

AFI DOCS, AFI FEST, Berlin, Cannes, London, New York, Sundance, SXSW, Telluride, Toronto, Tribeca and Venice

Festivals updated as of Jan. 1, 2024

Awards updated as of Mar. 11, 2024

Diversity at a Glance

The AFI Conservatory is committed to nurturing fresh perspectives from diverse voices.

“The AFI experience is transformational. This is a place where ideas of all sorts and all perspectives come to blossom. The relationships and the skills you foster here are the ones that will carry you throughout your entire career.”

–Joyce Liu-Countryman, AFI Producing Class of 2018

Of 277 Year 1 and Year 2 Fellows currently enrolled at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles:

51%are women

40%of the domestic Fellows are filmmakers of color

49%are international

Updated as of Sep. 18, 2024

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The American Film Institute believes in the power of diverse voices to drive culture forward.

We strive to cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment at AFI that actively affirms and is respectful of the identities of all people across genders, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds and ideological perspectives – and one where self-reflection, honesty and accountability are practiced.

At AFI, we are responsible for the community we build and the stories we tell.

#AFICONSERVATORY

"AFI is where I learned how to believe in my gut, to appreciate those people around me who wanted to story tell in new ways. There’s such a beautiful power that comes with finding your community." -32nd Annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal recipient Autumn Durald Arkapaw (AFI Class of 2009).

@addp #AFIConservatory #AFILife

@canva

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"AFI is where I learned how to believe in my gut, to appreciate those people around me who wanted to story tell in new ways. There’s such a beautiful power that comes with finding your community." -32nd Annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal recipient Autumn Durald Arkapaw (AFI Class of 2009).

@addp #AFIConservatory #AFILife

@canva

“AFI was the perfect school for me.” #AFIConservatory Production Design Alum Keith Cunningham (MARE OF EASTTOWN, TASK) on finding his path from architecture to production design.

🎥 Just 2 weeks left to apply for AFI’s #ProductionDesign discipline. Deadline: May 1. Apply at AFI.edu.

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“AFI was the perfect school for me.” #AFIConservatory Production Design Alum Keith Cunningham (MARE OF EASTTOWN, TASK) on finding his path from architecture to production design.

🎥 Just 2 weeks left to apply for AFI’s #ProductionDesign discipline. Deadline: May 1. Apply at AFI.edu.

🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters. Writer/director Nadav Lapid visited the Campus for an exclusive screening of his film YES, followed by a conversation with #AFIConservatory Fellows on his approach to filmmaking.

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🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters. Writer/director Nadav Lapid visited the Campus for an exclusive screening of his film YES, followed by a conversation with #AFIConservatory Fellows on his approach to filmmaking.

🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters.

Go behind the scenes of THE PITT as writer/executive producer Dr. Joe Sachs breaks down how prosthetic bodies shape on-screen realism. 🩺

Watch more from this conversation with AFI Sloan Scholar Moran Cerf, showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, cinematographer Johanna Coelho (AFI Class of 2013) and Dr. Sachs on YouTube@AFI.

#AFIConservatory #GuestLecture #FilmSchool #ThePitt

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🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters.

Go behind the scenes of THE PITT as writer/executive producer Dr. Joe Sachs breaks down how prosthetic bodies shape on-screen realism. 🩺

Watch more from this conversation with AFI Sloan Scholar Moran Cerf, showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, cinematographer Johanna Coelho (AFI Class of 2013) and Dr. Sachs on YouTube@AFI.

#AFIConservatory #GuestLecture #FilmSchool #ThePitt

🎬At AFI, you learn from the masters — including scientists shaping the stories.

AFI Sloan Scholar Moran Cerf joined #AFIConservatory Fellows in conversation with THE PITT showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, cinematographer Johanna Coelho (AFI Class of 2013) and executive producer, writer and medical consultant Dr. Joe Sachs for a behind-the-scenes Q&A on bringing science to the screen.

Thank you to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for supporting the next generation of filmmakers telling bold, human stories about science and technology.

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🎬At AFI, you learn from the masters — including scientists shaping the stories.

AFI Sloan Scholar Moran Cerf joined #AFIConservatory Fellows in conversation with THE PITT showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, cinematographer Johanna Coelho (AFI Class of 2013) and executive producer, writer and medical consultant Dr. Joe Sachs for a behind-the-scenes Q&A on bringing science to the screen.

Thank you to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for supporting the next generation of filmmakers telling bold, human stories about science and technology.

🎥 A look back at last weekend’s AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop presented by @panavisionofficial.

Four days of hands-on learning, collaboration and inspiration for the next generation of cinematographers, with sessions led by industry leaders including AFI Alumni Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Academy Award® winner – SINNERS), Amy Vincent (SONG SUNG BLUE), Panavision’s Dan Sasaki and AFI Faculty.

✨ The future for these 12 emerging cinematographers is bright.

#AFIConservatory #AFICIW #Panavision #Cinematography

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🎥 A look back at last weekend’s AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop presented by @panavisionofficial.

Four days of hands-on learning, collaboration and inspiration for the next generation of cinematographers, with sessions led by industry leaders including AFI Alumni Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Academy Award® winner – SINNERS), Amy Vincent (SONG SUNG BLUE), Panavision’s Dan Sasaki and AFI Faculty.

✨ The future for these 12 emerging cinematographers is bright.

#AFIConservatory #AFICIW #Panavision #Cinematography

🎥 Lights! Camera! Action! The AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop presented by @Panavision kicks off tomorrow! This tuition-free program brings together 12 emerging filmmakers for a hands-on experience to empower the next generation of cinematographers. Visit the link in bio to learn more. ⁠
⁠
#AFIConservatory #AFICIW #Cinematography #Panavision

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🎥 Lights! Camera! Action! The AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop presented by @Panavision kicks off tomorrow! This tuition-free program brings together 12 emerging filmmakers for a hands-on experience to empower the next generation of cinematographers. Visit the link in bio to learn more. ⁠
⁠
#AFIConservatory #AFICIW #Cinematography #Panavision

🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters. Kaouther Ben Hania, director, writer and editor of THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, visited campus to speak directly with #AFIConservatory Fellows about her Academy Award-nominated film.

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🎬 At AFI, you learn from the masters. Kaouther Ben Hania, director, writer and editor of THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, visited campus to speak directly with #AFIConservatory Fellows about her Academy Award-nominated film.

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APPLICATIONS EXTENDED FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY, EDITING, PRODUCING, PRODUCTION DESIGN AND SCREENWRITING – APPLY NOW

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AFI Conservatory Guests

AFI Conservatory News

2026 Cannes Film Festival to Showcase New Stories by AFI Alumni

AFI Conservatory Alumni Nominated for the 86th Annual Peabody Awards

What to Watch: AFI Alumni Projects | April 2026

A Training Ground for Filmmakers

A Bridge to the Film and TV Industry

Scholarship Opportunities